The NHL’s All-Star weekend got off to a pretty rough start for hockey fans.
On Friday night, the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills Competition began in Florida as part of the league’s weekend All-Star festivities. For may hockey fans, the skills competition is a fun, if corny, event that’s actually produced some brilliant moments in the past. Remember Trevor Zegras’ blindfold goal? Or how Johnny Gaudreau wanted to light his stick on fire but wasn’t allowed to?
How far the NHL skills competition has come, it seems, as hockey fans weren’t pleased with how Friday night’s event unfolded. Instead of letting one event — like the fastest skater or breakaway challenge — finish, the next one would suddenly begin with no explanation. Despite knowing Andrei Svechnikov and Kevin Fiala advanced to the finals of the fastest skater competition in the first 20 minutes, fans wouldn’t find out the winner until hours later.
Makar took a little tumble during his fastest skater run 😅 pic.twitter.com/korlaIGDYW
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 4, 2023
Between incomplete events and confusing rules for new ones, hockey fans were completely befuddled. It’s hard to say who the blame lies with for this, whether it be the NHL for running the ship or ESPN, who broadcasted the proceedings.
The only event NHL fans found common ground on was the dunk tank, as many delighted seeing stars take a dip in some cold Florida water. Even still, hockey fans rightfully ripped how messy and incomprehensible the NHL All-Star Skills Competition was.
Why are they doing one little bit of an event before going to another? And then going to another? This doesn't make sense!!! https://t.co/E1o0wHZvRe
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) February 4, 2023
it's so confusing trying to follow what's going on why can't they just. do things in order ?? https://t.co/qEWMFdGZdY
— Q⁹⁶ (@_3rdmeasurement) February 4, 2023
Uh, yeah I'm very confused too, why are we not finishing events before starting the next??? https://t.co/7Y0PxxuX0G
— Avry's Sports Show (@Avry) February 4, 2023
If the players have no clue what's going on, maybe the event is not great
— CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) February 4, 2023
Am I tripping balls or is EPSN+ not showing the entire competition? They let Marner go for the breakaway challenge and now they’re suddenly on the goalie completion…
— ryan 🛸 (@OTCeIIy) February 4, 2023
NHL: "how will we excite viewers and draw in new fans? Wait don't answer that I don't want to make any meaningful changes. Let's just break up the all star game events into inexplicable and frustrating segments to annoy the 14 people who still watch it"
— Victoria (@fakehockeyteam) February 4, 2023
this is the perfect way to describe how the all star events are going pic.twitter.com/cc94OCkA4R
— MACIE (Taylor’s Version) (@maciemarv11) February 4, 2023
So we’re not doing events one by one?? Like we’re not doing the entire shootout before moving on?? Lol what even is this all star competition
— Brando (@BrandanLee_27) February 4, 2023
This all star event is a mess. Why are they jumping from event to event without completing one. @NHL #NHLAllStar
— Dylan (@Quinner92) February 4, 2023
the way the NHL is splitting up the All-Star Skills events this year is…not working so far
— alex ervin (@alexervin928) February 4, 2023
Me, in my living room right now, watching the NHL skills competition pic.twitter.com/tEzFpxrVTA
— Alexandre Montpetit (@alexmontpetit) February 4, 2023
