All-Star Weekend - Skills Competition

It's been driving me crazy to not be able to watch any of the NHL's All-Star Weekend - you just have no idea. But I've been finding things to occupy my time well enough, I guess. It's still making me a little batty, tho.

Tonight was the Skills Competition/Young Stars game, and tomorrow night is the actual All-Star Game itself. I'm sure it probably went well. Those things usually do, and are pretty fun, too.

Atlanta's actually not a bad place to watch hockey - I've been there a couple of times. The arena configuration's a little odd, but it works for them. It kind of reminds me of an opera house or something. But maybe that's just me. The concourse at the arena has a state fair kind of atmosphere, and the whole place is pretty colorful in general - but in a good way.

I do have a suggestion for the Skills Competition, tho, one that I've thought about for a while now. Instead of showcasing just the talent at the All-Star Game, why not make it an actual league-wide competition?

So here's my idea. I know that the Vancouver Canucks will put on their own skills competitions - or have in the past - for just the team. I'm sure other teams have done similar things. So why not standardize the competition?

Have every team put on it's own skills competition, according to predetermined rules and standard equipment - supervised by the league, and have the teams send the results to the NHL. Then invite the top players in each event, regardless of team affiliation, to come to the All-Star Game Weekend and compete against each other. So it's an actual competition, instead of just a good time kind of show for the fans - really make it worth something.

And here's another thought. Baseball uses their All-Star Game to determine who has home field advantage in the World Series. I don't think the NHL ought to do that, but what if whoever wins the All-Star Game, that conference hosts the next All-Star Game? Don't just bounce it back and forth every other year, but make the conference location the 'prize.'

Whoever determines the location for these things can pick two locations, one in each conference, so that one can be announced at the end of the All-Star Game. I don't know that I'd let out what teams are up for it beforehand, tho. And I'm sure a year will give the host city plenty of time to set something up, too.

Just some random thoughts for you this NHL All-Star break. Hope you're all enjoying the festivities, if you're able to. And good luck to all of the players tomorrow.

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