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Paul Kukla Kukla's Korner

Published on Sunday, January 16, 2022

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Is It Really An All-Star Game?

from Luke Fox of Sportsnet,

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. Nothing to see here. Just a lil dancing.

1. I vividly remember Leo Komarov lonely sitting at his pod at the 2016 All-Star Media Day in Nashville, waiting for a crowd to form and questions that barely arrived. A couple local reporters and the Maple Leafs’ own film crew dutifully spoke with him. But the swarms went elsewhere, and he left the room early.

I write this not to shame Uncle Leo. He’s a helluva character, a beauty quote, and was a terrific role player in his prime. What he was not, however, is an NHL all-star. But it didn’t matter that the Leafs were in blatant tank mode that season.

In Gary Bettman’s circus of parity, every team must send an all-star rep.

In 2022, we have Arizona’s Clayton Keller (tied for 75th in scoring) awarded his second appearance and Montreal’s Nick Suzuki (tied for 159th) awarded his first.

Again, nothing against these talented athletes. But Keller’s all-star debut was made during (checks notes) a 14-goal season. Nazem Kadri

In other words, we get where Nathan MacKinnon is coming from.

“It’s silly,” MacKinnon said, twice. “It's silly. I don't think every team should send a guy. I think it's a silly rule that we have. It's an all-star game; it's not a participation game. Naz is [fifth] in scoring in the NHL, and he's got to get voted in still. So, I don't think that's right.”

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