Friedman- Players hate going to cold weather cities for ASG, NHL possibly reducing the eligible host cities

[abo9]

Why? You think those fans are going to stop following those teams if the All-Star game isn't held there every 10 years?

I'd wager the All-Star game isn't a revenue machine. It's a marketing event. The markets you listed don't need an all-star game to boost interest.

That reminds me how the Montreal Canadiens host a public practice "all star game style" for their fans at the Bell Center... and still sell out

I think youre right... its more important to market the all star game in those cities where hockey isnt popular. Showcases the player's skills

 

[K1984]

It's so weird to criticize the players for this. They don't want to go to the ASG because it's an old and tired gimmick that they have to attend and go through the motions of while their teammates get a two week vacation to somewhere nice. When asked what the NHL could do to make the ASG better, they said "at least hold it somewhere warm", which like, yeah obviously, because again, their teammates are all on vacations to somewhere warm.

Imagine if the company you worked for shut down for two weeks every February, but the top performers all had to attend a work conference instead of just getting the two weeks off, and the conference was in Winnipeg. You'd probably be less than thrilled about it too.

To add to this - the players are being used as props for whatever "really cool" dumb niche event the NHL deems relevant (Bellagio fountain BS last year, beach shot thing this year) and are expected to put on a show despite the fact that none of them are interested. For me personally, I would HATE to be forced to participate in some dumb gimmick and be expected to be part of the entertainment.

I'm not sure what the players are supposed to get out of it other than feeling pressure to be "entertaining" when they aren't interested and/or look like fools if they screw up the event.

 

[OKR]

Kinda funny how NBA players who make 10x the money NHL’ers do are pissed off if they’re not in the All-star game. I’ve kinda grown tired of how people talk about hockey players as these tough sob’s etc. when 95% of them are priviliged whiners.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Nope


Not doing it

-40 C and -40 F are the same temp.
Amusing reading all the cold weather posters whine about players whining. All the Canadians I know vacation (if they can) in warm weather climates. It's the main point of where they go really. Only exceptions are visiting family, ski hills and a few hardcore fisherman and snowmobilers.
So let's send all the players who are having great years to places they don't want to go, meanwhile all the shitty overpaid players are going where?? To f***in disneyland (or somewhere like it).
Way to work your bag off Horvat and Petterson, when you get back from Winnipeg you can hear about OEL and Myers vacations to Palm Springs or wherever. Maybe pick them up some discount sunburn lotion at the local drugstore while your there.

 

[T REX]

Babies.

The irony here is probably lost on many posters complaining about the players complaining

 

[Chainshot]

Can anyone actually blame 'em though? It's a nonsense game and they know it's a nonsense game. Some of the best in the league regularly look for a way to not participate because they know the rest is more important to their bodies for the final run in the regular season than some playful silliness. If they want to be warm and closer to where they are vacationing during the break, etc.... so be it.

 

[T REX]

These guys get paid millions of dollars to live a life of luxury and only work 2/3 of the year.

And all they do is cry and whine. These new age players are pathetic in every which way.

why are you taking this so personally?

 

[NyQuil]

Kinda funny how NBA players who make 10x the money NHL’ers do are pissed off if they’re not in the All-star game. I’ve kinda grown tired of how people talk about hockey players as these tough sob’s etc. when 95% of them are priviliged whiners.

It’s the best way to sell shoes.

 

[sxvnert]

when did nhlers get so soft.

When the league began catering to their every need.

 

[Shocker]

These guys can have their vacations in the offseason.

 

[Rob]

Worst game of the year. Let them have it.

 

[StreetHawk]

To add to this - the players are being used as props for whatever "really cool" dumb niche event the NHL deems relevant (Bellagio fountain BS last year, beach shot thing this year) and are expected to put on a show despite the fact that none of them are interested. For me personally, I would HATE to be forced to participate in some dumb gimmick and be expected to be part of the entertainment.

I'm not sure what the players are supposed to get out of it other than feeling pressure to be "entertaining" when they aren't interested and/or look like fools if they screw up the event.

Nhlers should not complain about money. Like I said in my earlier post the. Nhl isn’t at the level or nba or nfl. Way better than women’s team sports or other men’s sports like lacrosse who have to do much more selling to drum up interest.

