NHL All-Star Game: Does It Still Have a Place in the League?

Each year, the best players in the NHL compete in what we call the NHL All-Star Game.  The build-up to the game is possibly the most exciting part, as fans get to vote for their favorites and watch as the roster is solidified.  

For some, the All-Star game is an exciting and creative way to broadcast the game, but for others, it is an untimely break to the regular season.  

Personally, I feel that the All-Star Game is much more exciting in theory than in reality.  The level of play simply doesn't compare to the regular season.  Although the new "draft" format (as opposed to the East vs. West format) to the event has increased interest, there are still changes that need to be made.  

The following slideshow will examine the problems with the All-Star Game and what can be done about them.

The Voting System

It's rare to find a voting system where an individual can cast a vote numerous times, as seen in the NHL. As the 2012 NHL All-Star Game nears, we are starting to see who the front-runners are on the ballots. Taking a look at the results thus far shows the effects of this problem.  

Daniel Alfredsson currently sits tied for 63rd in the NHL for points, with 11 goals, 16 assists, and a minus-1 rating.  Not exactly the numbers you'd expect from the #2 vote getter among forwards.  

Two below Alfredsson in the polls, we find a very talented forward in Sidney Crosby.  The problem is that he has played just eight games all season, and his availability for the All-Star Game is very slim.  

The best explanation for these names atop the polls is fan base.  The leaders tend to play for teams with a hockey-crazed fan base, whereas the stars on teams further south remain to be seen.  

Kris Versteeg, Tomas Fleischmann, Stephen Weiss, and Brian Campbell have been dominant forces all season long.  The problem is that the Panthers don't play in a hockey market—because of this, all four of these players remain off the leaderboard.

This voting problem was truly exposed in the 2006-07 campaign, which saw Vancouver Canucks defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick finish third in All-Star votes despite having zero points in 18 games.  

Repetition

This season, like so many in the past, Nicklas Lidstrom will finish near the top of the All-Star polls. One must think that there was a point in time when the All-Star game stopped being enjoyable for Lidstrom (if it ever was enjoyable for him to begin with).

The same goes for players like Daniel Alfredsson, Martin Brodeur (although he isn't leading this season) and so many other talented veterans.

The lack of motivation at these games is enough of an issue without including players who no longer find enjoyment in the event.

Lack of Motivation

The goal of NHL players is simple: to win the Stanley Cup.  That's what every second of every game is played for.  It's what drives these players to entertain us at such a fast-paced, intense game.  

Unfortunately, winning the All-Star Game doesn't increase anyone's chances of obtaining their ultimate goal.  Without that motivation to win, players lose their motivation to sacrifice, which leads us to the next problem.

Fear of Injury

Hockey is an amazing sport.  The players give it everything they have night after night.  They take hits to make plays, and they dive to block shots.  They risk getting injured because they will do anything to get their names carved into the Stanley Cup.

But what happens when winning the game doesn't help you win the cup?  Players stop sacrificing; which is what we see in the NHL All-Star Game.

In the All-Star Game, players don't block shots, take full slap shots, fight, hit or even defend.  It simply isn't worth the risk.  Without those parts of the game, the entertainment value suffers. 

What Can Be Done?

Just because the All-Star Game has issues doesn't mean it can't be fixed.  Getting rid of the event all-together is not the only option.  So what else is there?

First, fans should only be able to cast one vote each, or perhaps once per month.  Being able to vote up to 30 times each is what has Alfredsson, Crosby, and Rory Fitzpatrick at the top of the polls.  

Next, there should be a limit on how many times a player can play in the game.  This way, players won't have the chance to get bored of participating in it, and it would be a great opportunity for the NHL to broadcast its younger talent to the world.  

Lastly, the timing of the All-Star game should change, preferably to shortly after the playoffs come to an end. This would allow fans to make their votes based on the best players all season, and it would also improve the issue of injuries.  If players have a full summer to recover from any sustained injuries, then they would be much more likely to make those risky plays.  

A game with the best players from the league that is played at the intensity of the regular season and playoffs would be a true gift for any sports fan.