“What kind of Hurricanes fan are you?” you might be asking. Look, I’m all for Skinner and Ward joining team Staal and representing the hometown Hurricanes, but it’s an exhibition game. It’s not like this is baseball where the meaning of the All-Star Game actually extends beyond personal bragging rights and a new Dodge, excuse me, Honda car for the game’s MVP.
So look at it this way; Skinner plays with Staal every day. He gets all the mentoring he needs from #12. On the other hand, you’ve got Nicklas Lidstrom. The man has 4 Stanley Cups and 6 Norris Trophies. He’ll go down in history as arguably the best defenseman to play the game. The defenseman has scored less than 50 points just 3 times in his 18 season career and is on his way to exceeding 50 easily this season.
While Jeff Skinner is not a defenseman, why not have this opportunity to learn from one of the game’s greatest champions? Why not take have this chance during an exhibition game to absorb some experience from a great captain? It may be the only chance a Hurricanes player has to benefit from the hockey prowess of Detroit’s captain.
Skinner can pick Staal’s brain any day of the week. So for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, I’d love to see Skinner in Western, excuse me, Lidstrom Blue.
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Written by Eric Cooney
Eric Cooney was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in North Carolina, and lives in Los Angeles, CA. He shares his thoughts on the NHL as one man who is a northerner, southerner, east coaster, and west coaster. Follow him on Twitter @EricCooney
Shane Hoopfer Jan 27 201111:21 pm
split up the Sedin’s too!