All-Star Draft
Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Posted by BNR5

Over the years the NHL has always tried to improve the All-Star break. This year we saw one of the biggest changes by adding the Draft. I thought I would bring up my two biggest issues with the draft.

Over the years the NHL has always tried to improve the All-Star break. This year we saw one of the biggest changes by adding the Draft. I thought I would bring up my two biggest issues with the draft.

1. Jerseys: When players were drafted, they came up to the stage and the girls handed them their respective jersey. Although I loved the looking at the girls, it gave me the feeling that the teams were already picked. I am saying this, because we never saw the other jersey with their name on it, nor was there anything said about auctioning them off. I guess they just threw them out? According to Bob McKenzie on twitter he did see the other jerseys. True or not, it gave me the feeling it was bullshit. The Sedin’s were spilt up, a surprise first round pick and all the Hurricanes on the same team. Could it be scripted any better? They should have at least showed them at one point. Those girls also got out there pretty fast, maybe they were smarter then they looked.

2. Last Pick: I hate the Leafs, however I felt bad for Phil Kessel. I think it would have been different if Jeff Skinner or David Backes went last but even still they shouldn’t have done it this way. Yes he got a car (that we won’t drive) and he got money towards charity, but it was something his career didn’t need. People will always remember him for being the last pick in the draft and I would be surprised if they did it this way again. I can see them picking the last 6 out of a hat or something stupid like that.

Overall thoughts on the All-Star weekend is the same as always: Glad it’s over and back to real hockey. The game itself needs some work to it as an 11-10 game isn’t very entertaining. I think it should be the host country vs the world. Meaning when it is in Canada there is a Canada All-Star team and then an All-Star team of everyone else. Have a year in Canada, USA and then maybe even go overseas for a year as the NHL seems like they want to promote hockey over there.

It wasn’t something new, and I watched every part of it. So, I guess they did something right.
- BNR5