NHL All-Star Game 08

Call me biased, but I still don’t understand why so many people shit on the game of hockey. The NHL all-star game has come and gone, and this weekend has given the game’s critics another chance and stage to pander the game. Granted, any all-star game in any sport isn’t the best interpretation of what the sport truly is, and that holds true for hockey. The game is an exhibition to showcase to the general masses the skill of the league’s best players and gives fans from across the country a chance to familiarize themselves with players they may not be able to see on a consistent basis.

I enjoyed the all-star game, especially the third period, and especially the final 5-6 minutes. The skating picked up, and guys were even backchecking! There were pretty goals, great saves, mic’d goalies, a good atmosphere, a 4-goal comeback, and a game that wasn’t decided until the final 20 seconds. But for some reason, with all the positives of the game, there are still people out there who will continue to bash the game, and the state of the league. The funny thing is if you ask them why, they can’t give you a legitimate answer. People look down on the league and the sport because that seems to be the thing to do. What can be done?

I have no doubts that the contempt shown by the world-wide leader in sports plays a big part in the general perception of the game. It’s a catch-22 for the league. ESPN doesn’t need the NHL, but the NHL desperately needs ESPN. Versus has done a good job with their coverage, especially this year compared to last, but the lack of availability and visibility of the network hinders the league and the progress in connectivity with new fans.

The NHL needs to find an outlet to show the world the type of men that play in this league. With all the issues swirling around the other major sports leagues, the biggest problem facing the NHL is visibility and acceptance by the casual sports fan. You look at professional athletes, and the thing that stands out to me about hockey players is the mix of skill, humility and respect for the game and those that have played the game. Thanks in part to the sacrifices these guys have to make at a young age, there is a maturity found even in the youngest of stars that you don’t see in other sports. Call me crazy, but it’s nice to see guys who are truly thankful for the opportunity they have and how they give that back to their communities.

Enough with expansion talks and gimmicks. The league has a solid foundation on which to build on, but it doesn’t seem to be enough focus on building upon what they have. I don’t want to see more teams in the league, I want to see more successful franchises. It does nobody any good to place a franchise in a city and hope it works. The rejuvenation in the fan bases in Chicago and St. Louis is great for the sport. It’s amazing what winning can do. The points system has created tight races and parity in the league, and because of this I can’t see the league changing this for the foreseeable future. I think the schedule will continue to be tweaked, but no matter what, you can’t please everybody. Back to the TV issue, a lot of hockey naysayers will tell you that the game is hard to follow on TV. To those people I say go to a few games in person. It honestly doesn’t take long to get a feel for what the game is about, and when that happens, the game is pretty easy to follow on TV. Just don’t bring back the glow pucks.

The game has a lot to offer, and for the most part, true fans are passionate fans, there doesn’t seem to be a happy medium. Unfortunately, you either love it or you hate it, and who knows if that will ever really change.