new all-star game for the NHL?

Question

after last years pathetic display of the young stars game, does anyone else feel that the NHL should change the young stars game to a top prospects game. this game would feature the top 36 skaters (12 forwards and 6Dmen per a side) and the top 6 goaltenders (one per a period/ per a team). i believe this would be far more entertaining because of the stock value for he players, they have everything to gain and everything to lose and would actually play highly contested hockey instead of that pickup-esque young stars trash that didn't deserve to be televised.

irene- how do you not understand my question? i was talking about a top PROSPECTS game NOT a top YOUNG STARS game. while under the current format, the game features young stars, i was refrencing prospects to be drafted. where do you get the idea that brodeur and iginla come in? the WHOLE question was about top prospects, not established superstars. the "real" top prospects game is the all-stars of the canadian junior system, but actually a REAL top prospects game would feature all the top prospects from around the world, have 2 teams of the best players YET TO BE DRAFTED (not just the best of canada) and put it in the place of the young stars game.

rio r- thank you for understanding what i meant.

jm_9_92- good idea on the format

Like I'm Telling You..- Interesting points about the revenue, i hadn't thought of that aspect. I haven't seen the top prospect game coached by orr/cherry because its not broadcast in the states(which is a reason i would like it to be in place of the young stars game). I guess it would be as non hitting but it would have to be more of a contest and more entertaining than last years young stars game.

Answer 1

Ya Have Like CHL(WHL,QMJHL,OHL)/NCAA All star prospects versus the European top prospects

Answer 2

I agree with Irene S.............your question is not clear.

Also, there is no chance in the world that the NHLPA or the NHL Owners will share their revenue portion of the game with players who are not part of the union.

As it stands now, the Young Stars game is nothing more than a cash cow for the NHLPA and Owners. And as long as it is financially successful, there will be no changes.

Also, why do you think a Top Prospects game would be more interesting than the Young Stars game? Have you ever watched the current Top Prospects game? It is just as non-hitting. Playing for the Memorial Cup/Stanley Cup is far too important nowadays for everybody to risk injury in an 'meaningless' all-star game.

Answer 3

The NHL has an All-Star game, and it is a decent affair. Decent hockey, enjoyable to watch once a year, and the players have a lot of fun.

The Young Stars game is the Top Prospects game. It is strictly a fun affair for all involved.

The Canadian Junior Hockey League has a Top Prospects game every year for players of Junior Age not playing in the NHL. It features players from all three leagues and for those guys, it's a chance to show off too.

Hockey is a rough and tumble game. While everybody wants to be an all-star, nobody is going to exert themselves to the point where they might get injured. In today's hockey leagues, there is an importance placed on winning, and the players will perfrom at the highest levels for their respective teams, and not in an all-star game.

Answer 4

I don't understand your question.

The young stars ARE the top prospects, so the young stars game IS the Top Prospects game.

As for a real top prospects game, there is currently one played every year involving all the all-stars from the Canadian Junior Leagues (not professional). Bobby Orr coaches one team, and Donald S. Cherry coaches the other.

You mention the top 36 skaters and top 6 goaltenders. Would this include Martin Brodeur, Jarome Iginla, etc.

The fact is, your question is very vague. You need to clarify it before it really has any meaning to anybody.

Also, the whole idea of the all-star game is to showcase talent to the fans, not for the players to gain stock value.

Answer 5

Hopefully the league never goes to the format MLB uses: making the victor of the All-Star game have home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup final.

There could be a way the league could have a top prospects game: do a Futures Game the way MLB does it. Invite top prospects from each of the 30 teams (the prospects who are not in the NHL yet),

Answer 6

I think it would work if you get the top prospects, not currently playing in the NHL but will be soon. Maybe a Junior League All-Star Game. They should have it like MLB where they have the Futures Game.

The current set-up where you have first or second year players is a bit boring.

Answer 7

The key to a good young guns game is to have good young guns to participate.

The first time the game was featured - LA, 2000 - the game was great. Kovalchuk potted 6 and the players hustled.

The game has lost some of its lustre, but having an allstar A and allstar B game would only appeal to a small portion of us. The goal for the weekend spectacle should be to surround THE game with a series of complimentary events.

Another 60 minute, standard rules game with an additional 42 'all stars' seems like overkill.

Answer 8

Yea i agree with Irene S, the young stars game is a game between the "top prospects" LOL

And the whole point of the young stars game is because all the top players already play in the "All-Star game" so they needed something for the rookies to play in during that time, lol

Answer 9

Nah. The problem with the Young Stars and All Star games were in a horrible time slot.

A lot of the prospects will never see an All Star game unless they are in the stands, so it seems a waste of time to give them their own game no one will watch.

Answer 10

They already do a top prospects game in Canada. Don Cherry and Bobby Orr pick teams from the pool and they play head to head.