Does anyone else remember the good ol’ days of the All-Star weekend when it was eagerly awaited?  In an attempt to make the game better with more parity and greater fan appeal, the game is tweaked each year.  Yet it seemingly only appears to continue to lose its luster. With that in mind, I have some of my own suggestions.

  - Let the players choose the participants.  Who knows the talent better than those who play against these guys?  GMs picking the roster?   Seriously, guys.  It’s gone downhill since they switched the selection process.  Yes, I know why it was done, but it probably wasn’t the best solution.

 - Allow competitors into the skills competition that may not make the All-Star team.  We know there are exceptional skaters, stick handlers and shooters that don’t always make the squad.  Let’s see more talent represented there.  That might woo audiences a bit more.

-  Speaking of wooing audiences, can we get rid of the lame breakaway goal competition?  It was a big flop, in my opinion.  Trying (largely unsuccessful) trick shots on non-NHL goalies did nothing for me.  Of course, Alexander Ovechkin did bring some character to the game with his silly props and use of long-time enemy Evgeny Malkin to assist him (although I found the actual story behind the “make-up” of these two much more interesting.)  However, call me old fashioned but I preferred the class that fellow Russian Alexei Kovalev displayed in the All-Star game the next day, taking the game seriously, giving it his all and showing the fans what a fantastic stick-handler he is.  So, let’s bring back skill competitions where real skills are highlighted.

 - Finally, as we move back towards more intra-conference play, let’s resurrect the North America vs. The Word format.  East-West has little intrigue to most people, but pitting the two different playing styles against each other gets Don Cherry and others ranting about the non-North American players and at least resurrects a real rivalry.

So what do you say guys?  You have two years to think about it.

War … What is it Good For? Absolutely nothing? Or maybe, among teammates it can serve as a wake up call?

Two members of the Vancouver Canucks fought each other in practice yesterday.

Losers of eight straight home games, the Canucks’ tension and frustration boiled over with a practice altercation involving defenceman Willie Mitchell and winger Mason Raymond.

Mitchell ran at Raymond during a drill and, when the speedy sophomore came back at the veteran in the corner, Mitchell punched Raymond in the head and cross-checked him hard on the shoulder.

The fracas drew several players and coaches, and tough defenceman Shane O’Brien skated to Raymond’s defence and challenged Mitchell to fight before tempers calmed.

– The Vancouver Sun, 01/29/2009, Canucks duke it out at practice

I can’t help but wonder if the Atlanta Thrashers could use some teammate-on-teammate butt kickings after the way they’ve been playing lately. They’ve shown little heart and determination (Kari Lehtonen’s outstanding play in Dallas being pretty much the one exception).

Speaking of the Atlanta-Dallas game, I was at the game and witnessed the bad and bobbled passes, lackadaisical play and general boredom of the Thrashers firsthand. Kari showed exactly what kind of goalie he can be when he is on — and when he is on, he is a wow-the-crowd, “who is this guy?!” kind of player. Unfortunately, you can’t win a game as a goalie unless the team in front of you scores.

Finally, there’s a “Top 10 Teammates Fighting Each Other” video that features three different sets of Canadiens players squaring off in practice (including one of my favorites, Richard Zednik). Take a look.

Could fighting help the Thrashers? Hmmm … I don’t know, but maybe it’s worth a shot. I kid … sort of.

… not just one of my favorite songs by Joe Satriani. No, no.

Actually, I came across some interesting candid shots taken at the All Star festivities by someone from Home Ice (XM Radio 204), including a nice shot of Ilya Kovalchuk (in a lovely, surprisingly conservative Mr. Rogers-style sweater) and some of Milan Hejduk (since we goddesses are Thrashers and Avalanche fans first). They also have several nice shots of former Atlanta Thrashers Marc Savard and Dany Heatley.

Last year this time, I was in Atlanta at the 2008 All Star Weekend. How quickly time does pass!

I’d go on about the great No Detroit Red Wings on the All Star Team controversy, but why? None of them even wanted to go to the game, so is it really worth the effort? Probably not.

That’s right, kids.  For those of you newer fans you may not remember that there was another Lemieux — Claude.  No, he never reached legendary status, but he did win four Stanley Cups with three different teams and a Conn Smythe trophy.  Not bad.

But what we really should be admiring him for is not the amount or hardware he owns, but for his drive and determination to come back to the sport after five years in retirement at 43 years of age.    Yeah, yeah.  I know some of you youngins’ are rolling your eyes wondering why such fossils bother to play past their prime, much less make a comeback at such an “old” age.

Well, for those of us who have attained four decades of life, just walking the dog can be a challenge, much less training literally hours every day for months just to prepare for a fourth-line position on a team with guys who weren’t even born when you broke into the league 25 years ago.  Sure, defensemen like Chris Chelios and Teppo Numminen prove that there is a life in hockey after 40, but in that position it’s much easier to avoid contact and pick and choose your spots.  It’s a bold move for a forward who is inevitably going to take abuse every day.

I watched his debut last night and I was quite pleased to see him play well (and he doesn’t look half bad either!).  And remember folks, Lemieux has always been what they call a “playoff performer” (aka sandbags it in the regular season.)

So, if old habits die hard, watch out for the old guy come the post season!  This is one 40 year old who will be pulling for him.

Now this is a tasty morsel, served up by the Toronto Sun. Yeah, yeah, I know. Toronto. Rumors. Whatever. But as the folks at TMZ might say, rumors make the world go ’round. So let’s entertain the notion for a moment.

