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NHL All-Star Game should feature AHL and ECHL players

By Ant Barberio

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 28: {L-R} Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators wait to be introduced during the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Amalie Arena on January 28, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 28: {L-R} Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators wait to be introduced during the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Amalie Arena on January 28, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) /
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Want to make the NHL All Star Game More Interesting? Bring in a few minor league guys. It’s an idea so crazy, it just might work.

Anyone else miss hockey yet? It might have only been a few days since the All-Star break commenced for the 2020 NHL All-Star game, with rather interesting jerseys, but it feels like an eternity. Maybe that’s a bit dramatic, maybe it’s not. Even if the All-Star game is coming up to fill the ice-filled void left in my heart, it doesn’t feel the same.

The All-Star Game is fun, but it gets boring really quickly. The NHL tried to reinvent the game and put new life in the event by switching to the three on three tournament-style format a few years ago. It worked for a little, but now it’s back to being the same old same old. We can’t have All-Star MVP John Scott playing hero every year.

If you thought you missed hockey one place that probably misses hockey more than you is the NHL Network. With no game and highlights to show the cable news network is at a lack for content, they filled the other night with the ECHL All-Star Game. I was one of the few viewers who tuned in to watch the ECHL’s best take the ice in Wichita. That’s when an idea popped in my head.

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The NHL desperately tries to make its All-Star game relevant. It’s an open secret among the league that players don’t care, with some like Alex Ovechkin openly admitting he wants to skip the event. It used to be an honor to call yourself an All-Star. Now it’s just a chore.

What if we got a few of the AHL’s best to compete alongside AHL stars? Why stop at the AHL, maybe bring in some ECHL stars as well. It will still be the NHL’s event, filled with NHL players, but add a few minor leaguers here and there to make it interesting.

Of course, the talent would have to be mixed. A team of NHL All-Stars should be easily able to beat a team of AHL All-Stars and even ECHL All-Stars. At that point, it wouldn’t even be competitive. Have a team of mostly NHL players with one or two lower-level guys thrown in could work.

It’s a crazy idea, but it’s an idea so crazy it just might work. Some of these minor leaguers made it to the Olympics so the NHL All-Star game shouldn’t be too big of a stage for them. In fact, they’d probably love and appreciate the opportunity more than some NHL players. If it doesn’t work just don’t repeat the idea again the next year.

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Maybe one day if it’s successful the concept could be expanded upon. Maybe add in a few women’s hockey players in the mix as well. After all, Coyne Schofield did well at the fastest skater at last year’s Skills competition. The ECHL also had a few women’s players participate in their All-Star game as well. That might be farther down the road, but bringing in a few AHL and ECHL guys could be an easier start.

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