NHL All-Star Game 2011: 10 Things to Do Differently Next Year

While this year's changed All-Star format made for an intriguing game, there are always improvements to be made. The new concept is great, but this was only its first year.

To continue its success, the NHL will need to make some tweaks to step it up.

Here are 10 suggestions for improvements for next year's game.

10. Don't Split Up the Sedin Twins

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 28: (L-R) Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks answer questions during NHL All Star Player Media Availability apart of the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend at the Raleigh Convention Center on January 28, 2011 in Raleigh,

If you’re twins, you should come as a two-for-one deal. Twins make amazing line mates—they can read each other’s minds.

Everybody benefits from keeping the Sedins together—we get to see their All-Star talent and their team gets their talent.

Okay, so the only people that don’t benefit would be the team they play against.

But the competition never hurt anybody. The other team will just have to step up their game against the Sedin line.

Or, if they are split up, they should trade places. Would anyone be able to tell the difference? Although, since that's the case, maybe they've already done that.

9. Bigger and Better Location

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MONTREAL - JANUARY 25: Alex Kovalev #27, Vincent Lecavalier #4, Evgeni Malkin #71, Andrei Markov #79, Mike Komisarek #44 and Carey Price #31 of the Eastern Conference All-Stars during the 2009 NHL All-Star game at the Bell Centre on January 25, 2009 in M

Montreal in 2009 was a glitzy affair. The NHL needs to have the All-Star Game in the bigger television markets: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles. Even Washington D.C. or Atlanta could be good markets.

If it was set in a bigger market, this could also increase the appeal for sponsors and for broadcast rights. It could also attract bigger attendance.

8. Better In-Game Entertainment

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 30: Singer Clay Aiken sings the United States National Anthem before the 58th NHL All-Star Game at RBC Center on January 30, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Canadian Tenors and Clay Aiken for the Canadian and American national anthems, respectively?

They had nice voices, but the NHL could do better. They need bigger star power!

How about NHL WAGs Carrie Underwood, Hilary Duff or Willa Ford? Or Predators’ fan Taylor Swift?

They could do better for the intermission show as well. Three Doors Down doesn’t really cut it.

7. Get the All-Star Game on a Major Network

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 05: (L-R)Broadcasters Kirk Herbstreit, Erin Andrews and Chris Fowler speak onstage during the 'BCS Title Game' panel at the ESPN portion of the 2011 Winter TCA press tour held at the Langham Hotel on January 5, 2011 in Pasadena, Ca

This one may be difficult to accomplish. The All-Star Game was on Versus in the U.S. The NHL can do better.

They got the Winter Classic on NBC on a Saturday night at 8 p.m. Surely they can get the All-Star Game on a Sunday night on a major network. NBC may be willing to hear proposals.

The other option is possibly ESPN? Supposedly, ESPN has been interested in reviving their broadcast deal with the NHL. This would be the perfect opportunity.

6. Put the All-Star Game in Primetime

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HONOLULU - JANUARY 30: The NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders during the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl pre-game between the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC) at Aloha Stadium at Aloha Stadium on January 30, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (P

I know they wanted to tailor it for a family-friendly audience, but 4 p.m. is too early. They should put it on at 8 p.m.

They may need to do some rescheduling to make sure it wouldn’t compete with other activities (the Pro Bowl?).

But even if it did, I think the more interesting format of the NHL All-Star Game could potentially beat the Super Bowl star-less NFL Pro Bowl. That is, if marketed well enough.

5. Go Bigger, Go Better

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 30: Team Staal player Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers skates against Team Lidstrom player Danny Briere #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers against Team Staal Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during the third per

The HBO 24/7 Caps-Pens series leading up to the Winter Classic was a great success. Why not do that style of a show for the All-Star Game?

Show how these players, who are opponents for 82-plus games a year, come together to have a good time during All-Star weekend.

They could also show the strategy behind the captains’ draft picks. It would also give the NHL the opportunity to show how they prepare for the All-Star Game.

I think that could be a great show.

4. Every Player Mic'd Up During the Game

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 30: Team Staal players Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks, Alexander Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals and Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks reacts with their team in the third period against Team Lidstrom in the

I don’t know about anyone else out there, but I really enjoyed Ryan Kesler being mic’d up and interviewed during the game. So much so that I think all the players should do that.

I know it’s a game distraction, but this is the All-Star Game. This is about getting people interested in hockey. It’s about showing off the players’ personalities and having fun with it.

After all, the game doesn’t count, except for bragging rights.

3. Make a Better MVP Selection Process

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RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 30: Team Staal player Patrick Sharp #10 of the Chicago Blackhawks is awarded the MVP award after Team Staal played Team Lidstrom in the 58th NHL All-Star Game at RBC Center on January 30, 2011 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by

Patrick Sharp won the MVP? Yes, he had a good game. But not as good as Shea Weber or Nicklas Lidstrom.

Weber and Lidstrom were a combined plus-13 on the night. How were neither of them selected as MVP?

Fan votes only counted for a portion of the vote, so whomever or whatever tipped the scales in Sharp’s favor should not have that role again next year.

2. Team Crosby vs. Team Ovechkin

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WASHINGTON - MAY 13: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins shake hands after Pittsburgh's 6-2 victory in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Veri

I know the NHL purists are tired of seeing the Crosby-Ovechkin hype. They think that the NHL shouldn't make it all about Crosby and Ovechkin. And I agree to some extent.

However, take a second to think about it.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to see which player can assemble the better team? I think it would be.

1. All-Star Game Winter Classic?

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BOSTON - JANUARY 01: Dan Craig, NHL Facilities Operations Manager, is seen on the rink before the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins during the 2010 Bridgestone Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010 in Boston, Massachus

Ever since the success of the NHL's annual Winter Classic event, there was a mention of an outdoor All-Star Game.

I think that would be a fantastic idea.

But it would be virtually impossible for Dan Craig to create the outdoor rinks for the Winter Classic, Heritage Classic and All-Star Game in such a short period of time. He is only one man, after all.

So why not combine the All-Star Game and Winter Classic? Hold the All-Star Game on January 1, in the Winter Classic's timeslot. It would be on NBC, a top network, and they should hold it in primetime, as I mentioned earlier.

The novelty of the Winter Classic may eventually wear off, but this would be another way to keep it fresh.