Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison delivers his insights into the world of hockey, on and off the ice.
YoungStars Game lacks intensity
Comments (9)
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 | 04:22 PM ET
By Scott Morrison
DALLAS - The kids need to be spanked.
Call it tough love.
But hang around the lobby of the hotels in Big D and the chatter Wednesday - now that everyone has taken a deep breath and relaxed after the great schedule debate was finally put to rest until next year - was mostly about the quality, or lack thereof, of the YoungStars game the previous night at American Airlines Center.
For the record, the East YoungStars defeated the West 9-8 in a four-on-four game that certainly showcased some skills, but had little in the way of intensity or overall excitement. In many ways, it degenerated into a breakaway competition, with players from both sides cherry picking at centre ice. It was not a stellar performance by a long shot and some would suggest the fourth YoungStars game should be the last, that the NHL should merely focus all the talent and attention on the skills competition.
Quite clearly, the young players appeared to develop the philosophy of the veterans from recent years. And that isn't good, especially with a million Canadians tuned in. Now, no one comes to these events, either the kid's game, the skills or the All-Star Game itself expecting Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, but a little effort doesn't seem like too big of an ask. And we all know from watching overtime in the regular season that four on four can be wildly entertaining.
The other chatter, of course, was about the actual All-Star Game and the hope, as coach Lindy Ruff suggested, that it might be a little more entertaining and energetic because of the presence of 20 first-time all-stars, including, obviously, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
But especially Crosby.
At the tender age of 19, leading the league in scoring, all-star votes and public appearances, Crosby is obviously the present and the future, the face of the league. The stage was certainly set Wednesday, in his first all-star appearance, for Crosby to make a statement on a fairly significant stage, or at least with all eyes of the hockey world watching. It is not unlike what Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux experienced before him.
As a 19-year-old, Gretzky played well in his first All-Star Game in 1980 in Detroit, but was not about to upstage the return of Gordie Howe. His break out came in 1983 in Long Island, when he scored a record four third-period goals and was named most valuable player. Lemieux's breakout came in 1985, as a 19 year old, when he became the first rookie to be named all-star MVP. He had two goals and an assist.
Crosby set the stage himself on Tuesday, during the skills competition, when he shone in the shootout portion. The next step was the game itself.
There is little doubt, of course, that Crosby is the real deal. You don't do what he has done and fade away. And the attendant pressures that come with being the next one don't seem to bother him, either. Only a few have that gift, Gretzky for one and Lemieux, but he had to acquire it.
"Wayne was great for the game and Crosby is going to be the same," said Detroit Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom. "He's carrying the torch now. People are going to know about Crosby the way they knew about Gretzky."
Both Crosby and Ovechkin were actually eligible to play in the YoungStars game, but obviously qualified the old-fashioned way for the big game. Had they played, however, we doubt folks would be talking about spanking the kids and spiking the game.
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About the Author
Scott Morrison, the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fameís 2006 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, has been covering hockey for 25 years. The Toronto native began his career at the Toronto Sun in 1979. After spending more than 11 years as a hockey writer and columnist at the paper, Morrison became Sports Editor in 1991 and led the section to being named one of North America's top-ten sports sections in 1999 - the first sports section in Canada to receive the AP Sports Editors North American Award. Scott, a former two-term president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, joined Rogers Sportsnet in 2001 as Managing Editor, Hockey, and is currently both a commentator on Hockey Night in Canada and a columnist for CBC.ca.
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Comments (9)
Justin
BC
Hi Scott
Why not have the all star game in the following format
Veterans vs Young Stars
Players 30 plus play against the young guys. At least that way neither side would want to loose.....think the vets would want to lose to the rookies??
Posted January 28, 2007 10:35 AM
Bambino
Newfoundland
I can't believe they even televised the young stars game. It was a glorified game of pond hockey. And at that, not even a good game of pond hockey. Intesity? That word should never be used in any sentence with the young stars game. Lackadaisacal comes to mind. You would think as a young star you would bust your butt out there trying to impress, not loaf around waiting for a long pass.
