Should Coyotes fans watch this year’s All-Star Game?

When it was announced that Darcy Kuemper was going to the sole player representing the Arizona Coyotes it made sense. The Coyotes have been playing well this season, but Kuemper is the only real stand out player.

With Darcy Kuemper missing the last fourteen games with a lower-body injury, it made sense that he would miss the All-Star Game. Even if he was fully healthy there is no reason his first game back should be one know for a lack of defense.

With Kuemper missing the All-Star game the Coyotes are lacking a player representative for the game. Head Coach Rick Tocchet will be coaching the Pacific Division team so the Coyotes aren’t completely out of the game, but coaching in an All-Star game seems less involved.

In general, the NHL All-Star Game isn’t something that fans need to watch. There are no stakes, and you get the feeling that most players would rather have the night off. There is some stand out moments, but they don’t always necessitate watching the game.

Each team has a representative at the All-Star Game because it gives each fanbase a reason to watch the game. Without that fans don’t have the same incentive to watch the game.

If you are a fan of the All-Star Game generally you should still enjoy this year’s game. Though most players aren’t giving their all you still have the chance to see some of the most skilled players in the game with a bit of room to play. Also with the NHL being a business, staff are going to pay attention to viewership numbers, and Arizona’s interest in major hockey events can have a lot of impacts.

I’m not a fan of the All-Star Game as it currently is in general. The lack of stakes kills it for me, and the week off is a good chance to recharge before the final stretch of the season. But if you can’t get enough hockey and you will be watching I am not going to judge you. Although if you want more hockey but want to see it live the Tucson Roadrunners will be playing this weekend.