The NHL All-Star game has come and gone and with it, the hope for an exciting weekend has evaporated.
You’d think an All-Star event taking place in Los Angeles would have some more memorable moments, but outside Justin Bieber getting crunched by Chris Pronger in the celebrity game and Wayne Gretzky returning behind the bench to coach, this weekend’s festivities were entirely forgettable.
AP snapped an amazing photo of Chris Pronger squashing Justin Bieber into the boards: pic.twitter.com/hhykeHh5Oh
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) January 28, 2017
No matter what skills competitions are held, the feeling of “been there, done that,” is what remains. There was no “wow” moment like last season. What made the 2015-16 All-Star event so memorable was the inclusion of a player who, on paper, didn’t deserve to be there, but ultimately made the entire weekend great: John Scott.
Scott, a 6’8″ goon was voted into the game as a troll-job to the NHL to make the event more exciting. There was plenty of drama, as the league intervened, attempting to rid of Scott by getting him traded. But, at the end of the day, Scott attended the event and was the belle of the ball. Seeing an enforcer participate in skills challenges and the game itself was must-watch TV. Scott, against all odds, earned All-Star MVP. Scott was the ultimate underdog. His weekend was miraculous.
The weekend was so good, in fact, Scott’s Rudy-like season is being turned into a film.
So, what did the NHL do following the most entertaining All-Star campaign ever? They instituted new rules so players like Scott couldn’t be included in future All-Star games. The NFL might not be in the No Fun League, but the NHL certainly challenged for the title with the rule adjustment.
The NHL All-Star game is a mediocre, unmemorable product. Throwing in a curveball like John Scott made the event worth watching. As this weekend proved, sticking with a more conservative approach to the game doesn’t make for a better viewing experience. If the league wants to bring excitement back to the game, the solution is obvious: Give fans their fun back.
As this weekend proved, sticking with a more conservative approach to the game doesn’t make for a better viewing experience. If the league wants to bring excitement back, the solution is obvious: Give fans their fun back. Let them vote whoever they’d like into the game. Or at least – have one player solely decided by fans. Otherwise, the All-Star game is on Pro Bowl levels of enjoyment.
