They should sprinkle some oldtimers into the game. Any ex NHL player under 75 years old can play at that pace. At least it would interesting.

What was showcased. The unwritten rules are:
No hitting
no skating
no shooting
No slapshots
Only attempt to score once inside the crease
No backchecking
No defense
It would be a helluva lot more fun to watch if they let Gretzky and a few 'oldtimers' play, since it isn't competitive hockey.

You already said it's not a competitive game and isn't intended to be so perhaps my point isn't a complaint but to point out the obvious and see if they can sell it to more people than a few rednecks in the south. Like you said, they tinker with the format every few years. They've done the NA vs Europe format, this pond hockey draft, east-west etc. Change isn't a new thing in hockey or an allstar game. They all know the game itself is a complete dud and are looking for ways to refresh it. And since it's touch (well it isn't even that, there is no touching) they could try something new again. I'd love to see guys like Patrick Roy, Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman play pond hockey with them. The game is a joke anyway so why pretend it's serious..have some fun with it.

Well I can't watch much of it and I had two 9 year olds in the house who didn't give it a look. Just who is it they are playing this for? For the older ladies? Themselves? To have a break?
I would put money on the game doubling viewership if they included some recent retired players. Even a couple per side. And/Or if they included some top junior prospects. The juniors would at least force some guys to skate, and since it's touch free and defense free pond hockey they would be competitive.

The guys don't have to be forced to skate, they are doing what they want to do. The rookies they have
brought along are better than any junior who would be there, and it is a falacy to think a junior would
force them to do anything, they would be in such awe of those players they would probably pee their pants.
I don't think they care about doubling the viewership, you just don't seem to get it, it is about
'where' it is being played and what goes on 'live' during that time, the tv viewership is what it is,
and as long as many have the opinion that the game should rival some competetive hitting game, your
kind will always complain.
I wonder why you watch it.

Why even bother holding this game? Can't take a slapshot, no hitting..no one skates or shoots. What's the point?
They should sprinkle some oldtimers into the game. Any ex NHL player under 75 years old can play at that pace. At least it would interesting.

The one little mistake 'at least in my opinion' was splitting up the twins, and I now know that it
was done before the actual draft, as alex burrows, when interviewed said that the twins had been given some equipment before hand, and it was for opposite teams,so there was some planning by the captains before
they came on tv, probably about other players as well.
When they are trying to showcase the individual talents of these players at the all-star event, then
the twins should have been together so the fans who are 'there' can see how they interact with each
other on the ice, their uncanny knowledge of each other on the ice, it would have been exciting for
the fans, but that didn't happen.
It seemed they thought the exact opposite would be exciting, but only the idea of it was like that,
because they both played very well with the other teams, but no one saw them do their thing together.
everyone's loss

I watched it, and I enjoyed it. It was nice to see players who never play together having fun, playing without being idiots.
Your opinion may differ, doesn't make any difference to me.

Talloola the NHL players get a minimum wage of $525,000.00 U.S. For that kind of money they can damn well play
real hockey.


I don't watch the Allstar game but I have been to one in Montreal....it was fun.
The reasons the Allstar game is good....kids love it...it is good for the host city...and it gives a break from the schedule for most of the players to spend time with their families.
Plus, who didn't enjoy watching Kessel get picked last, they are moaning about it today on Toronto sports radio....funniest moment this year.
YouTube - Phil Kessel Gets Picked Last 2011 ASG Fantasy Draft January 2
Ovie snapping a few pictures is the icing on the cake.

sure, whatever. it's not meant to be competitive like a real game. real fans know that.

I'm a real fan, but only of real hockey. If you want to see players shoot at styrofoam targets and skate in alone on the
goaltender, etc, watch the skills competition.