Don't Stop There, Brendan! 5 Other Ways to Make NHL All-Star Game More Appealing

NHL Vice President Brendan Shanahan knows a little about All-Star games.

After all, he played in a ton of them.

Shanny also knows what fans want, because Shanahan played nine seasons in Detroit, aka "Hockeytown," where the denizens often teach the players about what's good for the game.

Shanahan is also one of the smartest, most forward-thinking former athletes around—certainly when it comes to hockey. Shanahan was a cerebral hockey player, just as comfortable discussing the cinema and politics as he was breakout passes and penalty killing.

So it didn't surprise me one bit to learn that Shanahan had come up with a radical new idea regarding the NHL All-Star Game.

Under Shanny's proposal, endorsed by the NHLPA, two captains (to be determined) will choose All-Star teams from a pool of eligible players, just like the days on the pond in places like Moose Jaw and Saskatoon.

As wonderfully intriguing as this idea is, there are even more ways to make the NHL All-Star game/weekend more interesting for players and fans alike.

What follows are five of these.

No. 5: Have a 2-on-1 Contest

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 19: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals is tripped up during the game against the Boston Bruins at the Verizon Center on October 19, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

In a twist from the done-to-death shootout/penalty-shot thing, pair two teammates from various NHL teams and have them go 2-on-1 against various premier defensemen, who would be backed up by top goalies from the league.

No rebound shots, though. Once the goalie makes a save, that offensive pair's turn is done.

No. 4: Each Team Plays with six Skaters

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 25: Defenseman Mark Flood #4 of the New York Islanders plays in the first NHL game of his career during a game against the Calgary Flames at the Nassau Coliseum on March 25, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Get

Hear me out before you call me nuts.

The sixth skater would NOT be allowed to skate past the center red line. He would be, in essence, a "free safety" to protect his team's zone against the inevitable odd-man rushes that occur in All-Star games.

Yes, this would mean that each team would be attacking five against six in the offensive zone. But since these are the most skilled guys in the world, that shouldn't faze them, should it?

Besides, it (sorta) makes up for the lack of bodychecking in these games.

Note: During power plays, the shorthanded team reverts back to the traditional four skaters, until the penalty is killed or a power-play goal is scored. Then, it gets two more skaters back onto the ice.

No. 3: Minor Penalties are 1 Minute instead of 2

Rich Lam/Getty Images

VANCOUVER, CANADA - NOVEMBER 6: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks tries to tie up Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings behind the net during the first period in NHL action on November 06, 2010 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, C

I know, there aren't a lot of penalties whistled in All-Star games, period.

So this change shouldn't tick too many people off.

Sixty-second power plays instead of two minutes would potentially decrease scoring, so the games aren't 12-10 cartoons. They would also encourage more creative passing and crashing the net, two aspects of the game that are sorely lacking in regular-season contests.

And don't forget the power-play team's sixth skater, who would have a shot at blocking icing attempts by the shorthanded team. This would revert back to the traditional four skaters until the penalty was killed or a goal was scored.

No. 2: Throwback—Defending Stanley Cup Winner vs. All-Stars

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - OCTOBER 09: The 2010 Stanley Cup Championship banner is seen during a ceremony before the Chicago Blackhawks season home opening game against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center on October 9, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan

It used to be a tradition in the NHL in the 1950s.

The defending Stanley Cup champions would play a team of league All-Stars, as opposed to two All-Star teams facing each other.

I think it might be time to look into bringing that format back into the mix.

You'd get a product that more closely resembles true NHL hockey, instead of the aforementioned cartoon games with both teams scoring in double digits.

But that product is still likely to be more wide open and thrilling than a regular season game, because of the All-Star talent on the ice and the defending champs' determination to beat them.

This may seem like the Cup champs are being penalized for their success, as they wouldn't be able to enjoy the three-day break that the other 29 teams get. But that's easily solved; simply give the Cup champs a couple extra days off before resuming their regular season schedule.

The Chicago Blackhawks against a team of All-Stars?

You think the Chicago fans—and others around the league—wouldn't be juiced to see that?

No. 1: ALLOW BODYCHECKING!!

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL- NOVEMBER 6: David Hale #36 of the Ottawa Senators body checks Andrei Kostitsyn #46 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 6, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

This isn't the Pro Bowl, where the hits can be extremely violent, so therefore blitzing is illegal.

This is the NHL, where it's only natural to want to separate your man from the puck.

Bodychecking has virtually vanished from the All-Star game. It's a damn shame because that's how some of the All-Stars made the team to begin with.

I'm not advocating bone-crushing, blind-side hits, the kind that find their way onto ESPN and YouTube.

I just don't think it's too much to ask to see some physical play.

I know skilled players are the big draw. But NHL arenas are filled with oohs and aahs every night thanks to good, clean bodychecks, too.