from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

The one thing I try and keep in mind during all-star weekend is that it’s not truly meant for a hockey fan of my vintage.

Chances are if you’re reading this, the same applies to you.

There’s still appeal in a fun-loving NHL event for younger fans who vociferously consume content online. These players are cool and get to show a different side of their personalities than you normally see during the season.

I’d expect more tweaks and changes to emphasize the fun. There will be a shift to international teams next season, as Bettman hinted at during his all-star press conference, but you can also expect the league to play up a beach theme with the game being held at BB&T Center in South Florida.

The NHL will go out of its way to make this something the players don’t want to miss.

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Unless something changes between now and a three-day meeting of general managers in early March, there’s no reason to expect the NHL to look at extending the length of 3-on-3 overtime in order to reduce the number of shootouts.

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