The big Yahoo Sports basketball columnist, Vincent Goodwill, Summarize the atmosphere at the star weekend – and above all apathetic – NBA ALL -STAR As such: “You cannot make a soul.”
It came two weeks after the NFL Directed a flag football match with their professional questions It was about as exciting as the preparation of income. (The culmination may have been a hub of tons which was double for two overtime.)
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Then there was on Saturday evening in the Bell Center in Montreal, where a wild and rowdy crowd blocked the place for the NHL version of an “All -Star” event -4 nations face -off – and a game between the United States and Canada.
“The star banner” was hooky. Three fights broke out in the first nine seconds. “We had to send a message,” said the American Matthew Tkachuk of St. Louis, Missouri, who, with his brother Brady, was one of the first fighters. “The message we wanted to send:” It's our time. »»
Shortly after, one of the most intense, the most competent, exciting and the richest in talents ever played, with the United States in force 3-1. The Americans celebrated a big victory, although they know that it simply advanced them in Thursday's final in Boston where they will meet Canadians again.
Sam Reinhart of Team Canada and Dylan Larkin from Team USA fight during the third period of the NHL 4 confrontation of NHL 2025. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)
(Minas Panagiotakis via Getty Images)
At a time when the leagues try to find a way to pump excitement and meaning in the old concept of stars' play, the NHL has not only found it, but is ready to have it in its whole product – which was the original promotional concept of all -star events.
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After all, ABC has an average of 4.4 million viewers in the United States, the maximum for a Cup final without Stanley since 2019. Each match was important.
“I think that could encourage another generation of young players to want to play the game,” said American coach Mike Sullivan.
The confrontation of the 4 nations includes four teams (United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland) and eight games, including Thursday third and championship matches on Thursday. It is not technically an exclusively NHL event-The teams are selected and managed by the national team of each participating country, that is to say American hockey.
However, the NHL closed its doors for almost two weeks and allowed the NHL players to participate. While some elite talents of Russia, the Czech Republic and other countries are excluded, national pride for those who are by the roof. It is a mini-Olympic.
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“It's the biggest game in my life,” said Travis Sanheim in Elkhorn, Manitoba and Philadelphia flyers before the United States match.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life – just an incredible hockey game,” said the American Dylan Larkin from Waterford, Michigan, who has marked the goal of the fire and whose day work is the Captain of the Red Wings of Detroit.
Compare this to the NBA conversation.
“You cannot force anyone to play hard if he doesn't want it,” said Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Anyone who saw Antetokounmpo (or almost any NBA player) in a game that was knowing that he will bring the same victory effort at all costs as a NHL star. Ditto with the NFL. The problem is to ensure that this is important.
The NHL has cracked the code, taking advantage of national pride not only from international competition outside the season, but also of the natural chirping that takes place between the four countries with the most Nhlers.
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“It's funny: you put the flag behind the meaning of something and the guys' switches are somehow flip,” said Flyers in front of Travis Konecny from Clachan, Ontario.
These are the rarest opportunities that seem historic.
In the victorious American locker room, for example, players born in the 1990s and 2000s, alluded the classic Aeorsmith of 1973 “Dream on” because it was presented in the 2004 “Miracle” film on the 1980 American team for the gold medals for which they all grew up by dreaming of playing.
“Many guys who have a lot of pride for the United States,” said Jack Hughes, from New Jersey Devils, of Canton, Michigan. “In Miracle on Ice, 'Dream on' is like the great song.”
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NHL learns everything about international competition. Next February, he will send his players to the Olympic Games for the first time since 2014. He also undertook to organize a World Hockey World Cup (with more countries). Over the years alternating, there will be the 4 nations.
The NBA could try something similar; The 2024 Olympic tournament in Paris was lively and excellent, after all. Even a unique all-star game from USA-VS.-World could return a little pop.
This probably cannot correspond to what the NHL has however. It was exaggerated and only promises to grow and better. The first three fights received a lot of attention on Saturday – and for a good reason – but the game that followed was no less energetic.
Look at the breathtaking speed of the Connor McDavid of Edmonton's Oilers (Newmarket, Ontario) on the first goal of Canada or Care-Not, All-in Bodycheck that Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins (Long Beach, New York), delivered to McDavid later in the match. (McAvoy will be held on Monday's match against Sweden.)
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Look at the NHL superstars such as Larkin accept a place on the fourth line or the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Mathews of Scottsdale, Arizona, which scored 69 goals last season, change the game several times with its elite verification.
“I thought it was an incredible celebration of hockey,” said Sullivan.
It was sport at its absolute pinnacle. No gadgets. No forced business sponsors. No need for celebrity cameos – unless you count Michelle Kwan and Georges St -Pierre.
It was all stars, everything.
And it's just to start.
