Do you think fans should get their responsibility as all-star voters taken away?

Question

This whole Rory Fitzpatrick thing awhile back and Buffalo bandwagoners stuffing the ballot boxes so a guy like Ryan Miller starts over Brodeur in the all-star game. I know the game is pretty meaningless but some guys miss out because of irrational fans. Thoughts?

To the people who say that guys would rather be home watching, you should realize that come contract time, all-star appearances look pretty goo on the old resume.

Answer 1

If it is going to continue the way it was this season then I am all for taking it away from the fans.

The fact that Fitzpatrick came as close as he did to getting in was a joke.

Brodeur not starting was another joke.

But on the other hand....

It is the ALL star game not the BEST game.

Stars are the popular ones not necessarily the best ones.

That said then the fans should be able to pick who they want to see.

But what gets me even more than that---ever try to get tickets to an All Star game?

By time the NHL has given away all the free tickets to corporate people only seats left are in the upper level unless you are a season ticket holder for the arena it is being held in.

I don't know. I'm wishy washy. One minute I think the fans should be allowed to vote next minute I think there are too many idiots voting and stuffing the ballot box and it should be taken away from them.

If the game itself stays like it is they should just drop the game all together and then we wouldn't have to worry about how it's being voted for. The All Star game has gotten so boring.

Answer 2

No, the fans should continue to vote. Even if they cant make the best choices at least they get to see the "most popular" if not actually the very best players. i think if you asked most of the players off the record they would rather have the 3 days off than fly into another city and skate while their teammates get a quicky vacation (the CBA makes it so they can do whatever they want and they have no obligation to the team so there are no practices). And just an obsevation but the Fitzpatrick situation was actually great for hockey....even if it was because of something as lame as picking a fringe pro as an All Star it did get the league a lot of publicity that otherwise they wouldnt have gotten. it was actually newsworthy for a lot of local TV news stations that for the most part have sports anchors who think a puck is just a really thick coaster with a cool logo on it ( iknow this because i live in a city that has an AHL team and the sports guys cant even pronounce the names of half the guys and the highlights are almost funny simply because the guy has no clue what is happening so he pathetically wings it).

Answer 3

No. Fans voted for Rory Fitzpatrick not just because they like him or think he is a great player. It was a statement that fans were trying to make. The NHL All-Star game is full of the All Stars but the NHL needs the hard working/checking/gritty players. These players don't get enough appreciation. The Vote for Rory Campaign was just a demonstration to prove a point. Too many players get voted to the All Star game who have no heart/ no passion and no desire. Sometimes it's not just the skill that makes the fans go crazy. I love to watch guys who have decent skill but a heart big enough to allow him to do anything.

Answer 4

The All-Star game is for the fans. Half of the players there probably wish they were somewhere else resting anyways. The All-Star weekend is kind of an off weekend anyways, but a 5-time All-Star is probably not going to get too upset over missing the game.

It's probably better that the NHL puts in the players the fans want, as opposed to the best players. I may be in the minority, but I don't think it's utterly important to get the "most deserving" players into the AS Game.

However, I don't think AS appearances should be taken into consideration with regards to the Hall of Fame voting, as long as the fans are voting.

Answer 5

Dunno. I never really understood why the sport needs the all-star game anyway. Nobody checks anyone, winning doesn't do anything for you in the regular season (i think in Baseball it might give you home in the World Series???), and it ends up not resembling Hockey. Maybe just as well if you're going to put the game on a Network you need a microscope to find.

I'd say let the fans have the say, it's their game, even when they do dumb things like what you mentioned. Besides if it were left up to the Coaches or players while the selection process would no doubt be BETTER, there would still be mistakes.

Answer 6

well at least if they can vote maybe they'll bother to watch the game! i heard passing commentary on the all star game during games, but i never got the exact date and it was gone without me realizing!!

the NHL needs to do whatever it can to keep the fans happy, even if it comes at the price of an all star game. the all star game means NOTHING at all. the only reason it is played is for the fans.. so if that's what the fans want, then that's what they get.. even if that means that some good players get left out. it is what it is.. and what it is is a popularity contest. besides, would a great hockey player really get to show what a great player he is by playing in one of these things? nope..

Answer 7

I thought the NHL was going to be more fan friendly after the ridiculous work stoppage that cancelled an entire season. To do anything that would somehow alienate the small fan base the sport has would be absolutely stupid. The game is about as bad as the NFL Pro Bowl since it isn't played anything close to a regular-season contest, so any roster concerns should be handled by creating a couple more spots for players.

Answer 8

Yeah, Rory "it's in your skate" Fitzpatrick is a joke. Miller's save percentage and GAA lie, as most goals he allows are defensive lapses in front of him he can't do anything to cover. Campbell wouldn't be an All-Star if the game was after the season. Vanek and Pomenville should have been in the game, especially since Vanek is probably going to get 40 goals this season.

And do I count as a Sabres bandwagoner since my first season back in WNY was last season? I was in So Cal before, and was a Ducks fan. I root for my home teams, and since I still have family in So Cal, I really have 2 teams to root for.

Answer 9

The point of the All-Star game is that the players who are there are the players that fans want to see, whether that means starting Sidney Crosby or Rory Fitzpatrick. Makes you think about the way the US elects presidents though, doesn't it? The Electoral College might not be as stupid as it's cracked up to be.

Answer 10

If they want a TRUE all star game use the STATS they keep pretty good stats these days, it's a no-brainer there the best players are right in front of you, no complex decision required. But probably the fans get involved, they have a vested interest and they watch. Kinda like American Idol.