The NHL is always trying new gimmicks to get fans excited about Hockey again.  They have increased interference calls in the past couple of years to open up score and make it more exciting for fans.  I suggestion to make hockey better; add bare knuckle fights to the death to hockey.  Doubt they will try my suggestion but I can hope.  Recently they have announced a change to the All Star game, which just might work.

The NHL announced today new rules to the selection process to the 2011 All Star game.  Fans will pick the starters and NHL operations employees will round out the teams.  These are like normal.  The twist comes with how the teams are divided.  When all the players have been selected, the player’s chosen will then pick 2 captains per team.  Those captains then must chose players for their team (3 goalies, 6 defensemen and 12 forwards per team).  Yes the NHL is doing this pond hockey style.  Hopefully to completely feel like pond hockey, the last two players picked will cry becasue no one likes them.  In fact, if these captains pick Sydney Crosby last and he cries, I will purchase them a coke.  Though I do think that Sydney Crosby cries every time he looks in a mirror because he remembers that he is Sydney Crosby.

In all seriousness this is a good idea.  We are going to get line match ups that we could only get if we screw with the line-ups in a NHL video game.  Though I do wonder if the teams will end up the same even if they are told to disregard conferences.  I like how they are at lest trying to change up the All Star game.  While its not what MLB did to there All Star game, I am interested.

Credit - NHL.com