All-Star Shake-Up

So it's no surprise that the All-Star game has lost some of it's appeal. The NHL has done a good job in stirring interest by doing things such as the All-Star Draft and a few new Skills competition events.

But they still lack that *FLAIR* that makes the All-Star game exciting to watch.

Some folks think having something on the line will create competition and hence a more exciting game. Others say scrap it all together as the players and the fans have lost interest. But I think a few tweeks can solve that.

To figure it out you have to break the game down to what actually makes it exciting, what do fans WANT to see. And the fans love to see a showcase of the skills the NHL's top players have to offer. So Here is a proposal..... Make it a game of Shinny. Where else do players try slick dekes and crazy spins? When playing a little stick and puck, or generally fooling around.

Start here, scrap the offsides, icings and faceoffs. Play like kids where after the goalie covers it he is allowed to give it to a teammate and then play continues. Keep the clock running except for quick TV timeouts at around the 5, 10 and 15 minute marks of the period (keep the clients happy).

That will instantly speed up the game. and make for some crazy outlet passes, general hilarity of someone standing alone at the blue-line "cherry picking", and create lots of odd man rushes.

There also needs to be a way to let the players personalities shine through. Too often are these athletes stat numbers when so many of them have great things to say. Mic a few of them up and talk to them during the game. Not on replay, not during a clip montage. Have them explain the play as they are doing it. Take it as a chance to provide educainment(?). Mic the refs too and have them chatting with players/coaches. Give fans access to things they don't normally get when watching a regular season game.

And here is where you seal the deal. Instead of this giving a car to the player who is picked last in the draft (c'mon man you are the last pick in the NHL ALL STAR GAME!) give it to the player who scores the nicest goal in the game.

Get interactive with the fans and as the game progresses and give them the opportunity to vote (via some means, telephone, texting, online) for the best goal of the game. It will provide a bit of incentive for players as well as fan interaction. There is finally a bit of motivation for the players to try some crazy moves and provide the entertainment the fans are looking for.

If it's a meaningless game it should at least be an entertaining game. Focus more on showcasing the players rather than just keeping it a normal routine with the players.

Thoughts? Ideas?

The TeeJ