Nhl gets the luxuries of the other big team sports but only 1/3 the top money or less. So they have it good enough to not have to do extra selling but they won’t make what the other top leagues make because nhl isn’t as popular.

 

[Sheppy]

-40 C and -40 F are the same temp.
Amusing reading all the cold weather posters whine about players whining. All the Canadians I know vacation (if they can) in warm weather climates. It's the main point of where they go really. Only exceptions are visiting family, ski hills and a few hardcore fisherman and snowmobilers.
So let's send all the players who are having great years to places they don't want to go, meanwhile all the shitty overpaid players are going where?? To f***in disneyland (or somewhere like it).
Way to work your bag off Horvat and Petterson, when you get back from Winnipeg you can hear about OEL and Myers vacations to Palm Springs or wherever. Maybe pick them up some discount sunburn lotion at the local drugstore while your there.

It was -51 here two days ago and now we're back in our "Warmer" stretch where it's -35.

Wouldn't change a thing. Awesome snowmobiling, arguably the best fishing on the planet. That said, winter time you need to break it up, and I know that it will involve 20+ degrees and a beach.

 

[Mez]

I can’t say that I blame the players. It is a long grind of a season. The All Star game is not like it once was and the players just want a week of holidays.

My work season goes all year.

 

[Gabe Kupari]

What a bunch of p***yes. Seriously. Someone remind them hockey is meant to be played in cooler cities

Tell them all their revenue is coming from cold cities

With that being said it's an all star game in the middle of a season. And it serves very little purpose but at the same time 20k in Toronto (its a cold winter city) is better than 15k in Florida. All star game is like selling the game to casuals... a full house to a casual looks better than visible empty seats. I'm in Winnipeg, its very cold this week, and with that said give me the entry draft in June or July when it's Hot AF here over the All star game

 

[Maple Leaf]

Never watched never will

 

[Mr Positive]

I'm from Alberta and I agree with the players. I like it here but if it's just as easy to have the all star game some place nice in February they absolutely should. Similarly, for outdoor games in Edmonton make them in November instead of January.

If this is about fairness, just make it so other events like the draft go to Northern cities. Even world cup or whatever

 

[norrisnick]

My work season goes all year.

I get 4 weeks of PTO

 

[strattonius]

I can hear Ryan Whitney whining about going to Calgary for the all-star game in my head.

 

[Leafs87]

Just shoveled my driveway in -22. I can def say I feel them

 

[Video Nasty]

when did nhlers get so soft.

Unless you’ve given up and want to live a mediocre existence, we all have desires, preferences, and opinions on how to live more comfortably.

It’s has always been like this for the players, but without constant coverage, social media, etc, you just didn’t hear about it as much or at all.

Here’s the personality you’ve been all been begging for. Shocker, they’re normal humans.

The soft ones are the ones hopping on here to comment despite likely never being among the best in anything.

 

[Goose]

I don’t care at all, and having a family I get it, but it does leave a slight aftertaste of the league being full of soft little entitled babies.

The Boomers have a bit of a point with the whole snowflake generation thing, though in this case it’s the literal snowflakes they’re being snowflakes about.

 

[Melrose Munch]

That's f***ing bullshit. I get the family side of things, but the weather? Suck it up! Edmonton hasn't had an Allstar game in over 30 years, and if the NHL basically wipes Edmonton, or Calgary for that matter (almost 40 years) off the designation, I'll be very pissed off.

Why? Guys don't want to go there.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

According to Friedman there has been an overwhelming response from NHL players that they dislike participating in the All-Star game weekend festivities and commitment. NHL teams have expressed that it is becoming increasingly harder and harder to get their players to want to go to the ASG.

The NHL met with All-Stars yesterday to try and come up with a solution on how to entice players to the event.

Friedman says that the overwhelming response is that players only want the ASG to be in hot weather/family ideal locations.

Friedman says that the NHL really took this to heart and are thinking of limiting the ASG to a circuit of a few cities, (Ala Superbowl)

Friedman mentions that the cities would be places such as , Florida, Tampa, Dallas, Arizona, Caliornia teams, Westocast.

.... these idiots do know fans have been trying to vote in Journeymen and plugs for years... right? Those guys would LOVE to go.

 

[Clare2904]

About 25 people at the Skills Comp when you take out family members so f*** what the players want