Why the NHL All-Star Game is So Boring

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

As you all know, the NHL All-Star Game is coming up this week, and as all the teams dwindle down and take a break, we wonder what we are going to do without our week of hockey. We might drive ourselves insane, but we do have another painful option: watch the All-Star game.

It’s not all that boring. In fact, the Skills Competition is incredibly fun to watch. It is fun to see which player can throw the hardest shot on net, or which one has the most impressive shootout move. It’s supposed to be a night of fun, but when you get to the game.

*Yawn*.

The reason that the NHL All-Star Game is so boring is due to the simple fact that the players that are playing participate every single time. It is the same superstars, each in every year (though we get to see John Scott get a chance, due to the rebellion of my fellow fans who wanted a comedic change-up to the all-too-familiar Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel).

Of course, I’m not saying throw in all the goons and fourth-liners and call them All-Stars, but seeing the same players suit up in the whatever ugly contraptions that the NHL calls “jerseys” and play lazy hockey with supposedly cool stick skills gets boring. Especially when the same thing occurs each and every year.

They play a lazy game. I’m sure they would all prefer the week off, and it has become a one, so it’s not like it’s the biggest honor that used to grace the hockey. In addition, no one wants to leave with a season-ending injury, sot here’s barely any huge bone-crushing hits, amazing tries for goals or anything. Just back and forth, boring goals.

Plus, I miss the good ol’ days of East vs West, or even the fun North America vs. World format. They’ve tried to make players captain, and now, they’re splitting it into divisions with the same-old people going to the game. And spots are limited.

Not to mention, the NHL tried to take Scott away from the game, and after electing to finally keep him in due to the outcry and anger of many, the league has limited voting for certain competitions, giving us only three candidates to choose from for the Breakaway Challenge (Dylan Larkin and company, though Larkin will probably win). It’s become clear that the league favors certain players, and it makes the game boring.

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However, due to the lack of hockey, I’ll have to tune in. Feel free to comment your thoughts and join us as we live-tweet and follow Taylor Hall‘s journey.