2012 NHL All-Star Game: The Voting System Isn't Broken

Fans of the Ottawa Senators have to be giddy as schoolgirls after learning on Jan. 5 that four of their players were selected as part of the First Six team for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game. 

Almost everyone else? Not so much.

After all, included amongst those selected were Daniel Alfredsson (ranked 44th in scoring) and Milan Michalek (ranked 81st). 

With all due respect to an Ottawa team that is performing much better than expected this year, the idea that those two players deserve to be a part of an elite group that is supposed to represent the best of the league this year is ridiculous. 

As I previously mentioned in an earlier column, there are a number of players more deserving to be in the First Six, such as Henrik Sedin, Phil Kessel and Claude Giroux. 

But while it is true that the fans got it wrong this year, it’s also true that those players were voted in fairly. 

Any team could have made a campaign to have their own players selected, and fans could have come together to make sure that the right players were selected, much like they did in 2007 when Rory Fitzpatrick was almost voted in as a starter. 

Fan voting keeps fans engaged with the game and works to improve the popularity of the sport. Giving the people what they want once in a while is also never a bad idea when they’re the ones buying tickets, jerseys and other merchandise from their favourite team throughout the year. 

But they haven’t given us what we want, you might say. They picked the wrong team. We should have coaches, GMs and players decide who the starters of the All-Star Game should be. 

Let’s keep things in perspective, people. 

First, the players voted into the First Six will be placed in the fantasy draft just like everyone else. Who knows, it might be Michalek that wins the car this year for being picked last. 

Second, only six players are selected by fan voting; the rest will be announced by the NHL on Thursday, Jan. 12. Sedin, Kessel and Giroux will be All-Stars; that much is sure. 

Third, being selected as an All-Star starter typically doesn’t mean very much in the grand scheme of things. In fact, being named a starter for a hockey game doesn’t mean very much at all due to the nature of the game and the fact that a starter will leave the ice after 45-120 seconds (goalies aside). Quick, without using Google, how many of you can name the Western Conference starters from the 1997 All-Star Game? 

Fourth, and most importantly, fans have the opportunity to anticipate this issue for next year (just as they could have for this year) and act accordingly to make sure that the “right” team gets selected, whatever that might be.

The All-Star Game will be no less entertaining because Alfredsson and Michalek are crashing the party. If anything, they might make it more interesting and fun to watch since the crowd might be more engaged.

If you’re mad about it, there’s always next year. At least in this case you can actually make a difference.