As a young kid you hold the future in your hands. Show a good work ethic in a game like this that everyone is watching and you could be a heavily sought after player come the trade deadline. Playing for a team that may not be in the playoff hunt, put in a good effort and you could find yourself playing for a cup contender either this year or next year. I can't believe the goalies that are voted in to these games play. They are hung out to dry more than hospital laundry. Next year they should hit Canadian Tire and buy two Le Goalie's and tie them in the nets. Make no wonder there were so many empty seats, it was painful to watch.
Posted January 26, 2007 11:56 AM
chris
My thought on the young stars game is i didnt watch it . I watched the skills comp for sure, but i gave it a 1-10 factor as a 6 and for the game it self i gave it a 6. The player i noticed the most was ryan smythe ,heart,hussle,grind,it was like he never left a real NHL game.I was also glad that american idol was on cause then i could flip between channels . thank you . old time hockey from the 80's are gone forever.
Posted January 26, 2007 11:45 AM
DavidM
Maybe the "YoungGuns" didn't have any "powder in their rifles" because they were skating in front of what...2500 fans? Not that should be an excuse, but these are kids afterall who are still learning the nuances of playing in the big league. The question is not whether the game should be played or not, the question is whether it should be televised. Let them play the game, get some experience (for some, it will be their only all-star experience) but make it part of the weekend festivities for the host city. Add a "Heroes of Hockey" game as well to the weekend. Just don't worry about televising them. All-star weekend is as much for the fans in the host city as it is for the NHL fan, maybe even more-so for the host city. Let the rest of us watch on TV the skills competition and the All-stars we voted to see!
Posted January 25, 2007 08:59 PM
MTharp
I quit watching hockey a few years ago and I won't watch again until they stop the fights. I used to love watching Mario and jagr and Francis light up the competition(used to live near Pittsburg) but the fighting is stupid. In any other sport if u even throw a punch (Carmelo Anthony ,garnett , Romonawski , pedro etc..)u get fined and miss games. That's the way it should be. If I want to see fighting there's boxing and UFC. I want to see hockey and I want my kid and other kids to know that fighting will get u nowhere. I won't watch hockey until a fight is treated like a bad thing instead of something which is just consisdered part of the game. STUPID.
Posted January 25, 2007 05:51 PM
Bernard Lee
I saw the Young Stars Game and the All Star Game and thought the All Star Game was more entertaining. Both games would be played better if there was prizes to be won or an outcome such as home advantage of the Stanley Cup Finals if the East or West won the game.
This is similar to what MLB is doing now with their All Star Game and its played with more intensity.
I don't know if the people in Canada saw this but for the whole first period in the YoungStars Game, Malkin was in the offensive zone if the puck was in the defensive zone (goal sucking). There was a lot of back passes and interceptions, steals which the players got confused who is each other because each is wearing their own jersey.
Its all for show!
Posted January 25, 2007 02:03 PM
Diane
Edmonton
Always appreciate your reports and comments...
I've caught you on radio shows as well.
I am a middle aged, educated female fan (just to give you an idea of 'fan type'). I'm a born again fan after watching last spring's playoffs, having lost interest in hockey since the early 90's. Okay, I confess, I'm an Oilers fan.
Anyways, unlike some jaded commentators, bloggers, etc., I really enjoyed the All Stars. To see all that talent on one rink, seeing them interact (e.g. one star being a fan of another) is quite fun.
I do like your idea of 4 on 4 for the Young Stars game. You're right, there was a lack of any intensity. It was my first Young Stars game and I guess I thought they'd be more excited to be there. I am in fact interested in the up and coming players, especially Canadian players and not just the big names. If they do continue with this, I hope they change this somehow.
Anyway, keep up the good work!
Posted January 25, 2007 09:55 AM
Justin
BC
A New Jersey Devils game is more exciting than this....brutal!
Posted January 24, 2007 10:39 PM
trevor
surrey
i think the whole all star weekend lacks intensity.... the only thing that worth watching in the superskills contest
Posted January 24, 2007 08:01 PM