The NHL All-Star Game is, undeniably, a more enjoyable experience than the Pro Bowl
The NHL All-Star Game and the Pro Bowl will both take place on January 31 this year. Even the most avid NHL fan must admit that the league has some catching up to do if it wants to be as relevant as the NFL (or even MLB, and the NBA). However, the NHL does have one thing that it does significantly better than the NFL: its All-Star Game.
The NHL All-Star Game has a lot of things that the NFL should be taking notes on. It’s obvious that the NHL genuinely cares about its showcase, while the NFL couldn’t care less for its glorified exhibition game. That much is evident is the quality of each spectacle. The NHL produces a far more watchable experience than whatever it is that takes place between the hashes at the Pro Bowl.
Stars
The NHL All-Star Game is great because the league’s biggest stars (or a large percentage of them) go, and that’s because the NHL realizes how important it is the league’s premier names to attend the event. It might be a glorified exhibition game to the players and the league, but it’s much more to the fans. The NHL All-Star Game is the only opportunity some fans will get to interact with players. And after all, fans are the only reason that the league exists in the first place. The NHL wages a constant battle to get more eyes on its product. The best way to do that: make them fans happy and be a league of the people. Having the NHL’s biggest stars interact with the fans is an excellent way to do that.
One hundred thirty-three NFL players have been named to the Pro Bowl this season; Only 86 players were invited; forty-seven had to be replaced. Yes, 14 of them were mandatory with the Broncos and Panthers playing in the Super Bowl. However, that still leaves 33 players who can’t be bothered to go to Hawaii and represent the league. That’s not good for the fans who go to see the Pro Bowl, nor the ones watching at home.
Fans who wanted to see guys like Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, and Aaron Rogers are now stuck with watching Eli Manning, Jameis Winston, and Teddy Bridgewater. All three of the replacements are fine quarterbacks, but that’s not who the public really want to see. Brady and Rogers will likely be in Canton when their careers are over and Palmer is a legitimate MVP candidate. Who wouldn’t want to see them?
Injuries happen, sure. But the NHL at least has a way to encourage players to go. The NHL suspends any player who misses the NHL All-Star Game, no matter what the reason for their absence. Does it ensure that all of the league’s stars will be there? Nope. Alex Ovechkin and Jonathan Toews won’t be attending this year. However, guys like Evgeni Malkin, Patrice Bergeron, Erik Karlsson, Patrick Kane, Johnny Gaudreau, Taylor Hall, Jamie Benn, and Tyler Seguin will be there. That’s eight of the league’s top players.
Innovation
When’s the last time the Pro Bowl did some innovative other than the draft? Here’s a clue: never. The draft at least makes the lead in somewhat interesting. But there’s virtually nothing else about the Pro Bowl that grabs your attention unless you enjoy watching players go out of their way to ensure that they don’t get injured.
The NHL All-Star Game is different. They tried the draft idea last year. It worked like a charm thanks to the players and their personalities. Much of the entertainment was provided by a drunk Alex Ovechkin pleading his case to be picked last so that he could win a Honda (which he wound up getting, despite not getting picked last, and donating to a charity). The captains made it fun. Fans even got to see Phil Kessel traded for Tyler Seguin again.
This year, the NHL thought of another great idea that builds off the exciting, well-received three-on-three overtime format. League officials realized that they had something going for them so they decided to make it the entire format for this year’s NHL All-Star Game. They also went with four teams instead of two, with each division getting a squad. Talk about inventive.
Experience
The biggest reason that the NHL All-Star Game is better than the Pro Bowl: overall experience. The NHL makes it a weekend, much like the NBA All-Star Weekend. They have a skills competition on Saturday that allows fans to see players participate in competitions based on speed, shot power, and accuracy. They even have a breakaway competition. Why the Pro Bowl doesn’t have something comparable is beyond me. Who wouldn’t want to see A.J. Green race Darren Sproles? Or defensive linemen take on a Jugs machine challenge.
The NHL also makes sure that its All-Star Game is more than just a glorified exhibition game by doing countless charity events during the weekend. Does it make it a bit annoying with all the corporate sponsors? Sure. But at least the NHL does positive things in the community with some of the money that they get from the sponsors. The players love doing it, the fans love seeing it, and the charities get a lot of money. Everybody wins.
Roger Goodell and the head honchos at the NFL should tune in for the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday. Who knows, they might actually learn something about turning an event that is, essentially, irrelevant into something enjoyable.