Blue Notes

Dallas---You know the phrase. Guy looks like a mondo Texan, but there's no beef on the ranch.

If I learned anything yesterday, it was this: The NHL definitely needs to rethink the Young Stars format, played in front of a half-empty house at half-speed.

Look, we completely understand that this an exhibition and no one wants to get see prized prospects writhing on the ice, but what good is a showcase if everyone's crusing?

Back-checking? None.

Stick-checking? Hahahaha....

Floating? Waaaay too much.

Did Evgeni Malkin venture into his defensive zone once?

Ok, Zach Parise and Phil Kessel and Anze Kopitar caught my eye. There were moments, but not nearly enough.

G Kari Lehtonen deserved the MVP if the game (and I use that word loosely) ended after the second period.

D Brent Seabrook looked like he didn't belong.

In fact, any defenseman whose game relies on physical play (Shea Weber?) didn't belong.

Maybe the youngsters should simply have a short skills competition---hopefully better organized than the NHL event, which included convoluted rules and gaps of time when nothing was happening on the ice.

Or have the younger players out out for one period of serious play (North America vs the World?) for a cash donation to a charity---and some prize money to the winning players.

Maybe just a shootout?

During his news conference, Commissioner Gary Bettman said there were 70 high school hockey teams in Dallas.

With some free tickets, maybe some of them could've helped fill the seats at American Airlines Center.

Maybe some of them should have been on the ice.

By many accounts, Dallas is a far bigger hotbed than Atlanta, where the All-Star festivities will be staged next year.

The big hats in the NHL better come up a presentation far more tantalizing than this twelve months from now.

Dull, followed up by embarrassing, isn't what the sport needs.