The NHL All-Star Game is fast approaching. Andrei Svechnikov is the Carolina Hurricanes representative. I recently hopped in the All-Star conversation on The Storm Celler with Brad and Ray. Our overall conscious was Svechnikov is a great pick for the Canes, with hopes the fan vote drafts Martin Necas.
Fan voting is fun.
Generating a buzz around deserving players on social media and creating a veritable cornucopia of conversations about possibilities for fans is never a bad thing. We need to look no further than the Canes for such debate. Spinning off that conversation with Brad, Ray, and guest James, I think there are some creative alternative incentives to make the All-Star weekend even more impactful for players and teams alike.
I asked Jordan Martinook how he felt about a campaign to get him to the All-Star Game today and he selflessly said, “There’s someone to my left that deserves it a heck of a lot more. Get him there.” pic.twitter.com/eGkBpBxGnp
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) January 6, 2023
The skills games, typically reserved for All-Stars, is perhaps the most likely place for innovation. As the NBA does, the NHL could allow non All-Stars to come to the weekend to compete an expanded list of skills games. Each team could send their All-Star, then an offensive and defensive player that competes individually. What a better way to focus on all the aspects of play and develop players that contribute to their teams night in and night out but do not always grab the big highlights.
For Example
Andrei Svechnikov- All Star
Jalen Chatfield- Defensive Rep.
Martin Necas- Offensive Rep.
But, there is a way the NHL could take this yet another step further. Teams could win points for their players winning a competition. Points could also be added based on their players contribution in the All-Star game. The team that wins the most points might be awarded an extra home game the following year.
For example:
Andrei Svechnikov has an assist in the All-Star Game worth a point
Jalen Chatfield wins 2 skills games worth 6 points
Martin Necas wins 1 skills game worth 3 points
The Carolina Hurricanes would have 10 points.
If those 10 points are more than any other teams earns, the Canes earn an extra home game next season. Who knows what an extra home game might mean for a team the next season? Could be the difference between hitting the links early, or playing an extra series in the post season.
Pulling pages from the NBA’s playbook, the NHL could turn their the All-Star game into an inclusive weekend for overlooked players, and more competitive while also adding serious implications would bring nay-sayers like John Tortorella around to the games. Implications abound if you expanded the number of players each team sends, and ratcheted up the incentives for teams.