This afternoon, on ABC, the NHL’s All-Stars get a chance to play in a low-stakes game that some fans have described as “boring,” “inconsequential,” and “I miss the East vs. West.”
While it may be true that the skills competition is more fun to watch - and probably more fun to show off in - the All-Star Game still does important work. It’s the league’s chance to show off the game’s stars to a more casual audience, the kind who is watching ABC on a Saturday afternoon. Without being able to send players to the Beijing Olympics due to concerns about Covid measures, this is the league’s best chance to showcase the game to a North American audience.