With all the drama going into the All-Star game, there was no telling how well the game would be received. The league had Nashville and the new 3-on-3 format going for them, but there was also the John Scott fiasco in the leadup which kind of soured the mood.

In a last minute show of self-awareness, the league changed its tune and embraced the Scott situation to the fullest. By Monday morning, Scott had the All-Star Game MVP and was the NHL’s First Star of the Week. The All-Star Game and everything after has been nothing short of great.

Which brings us to our question of the week: If you could make any changes to the All-Star Game, what would they be? The voting, rules, format, whether it even happens, etc. are all in play. Enjoy!

Last week I asked:

just go for the canuck usual…a trade with florida. dangle bartkowski or weber. that’ll get their saliva glands going… or perhaps they’ll need a bit of grit and character for their playoff run. he’s a 3rd-liner who is the number one guy on the ice when the coach needs a goal, down by 1. you can punch his face and he’ll punch yours. yours for the low, low price of…$0, or ‘future considerations'( shipping and handling: $2.5 million per year.)

I suspect we’re quieter than most of us would like. The only potential splash would be a deal that moves out Vrbata, but we’ll be disappointed in the return. Maybe a low second.

Perhaps the door hits Prust on the way out, but I don’t see much by way of return. Prust and Bartkowski package to Florida? I could see both of them as Panthers, but don’t see much beyond some promising but underachieving prospects in return.

Vey? But for what? Not likely what we paid for him.

Some of this hinges on Hamhuis’s health. Both whether he is marketable, but also what that means in terms of expendable defenders who could be part of a package.

But I don’t see any moves that help us now, or–really–that help to stock the larder.

Looking to see Vrbata to either Nashville or Minnesota. From Nashville defense prospect Diaby & a 4th or so. If Minnesota, some type of package involving Vrbata & Dumba in return.

Moving Edler would not hurt my feelings especially if we got a return of a player like Hamonic or Tyson Barrie (RFA).

My right off the wall pick is Hunter being involved in the trade with Minnesota mentioned above.

As it stands, general consensus seems to indicate that the majority of fans are okay with a top line of Hank, Dank, and Hansen (as am I). Most of us are looking forward to how well Bo and Sven mesh. If Sutter is marked for 3C I’m going to assume that Virtanen plays with him (if not the second line). That leaves McCann and Dorse on the 4th. If that’s how it stacks up that leaves two middle six forward and bottom line wing available. Seems to me that if (IF) Shinkaruk and Gaunce can make the jump a top 9 forward role is the only spot the team might want to upgrade. Supposing Eriksson does want to re-unite with the Sedins and Rodin is being seriously considered as a roster player (as opposed to a sign and trade) then does Jake start in Utica next season? Does that make Shinkaruk expendable if he doesn’t? Will the team feel that Etem is worth keeping over Gaunce? Will they sell high on Hansen? (hope not).

As I posted last week, Hamhuis would make a good third line D if they were to re-sign him but they have hamstrung themselves with the Sbisa love. If he’s past being an effective second line D and Sbisa has a lock on third where do you play him? Edler’s a horse but Hamonic would look pretty good back there and unless Edmonton can make something work, where else are the Islanders going send him?

I’m on the Pedan wagon myself. He’s big, he hits, he fights, and how many rooks come in with the best speed and hardest shot? I think we can all agree that Bartkowski and Weber aren’t being re-signed (knock wood).

So really, outside of a top 4D what do we need? Picks, picks and picks. A prospect or two wouldn’t hurt either.

To make a long story short (too late) by my count the list of players that don’t seem to fit future plans: Vrbata, Prust, Burrows, Vey, (I think he’s being shopped but that’s just my take) Cracknell, Hamhuis, Weber and Bartkowski. Not to mention Higgins to deal with. Phew! That’s more than a third of the team. The Canucks management can call it whatever they like but that sounds very much like a rebuild to me.

I’m not going to pretend that I have any real idea what the braintrust is going to do but I can’t wait for them to do it.

Trade Vrbata for a late 1st: Draft Benson who’s stock has plummeted even more due to recent injury.

Trade Hamhuis + 3rd for another late 1st: Draft Debrincat.

See canucksarmy.com contributors brains explode.

Here’s one for the out-of-left-field bucket:

Minny trades their overshadowed middle-child defenseman Jonas Brodin for Vrbata and a 1st. Sound crazy?

Well, they have to resign Matt Dumba to his first post-ELC contract next year and likely need to find a spot on the roster for Mike Reilly ’cause they probably need to fulfill some promises made during the courting process. Plus they just committed over $5mil to Spurgeon for next season onwards, Scandella is locked up long term as well, and they have one more cheap year for Prosser. That means Suter, Brodin, Dumba, Spurgeon, Prosser, and Reilly will all be competing for D-jobs. Meanwhile, their offense could use a boost for a playoff run from someone who will be off the books before next season’s raises take effect.

So they move Brodin because he’s become expendable but still has value. And hopefully he pulls a Roman Josi and emerges as a top defender on the Canucks.