The solution for lack of fan interest is so obvious. All this 3 on 3 nonsense just shows how little imagination the league has.
Simply chain an adult Siberian tiger to the centre ice dot! Duh!
It's common knowledge that half of all hockey fans watch out of morbid fascination rather than the sport itself. This percentage has probably dropped a bit due diminished fighting, but can quickly be restored to all it's former glory, after a few sub-par skaters get torn to shreds at center ice.
Can't find a tiger? Fine use a bear. I hear lots of polar bears are having trouble finding firm ice to stand and hunt from, so this is a win-win in my books.


- oldstyle

Was that where you could play 1v1v1v1? Man that was fun, they should bring it back.
- david22

Free 4 all was dirty . Should have never taken it out

Here is where you're wrong. I think this 3-v-3 tourney should definitely decide home field advantage for the World Series. Think how pissed off baseball players would be?
- SolidGoldBricks

You know, you do raise some valid points...

This idea sucks....but then again the AllStar game already sucks, so duck it.

"Brilliant" is hardly the word I'd use for it. Yes I liked the All-Star games when I was a kid, that's because they didn't suck. You have to add on how much they have changed to your comment about how everyone liked the All-Star games when they were a kid.
All-Star games when I was a kid were just that, games full of all stars. Now they are exhibitions with all stars that are just there to goof around and not get hurt. Which is exactly how they should be approaching it, I can't blame those guys for approaching it like that. It's just that the All-Star game is unfixable, but I know they have to continue it to make that money. So no need for hand wringing, it is what it is.

"Brilliant" is hardly the word I'd use for it. Yes I liked the All-Star games when I was a kid, that's because they didn't suck. You have to add on how much they have changed to your comment about how everyone liked the All-Star games when they were a kid.
All-Star games when I was a kid were just that, games full of all stars. Now they are exhibitions with all stars that are just there to goof around and not get hurt. Which is exactly how they should be approaching it, I can't blame those guys for approaching it like that. It's just that the All-Star game is unfixable, but I know they have to continue it to make that money. So no need for hand wringing, it is what it is.
- Redemption17

All star games when I was a kid still sucked (late 80s, early 90s) but I enjoyed it because I was a kid and seeing all those great players on the ice together just having fun was fun. But the game itself had no intensity and no defense was being played.

The all star game is for the kids.

I hate when people say get rid of the ASG all together, the games suks anyways. True but I remember has a kid, I always enjoyed watching all the stars and all the goals at an ASG.

This new 3 on 3 format should still generate tons of goals, if not even more than before. The star power will still be there. As a kid, I would enjoy this. As an adult, I don't think that this format can't be any worse than the previous ASG.


- porkchops1977

At one point they players actually played a real hockey game, and it was entertaining. Here are the scores from 1969 (the 1st year after the All-Stars played the defending SC Champ) until 1978. In 1979 the All-Stars played the Soviets.

69 3-3
70 4-1
71 2-1
72 3-2
73 5-4
74 6-4
75 7-1
76 7-5
77 4-3
78 3-2 OT

The game then gradually devolved until it became the current fiasco.

3 on 3 is a gimmick, as is 4 on 4, the shoot out, etc.

How about they play hockey, 5 on 5, and actually try to play some defense. They don't need to run each other through the boards, but at least use your stick to block a passing lane.

Brilliant!!

Definitely an All-Star disliker, and yes, I've attended them (second one reluctantly).

No incentive to win has been slightly addressed ($91k/player) but one of the reasons to not have incentive to win is we definitely don't want to see anyone injured in a competitive game that means nothing.

All-Star Games have never been able to show the best of the sport due to fan voting (ballot box stuffing) and attempting to put someone from every team on the roster. My one ask of everyone is to never use "played in X All-Star Games" as a true stat for a player. I understand this can be helpful to explain how a good player had the misfortune of being on a terrible team, but IMHO it shouldn't be considered an important stat.

I don't think you understand how 3on3 works
- ezekial

i don't think you've ever watched an allstar game

How about 3 or 3 tag team fighting? What about 3 on 3 best cheap-shot?
Why do the people in charge need to sell the best game in the world with gimmicks? Sell the game with the best players on the ice, as it should be.

I like it. I usually only care about the skills comp. But this should make it competitive. 3v3 hockey has been very fun to watch this year.

Central division is going to destroy all.

When will the NHL finally get this right and play the All Star game on a boat!