Let’s be honest, the All-Star Game really doesn’t matter. And that’s fantastic. The best thing about the All-Star Game is that it’s a low-key way for the National Hockey League’s stars to take a break from the intensity of the hectic mid-season schedule to hang out and play some hockey in a reasonably relaxed setting.
Unlike Major League Baseball – making their All-Star Game determine World Series home field advantage, for some stupid reason – hockey embraces the pointlessness of the All-Star Game. For those that go, it’s a change of pace. For those that don’t, it’s a week off in the midst of the playoff race.
For the Calgary Flames, it can be a bit of both.
Recently, Flames have been on winning side
Since 2007, teams the Flames have played on in the All-Star Game have won four of six games. (The seventh game had no Flames representation, as Jarome Iginla had to bow out for family reasons and wasn’t replaced.)
The four wins have been split between the three different incarnations of the All-Star festivities:
- The old-school West vs. East (2007)
- The fantasy draft (2012, 2015)
- The three-on-three tournament (2016)
Gaudreau has had good performances
In a weird quirk, Johnny Gaudreau will appear in his third consecutive All-Star Game. For those of you tracking at home, he’s only been in the NHL for three seasons – so he’s batting 1.000 for All-Star appearances.
As noted before, Gaudreau’s team has won each time he’s appeared. Better yet, he’s been pretty damn good in each event. He had two assists in Team Toews’ 2015 win and a goal and two assists in Team Pacific’s 2016 tournament win. Considering he’s been trying to get his scoring mojo back, heading to an event that’s all about flashy offensive moves and scoring sweet goals sounds like a recipe for building confidence.
The post All-Star “bump”
Way back when Iginla played in Calgary, he had a reputation as a guy that was lights-out after the All-Star Break. Now, the statistical evidence of a post All-Star “bump” is a bit mixed. But regardless, reputations typically build themselves at least partially on the basis of fact. Post All-Star Break, Iginla seemed better rested and seemed to have a bit more bite to his game.
So far, Gaudreau is statistically a bit better after the All-Star Game.
- 2015: 34 points (13 goals) in 49 games pre-ASG, 29 points (11 goals) in 31 games post-ASG
- 2016: 47 points (20 goals) in 48 games pre-ASG, 31 points (10 goals) in 31 games post-ASG
Let’s just bear in mind that he’s been a point-per-game (or close to it) player for the majority of his career, so his “bump” in the second season was extremely minor. This season, he has 31 points in 42 games. Based on history, I don’t think expecting him to produce at close to a point-per-game pace is out of the realm of possibility – especially after he has a chance to just hang out and do cool stuff with the puck between the All-Star Game and Skills Competition.
Sum it up
The All-Star Game is not a tremendously important event. However, especially in Gaudreau’s case, it could be a pretty useful break in the schedule that gives the rest of the team a chance to rest up and Gaudreau a chance to continue to get his puck-handling groove back.
As good a time as any to offer the Blues a fifth round pick for Yakupov….Or Wideman…
WW
Has hell frozen over?
For once I agree with you, however Wideman is damaged goods. No GM in their right mind will take Wideman; he is a refs target (for obvious reasons). Calgary would be better off buying him out or burying him in the minors till his contract expires.
For 5th rnd. pick would be a good price, Yak could possibly rejuvenate his career with the Flames, and they could use a guy like him to increase the offence. It’s too bad Calgary has Eakins 2.0, don’t know how well yak would prosper within his system considering Eakins 1.0 ruined him.
A curious proposition coming from you since you were serious detractor of his when he was with the Oilers. Nonetheless still love Yakapov, never truly got a fair shake in Edmonton considering he was 1st overall pick. Don’t miss the old management that’s for sure.
Buying him out?! Are you serious?? He has 3 months left on his contract….
WW
My bad, I thought he had another yr., thats good for Calgary, won’t have him haunting the roster.
Can’t bury a player with a NMC. If you could, he would have been a fixture in the AHL or had his contract terminated for no-show.
I was not aware of his protective contingencies, he’s lucky he had a NMC otherwise he would have been offloaded to the AHL after his incident with the referee. Obviously. Thanks for the info. ?
You’re kidding…… Right?
WW your premise is indeed right BT needs to make some moves between now and the trade dead line. Could this be a possible move? The only way I see Wide’s waiving his MNC is to a legit contender and yes I do think he is someone a team would look at as insurance for a long playoff run. Acquiring Yakapov as test drive would not hurt this team; if he struggles you bury him in the press box; if he is successful you may have found someone to fit in the top 9.
Johnny and Brent Burns bromance is cute!
Hopefully being the best player on the best team in the All-Stars will give Johnny his Swagger back
allstar game or not, Jenny Hockey is the biggest cherry picker in the nhl
FN Mod: Haha, get it? because Jenny is a girls name and girls are worse than boys at things.
No; this is a bad post. Don’t be a misogynist.
McDavid can sure skate fast! But he is not exactly clutch, is he now…..
WW
FN Mod: removed; you’re bad at posting.
Train or Stan or what ever your calling yourself….do you not have Grade 7 gym class in the morning….sleep time.
Your constant jealousy is rather pathetic Walter.
I would’ve really enjoyed seeing Johnny & Connor get the chance together.
Unlike you, most fans can appreciate the talent of players from other teams.
Johnny was electric today as were many other players including McDavid.
My pick for MVP would’ve been Holtby. He saved their asses.
He’s just replying to an oiler troll, that as usual, had to come in here and derail the comments section for no f*cking reason.
Hey mods, DO SOMETHING.
FN Mod: if the comments are actually derailed, we deal with it. Sometimes, of course, you need to be patient. If you respond to the trolls, how can we be sure the comment is actually derailing and not just a natural course for the conversation to take?
He’s a new troll. Haven’t seen him on ON that I can recall
He has also been banned.
They are ALL TRAIN….easy to do.
I only watched the last 4 minutes of the final 3 on 3 game and it was more exciting than the crap we frequently see 3 on 3 in the season. Little of backing out and waiting crap that many teams are using; us fans want to see action not over coaching.
Now that the meaningless all star game is over can we talk hockey and can all the trolls on any sites just stay away. Ask your selves are you adding to the conversation or just being jerks. If your adding to the conversation but if not go away. I want to read about hockey not childish babble.
Did you see johnny use the same play with Horvat tgat he and backlund used the other night. Didn’t work this time because…no backlund. Alot of great players tonight I think gaudreau found his groove tge other night getting out of his slump