NHL All-Star Weekend

Tonight is the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft, Sundays game will mark the 3rd time the All-Star game will be played under the new format. The new format was adopted in 2011 when the league decided to change the format from a East v. West, to a format where two captain have a draft to decide their teams. The change was meant to boost the All-Star game which had become very boring.  Did it work? The draft does add a new spin to the weekend, but in my opinion has not enhanced the game itself. The long and short of it is that the players are getting paid millions in salary and therefore owners, coaches, and the players themselves don't want to get injured. Due to this the game suffers, it is the same problem the NFL(who copied the NHL's idea for a fantasy draft). For me the main attraction is the skills competition on Saturday. The skills competition offers a chance for these world class athletes to show off some tricks they have probably been working on for years.

This Year's Game

 

 Captains:

 

Nick Foligno:  Foligno is an unknown name for the average hockey fan. He is 27 years old and has split his career with the Senators and his current team the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is having a career year this season pocketing 42 points(18G, 24A) in 44 games. Although he is having a good season he should not have been named captain. He was probably named captain due to the location of the game being in his team's city. I would have liked to see Nash be named captain, since he is the leading scorer and started his career in Columbus.
Assistants: Drew Doughty(Los Angeles), Patrick Kane(Chicago),

Johnathan Toews: Toews is the opposite of Foligno he is one of the most respected palyers in the league on and off the ice. Toews has 42 points(14G, 28A) in 47 games. Johnathan Toews is known for his leadership and I personally think he is a great player to have as a captain for the game. He fits into the likes of the other captain that have been named in previous years(Nicklas Lindstrom, Daniel Alfredsson, and Eric Staal). Toews is a great ambassador for the game and one that can not be thanked enough for his great play in Chicago.
Assistants: Rick Nash(New York Rangers), Ryan Getzlaf(Anaheim)

Coaches:

 

Peter Laviolette(Nashville) - Team Toew: Laviolette has led the suprising Predators to a 30-10-5 record so far this season(2nd in NHL). He is making  huge strides with Nashville in  his first year there.

Darryl Sutter(Los Angeles) - Team Foligno: Sutter on the other hand has been with Los Angeles for a while and is the defending Stanley Cup Champion coach. The Kings are currently 20-15-12, which places them just outside of the current play-off picture.

Draft Predictions:

 

First Pick: Duncan Keith -  With Kane on one team and Toews on the other I think they will be in  a race to get their fellow teammates away from the other.

Last Pick: Zemgus Girgensons - It is obvious the Girgensons is only in the game due to the Fan Vote and therefore is one of the least flashy players in the game.