Brad Marchand says NHL All-Star Game is trending in wrong direction

Weeks after making comments on a social media post regarding potential future locations for the NHL's All-Star Game, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand elaborated, saying that the event is heading in the wrong direction.

Marchand does have a point, the game is trending in the wrong direction. Whether that is the 3-on-3 format, the ridiculous Skills Competition events or the location, something has to change going forward.

Next year's All-Star Weekend is set to be held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (Ontario), but beyond that, Edmonton, Detroit and Seattle have been mentioned as potential host cities. While the NHL probably fairs better in a more traditional hockey market for these events, the players want to be in a warmer climate, but looking at the attendance for the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend, will the league want to return to a place like FLA Live Arena in Florida again?

There are a few options that I believe the NHL could do going forward. The first is catering to the players and strictly having it in a warm weather location, with the rotation of teams being Anaheim, Arizona, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Jose, Tampa Bay and South Florida. Another option could be having the game in a warm climate for two years, then for the third year go to a more traditional hockey market, such as Boston, Chicago, Montreal or New York, and begin that cycle over again.

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