NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft: Thpppt*

Jan 21, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie

(29) makes a save on Chicago Blackhawks center

(19) during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Blackhawks won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL All-Star Game is a fun yearly game played, supposedly, by the best players in the NHL. It’s an entertaining game with little defense, but a high “wow” factor. But, is the NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft really the best way to choose the teams?

Well, the NHL All-Star game is upon us again, which means we will get to see the best players in the NHL complete against each other. Players such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Pekka Rinne, P.K. Subban, will all be making this another great weekend for…nevermind. Apparently some of the biggest stars in the league are not playing due to injuries or that stupid “every team must be represented” rule. But that’s not my main issue right now. I have something else that I find more annoying.

NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft

I like All-Star weekends, whether it’s the NHL, MLB, or NBA. I don’t care much for the NFL Pro-Bowl (which is copying the NHL and having their own Fantasy Draft), but it is still fun to see some of the best players in the sport compete at the same time, all in one place.

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But I have a problem with the All-Game Fantasy draft and it’s twofold: rooting interest and rewards for mediocrity.

In the old Eastern Conference vs. Western conference format, people knew who to root for; if your team is the Chicago Blackhawks you likely root for the Western Conference or if you are a Boston Bruins fan you probably root for the Easter Conference. But the draft tonight has Blackhawks teammates facing of against one another. Who do you root for?

For some fans this isn’t an issue. Fans of the Buffalo Sabers, for example, won’t have to worry about this any time soon since they will only see one player make the All-Star team each year for the foreseeable future. You just root for the team of whatever captain drafts him. However, if you are a Blues fan you get to see Vladimir Tarasenko face off against Kevin Shattenkirk. So, who are the Blues fans going to root for? Team Edward or Team Jacob makes about as much sense as Team Toews or  Team Foligno.

I know that before it was West vs. East it was Campbell Conference vs. Wales conference and before that it was the All-Stars vs. the Defending Stanley Cup Champions. There was even one point when it was North America vs. the World.

In fact, this isn’t even the first time that players from the same team would face each other in the All-Star game. They had First All-Star Team vs. Second All-Star Team in the 1950’s, but quit doing that when fans complained about players on the same team playing against each other in the All-Star Game. The NHL should learn from their own mistakes.

The other issue I have with the All-Star Fantasy Draft is this silly notion that the player picked last gets a new car. “Hey, you’re the least useful person here, have a new car!” When it’s said like that it sounds kind of weird. I understand that the NHL is trying to keep that last player picked from being upset, but there is an easy way to fix that and not have to waste money on a car to curb hurt feelings: DON’T DO A DRAFT!

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Reverting to the old East vs. West (a system still used in the NBA and MLB, though that’s NL vs AL) allows fans to keep their allegiances and eliminates wasting money on a car, money that the NHL could use to fight cancer. Now that’s a cause I am behind.

Disagree with me? I am sure many will, so check out Too Many Men on the Site staff writer Adam Savard’s article on the same subject and find out why the NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft is a good idea.

*Thppt is onomatopoeia for blowing raspberries by sticking out your tongue and blowing (as sign of derision or dislike)