What to look for during The 2020 NHL All-Star Weekend
The 2020 NHL All-Star weekend may not be taken serious by certain stars, see Tuukka Rask and Alexander Ovechkin, but what it will hopefully do is garner views from the casual fan that will then lead into higher figures for the rest of the season and playoff run. That, after all, is the only thing NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will be hoping for as he looks to continually grow the game, especially in America. That’s one of the main reasons it hasn’t been held in Canada, a hotbed of hockey, since 2012.
Last year was my first year watching. Most of this had to do with the season Colorado Avalanche were having, along with the fact three players, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon, from said team were picked to represent the Central Division in San Jose. This year Nathan MacKinnon is the lone representative, but it won’t deter me from watching.
If you are a casual fan here are some of the reasons to check out this weekend’s activities.
The best players in the game are all in one place. As much as it is meant to be a fun weekend, when you get all these star players in one place there is bound to be a little bit of competition. MacKinnon will want to beat Connor McDavid in the fastest skater drill after having to sit out last year due to an injury, Seth Jones and Shea Weber will want to dethrone John Carlson as the hardest shot and Conor Hellebuyck will want to continue his Vezina worthy season by taking the Save Streak trophy.
Then there is the current battle of Alberta between Edmonton and Calgary that could possibly continue into the Pacific team.
Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk got a beating like no other from Edmonton Oilers Zack Kassian last time the teams met, after putting two borderline hits on the power forward. Kassian had enough and pummeled Keith Tkachuk’s baby boy, all while the Flame forward tried to escape the beating.
Words were spoken after the encounter with Kassian calling Tkachuk a pussy for “not answering the bell” while Tkachuk told Kassian if he “can’t take the hit stay off the tracks”. Kassian got a two game suspension from the NHL department of players’ safety and sides have been taken.
Oiler teammate and All Star participant Leon Draisaitl was asked what he would do if he ended up on the ice with Tkachuk during the 3 v 3 games to which he replied “probably get off the ice”. It’ll be interesting to see if that actually happens.
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But the one thing that I am personally looking forward to is the first ever 3 v 3 women’s game between USA and Canada at the All Star Weekend. After the breakout of Kendall Coyne Schofield last year as Nathan MacKinnon’s replacement in the fastest skater competition, the NHL have decided to showcase even more of the elite women skaters this go-round. If Kendall’s performance was anything to go by these women could end up stealing the show and help their cause to have a sustainable women’s league that pays enough to make a living.
There will also be musical performances from Greenday and O.A.R too… if that’s your cup of tea.
