2011 All star roster.

[Hradsky 1]

and when offered two back ups from the bench waves them off in favor of Letang's Easton.

I think that was just because he needed an excuse for losing, he knew he wouldn't beat Stamkos but this way people will be like "He didn't have his own stick!!"

but yeah haha, sucks for them. Easton has to be thrilled.

[Chadd 916]

I think that was just because he needed an excuse for losing, he knew he wouldn't beat Stamkos but this way people will be like "He didn't have his own stick!!"

but yeah haha, sucks for them. Easton has to be thrilled.

Nah, he was just having fun, like he always does. Just like shooting with Malkin's stick a couple years ago in the trick shot relay. He's one of the few that makes an attempt to put on a show. Speaking of that, Fleury was having fun out there.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Nah, he was just having fun, like he always does. Just like shooting with Malkin's stick a couple years ago in the trick shot relay. He's one of the few that makes an attempt to put on a show. Speaking of that, Fleury was having fun out there.

After seeing MAF doing the Pens shootout in the HBO show...I knew he'd be into it.

[EBondo 233]

After seeing MAF doing the Pens shootout in the HBO show...I knew he'd be into it.

Judging by his language during the HBO show, good thing he wasn't mic'd up for it.

[Brian Harte 1]

Seeing as Ovi broke 2 sticks at that point, and knowing how many sticks he goes through on average, I'm guessing he didn't want to possibly break a third stick before the actual All Star game started.

[dsjunior1388 81]

Anyone else catch this?

Making the accuracy shooting event head to head was stupid, it was really hard to see how many shots it took each guy.

[dsjunior1388 81]

Nah, he was just having fun, like he always does. Just like shooting with Malkin's stick a couple years ago in the trick shot relay. He's one of the few that makes an attempt to put on a show. Speaking of that, Fleury was having fun out there.

I'm wondering if maybe he was just looking for a stiffer stick. How often does Ovie take a full on slapper with his 79 flex?

[K9 Unit 1]

Anyone else catch this?

Making the accuracy shooting event head to head was stupid, it was really hard to see how many shots it took each guy.

yeah i caught that, i think they messed up a sabres player too

[TBLfan 25]

I wasn't sure what time or channel the skills competition would be on, so I went to nhl.com. Didn't see it anywhere on the front page, so I clicked on schedule. "No games today." Fortunately Versus had it prominently displayed on their front page. 7PM start, by the way

I was looking for the info earlier this week. You'd think NHL.com, nope... The info is on the Hurricane's site, thanks Google. Who runs this league? An idiot, that's who.

The skills comp was horribly put together as it is every year. I can't remember a time when they didn't have an issue with bad camera angles, forgetting to start the clock or having timing issues of some sort... one of the league's showcases and they look like they're putting on an event you'd have in high school.

MAF was awesome in the breakaway challenge. They caught the MAF-spin and the jumping jacks but he did something every shot. In the second to last shot Ovechkin took MAF had his stick upside down. In the last shot he covered his face with his catcher, pretty funny.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Team Lidstrom should be wearing Navy pants. Royal blue looks weird with everything else being dark.

[noodle3872 40]

Agreed! The royal blue looks out of place. I do like the white with red gloves on Team Staal.

[mnpucker 33]

Nah, he was just having fun, like he always does. Just like shooting with Malkin's stick a couple years ago in the trick shot relay. He's one of the few that makes an attempt to put on a show. Speaking of that, Fleury was having fun out there.

If he was "having fun" i am pretty sure he would have taken a stick from anyone other than a player from that Shittsburgh Team!! haha. Seriously he had a look of disgust like, get that ccm crap out of my sight. He did not want the ccm in his hands. SKills competition was by far the most disappointing ever, I coach 10-12 year old kids that can do the tinges they did or TRIED doing. Dadinov? seriously?

[EBondo 233]

The NHL Twitter account is running a contest throughout the game where they ask questions and randomly pick someone who answers correctly to win something. I just won a Matt Duchene autographed hat and ASG print...nice!!!

