Mike Stobe / Getty Images

So that's what the NHL's leading scorer looks like on the ice. One suggestion for improving the All-Star game is to have Evgeni Malkin and the other players go without a helment during the contest.

Greg Wyshynski, Editor, Puck Daddy, Yahoo! Sports
"Take all eligible stars and dump them into their respective positions, regardless of conference. Top four goalies, top six defensemen and the top eight forwards voted by the fans make the cut; the rest of the rosters are selected by the league for balanced representation. One week before the game, have some celeb-laden "All-Star Rocks"-type Saturday night TV show to select the teams live; via ping-pong balls or having some toe-headed hockey moppets pick them out of a hat. The next week is filled with line-combo and "friend-vs.-friend" hype. Oh, and play the game on a larger ice surface, too."

George Richards, Panthers beat writer, Miami Herald
"I think the NHL All-Star Game is fine and dandy, although I wouldn't call it a spectacle or even all that entertaining after the first couple of minutes. Can anyone recall how the second period went in Atlanta last year? Or remember much of anything from that weekend aside from Alyssa Milano wandering into media day (and thereby grabbing all the attention for herself, bless her pretty little heart).

"One thing I would like to see in the All-Star Game is the players. That's what everyone is there for, theoretically. Since no one plays defense, drop the helmets. Only the goalies get to wear masks, and I say each goalie needs to have a special All-Star-Game-only mask made up. They will later be autographed (by the goalie and players who score on him in the game) and auctioned for charity.

"Back to the helmets: There's no reason for guys to wear them while they skate around, and there is almost no risk of injury during this shinny game. Forwards are going to be moving around at will, so let the television audience get a peek at that mullet or freshly shaved melon. Players in the NBA All-Star Game don't wear helmets, do they? And look how popular that game is. (Does the NBA still have an All-Star Game?)

"Since no one plays defense anyway, I think the league needs to bring fewer defensemen to the party. Sure, you need the elite guys like Nicklas Lidstrom and Dion Phaneuf, but that's it. To sum up: More forwards, fewer D-men, no helmets, special goalie masks. And more Alyssa Milano. Hope to see her in Montreal."

George James Malik, Red Wings Snapshots
"The one dramatic change I'd make is to give the media and fans group counseling, so everybody could accept the All-Star Game for what it is — an insanely-skilled exhibition game which usually rounds into something resembling competitive-but-fun hockey in the second or third period. Changes? Bring 'em on by the boatload, sure, but understand that it will remain an All-Star Game, regardless of whatever format it takes. It's an honor for the players, they have fun, and the game is best enjoyed as "fluffy but fun" highlight-reel fodder. There's nothing wrong with watching athletes at play once in a while.

"I'd love to see the NHL fix the ballot-stuffing issue with a one-vote-per-IP-and-email-address-per-day solution. I'd love to see the game played outdoors, see the Europe-vs.-North America or Canada-vs.-the-World (AHL) format, maybe a 30-and-over vs. under-30 game, four-on-four, maybe a game where players play for the charities of their choice, with the winning side getting more money instead of giving some guy who already has five cars a Honda truck or something. There are tons of good ideas, and the All-Star Game's the perfect time to have an open mind."

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