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.