The NHL All-Star game is a fun event, but ultimately, it’s just that — fun. It doesn’t count for two points in the standings, has few bragging rights at stake and in general is just an excuse to see the best players in the league skating together without worrying about things as trivial as hitting or playing defense.
Zdeno Chara, Tim Thomas and Tyler Seguin will all be participating on Team Chara on Sunday’s All-Star game under the watchful eye of their coach Claude Julien. It will be interesting to see how Julien manages his three stars and their playing time, since he will likely be trying to make sure they get the rest the other players on the Bruins are enjoying over this All-Star weekend.
While the competitive nature of sports may kick in at some point and certain players may relish the opportunity to win the All-Star game, the concern for many fans may simply be finishing the game unscathed and without injury. The rivalries in the sport may also play a part, as evidenced by Team Chara’s refusal to draft any Vancouver Canucks.
Maybe the high point of the game will be Tim Thomas robbing Daniel Sedin of a goal. Or maybe someone will dare lay a hit on an unsuspecting player. Could we be so lucky?