[AIREAYE 248]

They should really encourage the players to showboat, do some more outrageous (respectable though) stunts. But obviously, it's up to the players. They all should look at MAF or Ovi as examples

[Hidious 0]

They should really encourage the players to showboat, do some more outrageous (respectable though) stunts. But obviously, it's up to the players. They all should look at MAF or Ovi as examples

I don't know, i think they should just remove this stunt contest. It's a joke and has nothing to do with playing hockey whatsoever.

[mug25 2]

3 Doors Down + Guardian Project was a total joke.

[burrn 0]

And i suddenly realized how WTF those socks were...ugh

[JKranz24 1]

I don't know, i think they should just remove this stunt contest. It's a joke and has nothing to do with playing hockey whatsoever.

I agree...they should restrict it to game-only situations, like a goalie skating the full length of the rink, or a goalie facing 15 breakaways in a row.

/sarcasm

It's like the HR derby in baseball...is it a game situation? Absolutely not.

But is it fun? I think so. I think the players have been...conditioned to not showboat, so it's tough for them to turn it on. It's the exact opposite in, say, the Slam Dunk competition, where players get the #1 Top Play for some SICK OMG SPORTSCENTER dunk.

I agree on the camera angles and the head-to-head formats. The fun of the accuracy competition isn't time, it's number of shots...although Daniel Sedin smoked everyone in both parts.

[hamstercaster 2]

The whole All Start Game thing is a joke. The skills comp sucks with nothing really exiting to watch for. All the players there would rather be home resting like their "less fortunate" teamates than being there risking tweeking an already injured area or injuring themsleves. Letang caught the side of the board on that race a had there been a crack or something there he could have done serious damage to his knee. It's nonsense to have the guys going at full steam with they are not warmed up properly. Goalies, although they weren't trying very hard could still injure themselves. If you are going to have it, have it at the end of the season instead where in the event of an injury, they have all summer to heal. It still would suck though.

[bandits_5 18]

The whole All Start Game thing is a joke. The skills comp sucks with nothing really exiting to watch for. All the players there would rather be home resting like their "less fortunate" teamates than being there risking tweeking an already injured area or injuring themsleves. Letang caught the side of the board on that race a had there been a crack or something there he could have done serious damage to his knee. It's nonsense to have the guys going at full steam with they are not warmed up properly. Goalies, although they weren't trying very hard could still injure themselves. If you are going to have it, have it at the end of the season instead where in the event of an injury, they have all summer to heal. It still would suck though.

I disagree , I think its FUN to watch. It helps draw the casual fans. And as far as getting hurt , well , if a guy slips coming down the stairs in the morning , he could tear an ACL. Or throw his back out picking up his kids , etc.........the only way to completly prevent injury is by not living.

I think guys just analyze and over analyze to the point where they dont see it for what it really is............FUN! hockey is supposed to be FUN , and this is really the only time they get to have FUN with it. Ovie threw his stick and everyone was like" thats BS , what a d!ck". Nope , it was FUN. Guys having FUN , is FUN to watch. Keep up the good work NHL!

[IniNew 53]

I agree with Bandit's. This stuff is just for fun. It's starting to worry me how far people are taking this whole respect and honor stuff. Every player that was at that game had a smile on their face. If they enjoy it, does anyone else's opinion really matter?

[RussianDangler15 0]

+1 I doubt any of the players are thinking wow this sucks I'd rather be home. They have the option to not go but they choose to participate so I'm assuming they enjoy it.

[Hidious 0]

I'm all for showboating skills and i love fancy goals like Vermette's ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhzVvQBUtOI&feature=related ) and the stuff Ribeiro does in actual shootouts but when the players start with this lacrosse non-sense, i can't help but facepalm. Kids are wasting valuable time practicing these moves instead of working on their stick handling skills. Isn't St-Louis scoring twice while skating backwards a lot more entertaining than Ovy going for it with his stick upside down?

[camhockey16 5]

what would you guy think of having a hardest wrist shot contest? or maybe hardest backhand contest?

[Tailboard Jockey 25]

The whole All Star weekend is pretty boring to me, but we're not the audience the league is putting this on for. They're looking to expand the audience and grow the game (higher ratings for regular games and playoff games, increase in NHL and hockey equipment retail sales, more kids trying out youth hockey). If that happens, then the All Star weekend is a success, and that's good for all of us.