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ci_1612
Top Prospect
Canada
17 Posts |
 Posted - 01/28/2009 : 19:52:09
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I have to say..Since when is the Skills competition not east vs.west why were they not keeping score and why are east players shooting on east goalies. Also take out this breakaway challenge its just not as exciting as the NHL had hoped and it is time to give up on that dream i think or at least change it to a way that might work. The elimination shoot-out although in theory was a good idea but took way to long and got boring. The puck-handling competition should never have been romoved and i always like the 3-on-0 for points for the goaltender. The young stars game was the only plus i think it was really cool to watch in the 3-on3 shinny style format. One more thing not enough use of goalies..only used in elimination shootout and didn't use Luongo or Price(except young stars) at all. sorry for making this so long but the more i thought about it the more i realized was wrong with it.
Chris Illsley
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ci_1612
Top Prospect
Canada
17 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2009 : 19:58:35
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and just to add i would say keep the breakaway challenge if they each had one try each..and maybe find a way to have rounds..but its just to hard to score even when a jr. goalie is in and told to let them in. And i forgot to say i didnt just make this to personally rant..if anyone has any ideas on making the skills better please share i'd love to hear others ideas and takes on it.
Chris Illsley |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2009 : 21:01:44
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Here's my 14 cents:
1) I like the fastest skater, accuracy, hardest shot, and a form of the breakaway shoot out, but not this one. Take out to the stupid fanciest move thing because those guys just made themselves look dumb. I hated it and actually turned it to another channel. (C'mon, Roadhouse was on. Who doesn't love Patrick Swazye??? Pain don't hurt.)
2) Add in skills of hardest check (set up a padded wall type thing that measures force per square inch or something), add a break out pass type challenge (from different spots in the defensive end, timed, and a couple of targets), and bring back that one where the guy had to dangle down the ice around pylons and then have the breakaway piece at the end of that.
3) Rather than just having the All Stars compete, have the best from each team compete. Each team (or most anyway) have their own skills competition. Then, the winner of each event from the individual team's skills competiton go to the All Star week end. They have an un-televised competition between the 30 players in each event(maybe have an internet feed for that or something). Then, the top 6 players from those 30 compete on the Saturday night before the All Star Game.
That way, we not only see the All Stars, but we can actually say who is the the fastest, most accuracy, best passer, etc in the league. Not just those All Stars.
I would love to see that! |
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Axey
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
877 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2009 : 22:28:13
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I find it always looks like there is no effort in the skills competition. It would be so much more exciting if there was. I also liked alot of things that used to be in the skills. Like that little pass into the hole and goalie shooting and that sutff was pretty cool. They just need to put some intensity into it. Maybe make players start from one end race to the opposite blue line and player who gets the puck first gets to go on the breakaway, just an idea don`t freak out. But it has got to get more intense.
Also I think the idea of home ice advantage in the cup finals would make them definitely compete alot harder and also would make guys show up.  |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 04:21:44
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Beans - some good ideas there, especially about that "hardest check" - that could be very cool! Sort of reminds me of that scene in Rocky IV where Dolph Lundgren's punch power is being measured . . . only problem is, there would certainly be a chance for injury at this type of event, no?
And, I do miss that event where they skated around the pylons and had the breakaway at the end, I have good memories of watching Kariya and Bure back in the day do those events, very fun to watch.
Heck, in two years, we could just have the team with the worst record stand around and be virtual pylons Yes, I know - insert Leaf joke here . . . 
And lastly, I do agree with the poster's original points about goalies and east vs west - need more goalie participation, more of an actual "competition", and definitely need to get rid of that breakaway challenge - basketball-inspired, from the "Bettman Bag of Bad Ideas" piece of craptastic tomfoolery it was.
A real hockey man who was commissioner would NEVER have let that happen, btw, to all you Bettman fans.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Guest9518
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Posted - 01/29/2009 : 05:21:32
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| luongo is recovering from injury thats why he wasnt in skills |
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Guest6198
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Posted - 01/29/2009 : 06:41:29
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I thought the skills was totally fun to watch. They're not supposed to be trying super hard. It's all just for fun. I like seeing any time the players show some personality and crack jokes. The elimination break away challenge was much more fun than it ever was before. Who REALLY cheers for a conference? A conference? Gimmie a break, I don't give a crap east or west. Choosing the side that my favorite team is on is fairly meaningless and if you only care about the players from your team the all star game isn't for you anyway. I'd much rather have it players vs. players and cheer for them as individuals. They got rid of the dekeing challenge, which was kinda silly, and put more of an emphasis on hype and excitement with the wacky breakaway challenge. Chara helped make it interesting too. I do agree with you that the breakaway challenge will eventually die when they run out of creative stuff to do, but for now I loved simply watched St. Louis pretend the puck was on his stick.
