All Star Lame

 Smashmouth inspired many douchbags

The votes came in for the NHL All Star Game today.  The league is going with the same format that was tried last year, with three starting forwards, two starting defensemen, and a starting goalie were selected through fan voting, with the rest of the players appearing will be selected by NHL operations people so we know that the voting will be fair and objective.

We have mixed thoughts on the All Star Game.  While it is great to see star players play against each other, there is less physicality in the game than on the Washington Captials blue line.  The NHL obviously wants to showcase the skill and talent, which leaves out players who excel on defense such as Brooks Orpik and Zbynek Michalek.  It is also why no Pens made it, since the roster is grinders and not scorers.

Fan voting has somewhat tainted the game.  There was the Montreal internet algorithm scandal a few years back.  Four of the six starters play for the hometown Senators, and Sergei Gonchar was ranked as the third defenseman in voting.

Yes, that Sergei Gonchar.  Liked Gonch when he was here, but definitely not All Star material anymore.

While the NHL makes the All Star game meaningless, unlike the MLB, where some scrub from the Pirates could decide the game because each team has to have a player and the outcome determines homefield advantage for the World Series, there has been some controversy regarding the Red Wings.  Recall two suspensions because players elected to sit out a meaningless game.  We can see where Bettman is coming from, but it's a meaningless game.

Honestly, we probably won't even watch the game.  Sidney Crosby being 6th in voting is as big a joke as it gets.  He'll probably still be selected by the league to go, despite only playing 8 games this year.  We're personally more interested in the skills competition.

Go Pens