NHL All-Star Selection Process Flawed

The NHL is marketing the All-Star Game in a number of ways and one of them is by sending stuff to bloggers.

I got an email from Sinuate Media today asking if I would be interested in posting a video and/or banner material.

Rather than turn them down because I’m not a big fan of the All-Star selection process (after voting stops), I chose to actually accept some admittedly indirect attention from the League, more because it’s so rare (for me, anyway) than anything else. So, that’s where the temporary banners you see came from.

As for the title of the post, I present you this video. It’s actually pretty cool.

As I indicated last night, I think the NHL’s All-Star reserves and replacements all too often are ludicrous choices. However, I’m all for the players voted in by the fans (even given the occasional stuffed ballot box).

I’m proud of Red Wings teammates Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Nicklas Lidstrom for getting voted in, even if Hank can’t play.

I also think the League made the right decision in naming Chris Osgood as a reserve. I should have made that clearer in last night’s rant.

It’s not the All-Star Game itself I have a problem with, per se, I suppose it’s more the fact that the fans only have a say in who the starters are.

Why can’t we vote for the whole roster line-by-line and pairing-by-pairing, with those players with the most top-line/pairing votes getting the start?

Maybe the NHL figures the average fan has a tough time thinking of six players league-wide to vote for, let alone a full roster.

That may be a valid concern, since many fans are so parochial. Still, it may go a long way in ending the feelings of injustice and give the NHL a break from all the negative waves emanating from angry fans feeling their players got the shaft.

Also, I should mention that Ryan Doherty of the new Hockeytown Blog will be covering the All Star Game and its related festivities from Atlanta this weekend.