The best in each category from each team to the all star game? You want to bring 120 players to the all star game? That's totally unrealistic. Each team has a best fastest skater (30 people attending) and another guy for hardest shot (60 people attending). Another guy for accuracy (90) plus the 30 or so originally chosen all stars, you're over 100 attendees: 90 of which have to fly in to do ONE EVENT. I know that's assuming it won't be the same person for 2 or more of the categories, but that will happen rarely more often than not.
As for a checking competition, if would be cool if it could work, but I don't think players really want to crash themselves into things unless they have to. And the all stars aren't exactly the biggest hitters (although I guess you could put up 6-8 pretty good ones like Phanuef) You might think it looks equally as stupid as the breakaway challenge to see these guys fling themselves at random body bags while everyone watches. |
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Guest4910
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Posted - 01/29/2009 : 07:50:56
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I really enjoyed when the fastest skater event was two players at the same time, one on each side. I didn't like the fancy shootout event, not spectacular at all, well nothing compared to real shootout moves like Malik`s goal, Bouchard spinorama or the Forsberg/Lemieux/Jokinen/Lecavalier/Ribeiro deke goal.
I was thinking about a combo of two events in one....how about a hardest but accurate shot? A player would take a slapshot from the blue line and aim for one of the four Mcdonald's target of his choice. The winner would be the one with the hardest shot who hit a target. The idea behind this is I believe a great slapshot goal scorer is not just about pure power but also accuracy. |
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WhalersForever8711
Top Prospect
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 12:26:38
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Simply put the Skills was bad this year.
The All-Star game couldnt be better ! Alexei Kovalev rocked his home town of Montreal and gave those who were watching a treat. I honestly was not too pleased with Kovalev as a starter but I was proved wrong. This was some game.
The great thing about the All-Star game is that once it is over and games have started for a week, then you see intensity in the NHL. It happends every year. Who thinks the Coyotoes can hold up a playoff spot ? Who thinks the Oilers can finish in 1st ? Its all guessing and opinions right now, but is different once the games are played. Gotta love hockey !
" its not that i love to win, I DESPISE LOSING ! "
Bob Gibson
" The desire to win is only second to the hatred of losing"
Ron Hextall
" North American athletes speak two languages: English and Profanity"
Gordie Howe
" Andre Daweson is listed with an injury as day to day. Aren't we all !" Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully
" If I was two faced, why would I be wearing this one ?!"
US President Abraham Lincoln |
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ci_1612
Top Prospect
Canada
17 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 18:51:03
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Hey some good ideas there i think i like the hardest shot/accuracy i think that would be cool and as for the top of each event for each team i do agree not a chance just way to many players and unrealistic but i like the idea of finding out whose actually bestt in the whole league so maybe not have the Skills comp. necessarily just for Allstars..I'm thinking just have the top from each division in each event as per results from team skills competitions. I think i may have a way to have the checking competition implemented as well and have the players want to do it..Use Avery as the hitting bag lol..and for the Bettman hater not that i like him much either) i hope you dont like James Duthie because he implemented the idea and put a push on to get it involved..and i thought it was going to be great but yet again it flopped.
Chris Illsley |
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ci_1612
Top Prospect
Canada
17 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 18:53:01
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Oh and its not that i cheer for one side either..i just though it added a little more excitement when it was east vs. west and its not like the players ever took it serious whether its east vs west or one for all the players are going to mess around and have fun regardless.
Chris Illsley |
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DangleFest89
Rookie
122 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 19:26:00
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| I miss the puck control relay as well Kariya was a hero at it |
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Alex
PickupHockey All-Star
Canada
2816 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 19:52:11
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Come on guys. The breakaway challenge is a stroke of genius. It's gold. The only problem is that the players don't seem to be on the same page with the guy who came up with the idea.
They're all trying to do ridiculous lacrosse style moves. But when it doesn't work, it ruins the point.
I've said this elsewhere, the players should be going for creativity, not the ''YouTube'' moment. Seeing something new is always the most fun. It doesn't have to be a move that you can only use once a year. I would even like to see Datsyuk's move replicated. It's so creative.
If the players made up new moves instead of trying to ''pimp up'' the old ones it would be fun. I bet I could come up with a handful of creative new moves that could be fun to watch, creative, and easy to execute.
Examples/
1) Shoot it off the boards on one side of the net, pick it up on the other side and tap it in.
2) Flip it up, catch it, drop it through your legs from behind, and shoot.
3) Score a goal, and then refresh yourself by drinking from the goalie's water bottle
4) Get a headpiece and do your own colour commentary going in
There's so much potential in this. That's just a bunch of rough ideas I threw together in two seconds. You can't tell me you wouldn't be laughing if Ovechkin tried any of these. It's a great competition and the highlight for me. Please don't remove it.
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Good All-star game, but Skills was a joke!! 
