The NHL has announced a new format for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game at the RBC Center. Think "Fantasy Draft."
The top three forwards, two defenseman and a goalie will be chosen in online fan voting, to begin Nov. 15 and run through Jan. 3. Another 36 players then will be chosen by NHL Hockey Operations along with the fan balloting to play in the Jan. 30 game.
Two captains will be designated by the players, and two alternate captains for each team also chosen. The captains then will choose the two teams from the complete pool of 42 players on Friday, Jan. 28, possibly at the Raleigh Civic & Convention Center.
No longer will it the game match teams from the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Just two "fantasy" teams. No decision has been made on what to name the teams, but each NHL team will be continue to have at least one representative in th All-Star pool.
"It's going to be kind of neat and shakes things up a little bit," Canes goalie Cam Ward said today. "It breaks the old (East-West) tradition but it will be exciting the way they plan on doing it.
"A lot of us are fantasy football fans. It will be kind of similar to that, where you have a fantasy draft."
Canes coach Paul Maurice, with a smile, said the team selections could be interesting. Each team will have three goalies, six defensemen and 12 forwards.
"It will be fun to watch," he said. "A little pressure on the captains to disrespect an All-Star and picking him last. A little different from the playground where you can pick last and not have to deal with that."
That may not happen, however. Still under discussion is having multiple picks at the end of the draft so as to not have a "last man standing."
There no longer will be YoungStars game the day before the All-Star Game with rookies and sophomores. Twelve rookies will be chosen for the SuperSkills Competition, Jan. 29. Each team will have six rookies competing in such contests as the NHL Fastest Skater and NHL Hardest Shot events along with the All-Stars.
"I think it will be fun for players and the fans and create more of a buzz and more excitement," Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today.
The new format was developed and approved by the NHL and the NHL Players Association.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Loss of Young Guns game....blows for Skinner and Caniacs
Thu, 11/11/2010 - 14:10 — Caniac324Major dissappointment in my opinion...hopefully there is more to the Sat event that the same old skill competion...should have gotten rid of that and kept the Young Guns game!!!! Let the Captains pick and coach their Young Guns in a game!
All Star Format
Wed, 11/10/2010 - 17:06 — dwayne1203LOVE the idea...Have gone through many of these 'choose sides'...and they are "fun'..eg do you pick your 'buddy' or the best available..certainly the current/past formats did not add much excitement..
HATE THE IDEA
Wed, 11/10/2010 - 14:31 — schelle92This almost makes me not want to watch the game even though it is right here in Raleigh. What a joke this will be.
Why Is This A Joke?
Wed, 11/10/2010 - 17:00 — richardfocWhy is this idea a joke? I think it is a great idea and will be a lot of fun. All Star Games are as a rule boring, no defense laughers so shaking things up with the "fantasy draft" already makes this years edition more interesting than ones in the past. I can just see guys who have already been picked lobbying their captain to pick a certain player or (even more interesting!) lobbying to not pick a certain player. I also think the picking of the teams will foster more cammeraderie and hopefully make the guys play a bit harder and actually try to win the game.
like the idea
Wed, 11/10/2010 - 13:57 — louis12580This makes the game a bit more exciting and more intriguing. Picture Stamkos (although he SHOULD be a starter) playing for the Western Conference and Zetterburg playing for the East. It also makes the skills competition a bit more exciting. See who the fastest rookie is. See who has the most accurate shot. Only disappointment is that it would be interesting if Anton were to be in the hardest shot, how his shot would measure up to others. Can't wait for the weekend of festivities.