The chatter is the Atlanta Thrashers are going to send veteran Mathieu Schneider to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for winger Maxim Afinogenov. Buffalo wants a blue-liner and hasn’t been able to give away Afinogenov because no other team wants to pick up his $3.5-million salary. (Toronto Sun, 01-18-2009)

I think I’d be fairly excited if this deal went down. Afinogenov is in a complete funk — for whatever reason — in Buffalo. One thing is almost certain, he could hardly do worse in Atlanta. As for Schneider, he’s a goner by the trade deadline anyway. Like Kovalchuk, Afinogenov has the ability to electrify. The Thrashers could use a jolt or two.

Question to you: Afinogenov in Thrashers’ blue?

I know this blog is a bit Thrasher heavy right now but having attended the Atlanta Thrashers’ Annual Casino Night this past Sunday with fellow goddess Kaatiya and her hubby, I feel the Thrasher organization deserves some kudos for actually doing something right.

Not that getting to the event was without issue. Apparently, the ticket coordinator for the event took a three-week vacation a month before the event and fans that called the number advertised for the event had to leave voice mail. But I digress.

Traditionally, each NHL team has held an annual charity event that allows fans to come interact with their favorite players. However, the term “interact” is used loosely. The amount of access one has to these players varies by team. Some teams charge an arm and a leg and while the notion of the proceeds going to charity is certainly commendable (and having a chance to write off the event on ones tax return), one can’t help but wonder if the high price is intended to keep the event just out of reach of your average fan. Not-so-coincidentally, these are also the organizations that give you 10 seconds twice in the event (if you’re lucky) to give your table’s designated “player waiter” to suffice as player “interaction.”

Living in Colorado, I have never been tempted to spend $250 for the charity brunch the Avalanche organization holds each year. From speaking with former attendees, I have gleaned that your meal is served by a less popular player and are lucky if he has time to say more than “hello” and sign a program. Big name players are explicitly shielded from the (cough) average fan, merely speaking to the audience from the stage.  Oh yeah, there is that fashion show (and if you don’t have Sean Avery on your team, how exciting can it be?)

Not at the Atlanta Thrashers Casino Night. No, for $200 you get 3 + hours of full access to all the players whom are held prisoner by their respective poker tables, an open bar, and delightful appetizers and pastries (that is, if you’re not too busy ingratiating yourself with the players and actually have time to eat). And really, if you’re a diehard fan of that team, it’s the least the organization can do.

Young puckbunny looking to chat up the new guy? This is your gig. Cougar who just wants to sit and stare at Bryan Little all night while your wealthy husband chums around with Garnet Exelby? You’ve come to the right place! Fellow hockey player who wants to gab with her (new) favorite defenseman, Tobias Enstrom? Much obliged. Long-time fan wanting a picture with his man-crush Ilya Kovalchuk? The new captain will be more than happy to indulge you. Best of all, if Slava Kozlov is your hero, butter him up with a bit of Russian and a pinch of fawning and the usually reserved legend will give you a big smile.  And let’s not forget — it’s all for a great cause!

Yes, this fabulous event was enjoyed by all and has made this goddess into a new Thrashers fan. The only negative comment I can offer is that it could have been better attended with a bit better coordination by the organization, which is seemingly lacking in the marketing department. But, that topic is reserved for another post, coming in the near future.

Congratulations, Thrashers. You now have a new fan in Colorado!

Kari Lehtonen has had some of the dumbest, least fearsome goalie masks in the business. Animae video game characters are not, as a rule, intimidating.  Especially not cutesy ones with tails and big boobs.  For two years he used a mask with cartoon renderings of the woman from “Kill Bill,” which, I guess, is an improvement.

Earlier in the 2008 season he debuted a “Transformers”-themed mask, with Optimus Prime on the side.  OK.  How old are we, Kari?  Rumor has it, he stopped wearing this mask after repeated razzings from the other team (and probably his own).

Now he’s on with a Batman theme.  Only thing is, he’s using The Joker.  I’m not some big moralist or anything, but The Joker was a bad, bad dude.  And somehow it seems exploitative to have Heath Ledger’s face on your mask so soon after his death.  But that’s just me.

Frankly, I’d like to see Kari play up his supposed family nickname “Kärppä” (I could be misspelling that.  I’ve seen it with a “t” on the end.  Oh well, I am sure I’ll be corrected).  But the word means “weasel” in Finnish.  He could have a nasty, mean-looking, yellow-toothed weasel on his mask.   Hey!  It’s just an idea.  I could have suggested using the Hamburglar, which is what they used to call him when he played for the Chicago Wolves.  Apparently he has had an affinity for the fast food.

Man up Kari!  Come on!

Some writers on this blog laughed at the notion that Rich Peverley was coming off waivers to play with Ilya Kovalchuk.  I won’t say I laughed, as my dear colleague did.  It was more like an eye roll.  Or a “here we go again to the salvage yard.”  The Thrashers have been there and done that (anyone remember Rico Fata?).  Anyway, so there go the Thrashers picking up another guy who’s being waived and sent on his merry way.

I caught a glimpse of Rich Peverley surrounded by beauties and groupies at the Thrashers’ annual Casino Night earlier in the week before his debut.  Pfft!  I guess these ladies were trying to get in on the ground floor.  Or had some inside information because so far — and I do stress, so far — Mr. Peverley seems to be clicking with Kovalchuk.  That’s exciting to see.

He really took it to his old team on Saturday night, too.  He was a +3 on the night and had three assists (his second consecutive three point night).  Not only that, he was named the NHL’s third star of the week behind Pavel Datsyuk and Mike Camalleri.  Here’s hoping Peverley pays the Thrashers some riches.  I won’t say they deserve it, but the fans do and so does Kovalchuk.  He needs a top-flight center to play with.  I’m not saying this is a long-term solution, but you know, look at Tim Thomas in Boston.  He’s living proof anything is possible.