The All-Star Skills Competition Is Broken, Here’s How To Fix It

Friday’s All-Star skills competition was a chaotic mess.

It was a classic case of approving sponsor-friendly ideas without keeping the end-user, the fans, in mind.

And while this method is par for the course in the NHL, as evidenced by the mundane Retro Reverse jerseys and frustrating board ads, it was particularly evident on Friday night.

Confusion reigned supreme.

Fans in the arena, as well as those watching on TV, had little to no idea what was going on, an issue that was compounded by the staggered events that were stretched over the entire night, failing to create any excitement due to the lack of flow.

There were some new events introduced in an attempt to add a little spice to the weekend, borrowing from the exciting events that take place during the NFL’s Pro Bowl.

MUST READ: Nick Suzuki sinks birdie to win new All-Star skills competition event

On the surface, it was a fantastic idea. Not only would the NHL take advantage of the fantastic scenery in Florida, but they also added a significant dose of grandiose presentation to the mix.

Pre-Recorded Scheduling

But at its core, those new events ignored two crucial factors.

First off, NHL All-Stars are indeed incredibly skilled.

But their skill lies in shooting pucks at a net that is no higher than six feet high, not a giant surfboard that’s 60 feet away.

The players involved were learning on the job, rather than relying on the skills that led them to be All-Stars in the first place.

It’s also the polar opposite of relatable for most viewers, once again forgoing the most important aspect of sports marketing: keeping the fans in mind.

In a vacuum, the new events were relatively entertaining, but they paled in comparison to the events that focused on actual hockey skills.

If the NHL wants to keep integrating off-site events at the All-Star weekend they’d be wise to package the pre-recorded events and air them before the on-ice skills competition, thus avoiding the stilted schedule of events, as was the case on Friday.

Focus On Skills

Hockey players are trained from a very young age to forgo personality and focus on the task at hand. Asking them to step out of their comfort zone in the middle of the season and let their personality shine goes against everything they’ve ever been taught.

However, they have spent endless hours perfecting the speed and accuracy of their shots, not to mention their swiftness on skates and their breakaway moves.

Consequently, four events actually led to a certain level of excitement.

Unsurprisingly, they did not involve any of the newly introduced events.

When Connor McDavid took out all four targets with just four shots in the accuracy event, the arena finally came to life.

MCDAVID GOES 4 FOR 4 IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KCttTzEECW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 4, 2023

The same can be said when Andrei Svechnikov won the fastest skater event, or when Sarah Nurse scored a great goal in the breakaway competition.

And there’s always the fan favourite hardest shot competition, which has lost a little of its flavour since players like Shea Weber and Zdeno Chara retired, but remains interesting for the vast majority of hockey fans.

What do all four events have in common?

They rely on skills the players in question have spent their entire lives perfecting, and thus, put their talent on full display.

Brass Tacks

We must always keep in mind the All-Star weekend is an event that is meant to provide a relatable situation for younger fans around the league.

By removing references to movies like Happy Gilmore, which was released 26 years ago, the NHL could do a much better job reaching the younger generation they so desperately want to attract to their sport.

It’s worth noting Miami Vice, which was also referenced ad nauseam, was released in 1984, 15 years before Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki was born.

With that in mind, the NHL should remove yet another unforced error: leaving the mascots out of the televised events.

Let’s be honest, hockey players may not have very much personality, but NHL mascots are professional entertainers.

They spend their year interacting with young fans, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

They’re also impressive athletes, which leads us to wonder why the NHL does not include the mascot game in the TV schedule.

It’s one of the most entertaining aspects of any All-Star weekend.

The mascots capped off the @UpperDeckSports Mascot Showdown with a little shinny, and it was wonderful. 🏒

Tune in to the @Honda #NHLAllStar Game TODAY at 3p ET on @ABCNetwork, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet, and @TVASports! pic.twitter.com/ehdRxgplh4

— NHL (@NHL) February 4, 2023

Hockey is a fast sport, but rather than leaning into the excitement and embracing the skills their stars have perfected, the NHL leans into sketch comedy and events that are designed to capture viral moments, only to be let down since viral moments must arise organically, and cannot be forced.

It’s time for the NHL to embrace the excitement they spend all season promoting.

Get back to basics

Focus on the skills rather than the gimmicks.