Tuesday, December 21, 2010 /
By Andrew Chong, editor /
Whether you really care about the game or not, the new NHL All-Star draft is generating a lot of buzz.
The NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft will be televised on Friday, Jan. 28 and will kick-off All-Star Weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina.
So, who should be the captains?
Fans pick the starting six and NHL Hockey Operations will add 36 more names to the ballot. In turn, that group of 42 will vote for team captains. And captains pick teams.
Here are some suggestions for captains:
Mike Richards vs. P.K. Subban
P.K. could draft all the loud-mouths like Steve Ott and Adam Burish—the type of guys that everyone but their home team hates. And Richards could draft some tough cookies, like Milan Lucic and Jared Boll, to lay the smack down.
The Sedins vs. The Staals
I know one way Daniel and Henrik could get into the heads of the Eric, Jordan, and Marc: draft 20-year-old Jared Staal from the ECHL and slot baby-Staal in as their right winger. Drama!
Roberto Luongo vs. Dustin Byfuglien
Luongo said it all during a recent TSN reading of some of his greatest poetry: “Human eclipse / Rhinoceros hips / Who will laugh last when I slash your calf / Bring me peace / Make it cease / Get your big a** out of my crease.”
Sean Avery vs. James Wisniewski
Obscenity vs. pure beauty? Wisniewski was susupended for making an ‘obscene gesture’ towards Sean Avery. How could James bring such trash into the presence of such a dashing trendsetter? After all, Avery was recently heralded by Forbes.com as one of the world’s best-dressed athletes.
Carey Price vs. Jaroslav Halak
The two could agree to draft teams made entirely of soft, skilled forwards that don’t backcheck. The game would become the ultimate goalie showdown as defensively-irresponsible snipers pepper them for 60 minutes on endless odd-man rushes. Seems like the only fair way to determine whether the Habs were right in their controversial decisions to let Halak go in favour of Price.
Alex Burrows vs. Stephane Auger
If the NHL is desperate to add excitement to the All-Star Game, they could try putting Alex Burrows and the referee he most despises as the two starting centres and just let things play-out.
Brian Burke vs. Kevin Lowe
Burke said he will never trade with Lowe but he never said anything about never playing against Lowe.
Rypien vs. A Fan
Fans should be given the next level of freedom: the option to vote-in themselves, if they dare. Go ahead, ‘the Ripper’ is waiting for you...
We polled Facebook friends/fans and Twitter followers and here are some of the responses to the question, “who should be the captains for the new NHL All-Star format?”
Michael F.
“Reggie Dunlop (from the movie, Slapshot) and Gary Bettman so Reggie can beat the crap out of him...or, why not let a goalie be a captain once?”
Maureen W.
“Mike Richards and Cindy Crosby – so Richards can make Crosby cry – boo hoo!”
Kelly T.
In response to Hockey Now’s Richards vs. Subban idea: “I believe the Richards-Subban idea will take the cake! Wanna see Subban get his head handed to him on a platter! It’s attitude adjustment time!”
Brian V.
Further response to the Richards vs. Subban idea: “Richards, stop crying and drop the gloves with Subban if you don’t like what he is doing. However, you and I both know Richards doesn’t have the stones. PK will be a star in this league.”
Phil G.
“Phaneuf and Avery. Or Kelser and Ladd.”
Normand B.
“Between Crosby/Ovechkin/Stamkos...if either team has just two of these players, it's not going to be fair!”
Mary M.
“The way some of these teams are playing – Hell, let their mascots have the honours!”
Brodie J.
“Rory Fitzpatrick.” (Referring to the fringe Canucks defenceman who nearly got voted-in to the 2007 NHL All-Star Game.)
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All-Star Game Captains: Crosby vs. Ovechkin, Blah; Richards Vs. Subban, Hazzah!
