A couple of media outlets are reporting that the NHL and PA are working out a scenario where the fans and the NHL Hockey Operations staff pick the pool of players to participate in the 2011, NHL All Star Weekend. The East vs. West format would be tossed.

The players would then select two captains and alternates, who would then draft their teams on live TV.

This reminds me of when I was a kid and we picked teams at the neighbourhood outdoor rink, ball field, etc....

The only thing missing from this idea, is to then have them play the All-Star game outdoors. Or possibly have them all "throw sticks-in-the-middle" for any of you who remember that method of picking teams!

The rumour mill starts here:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/888277--two-captains-to-choose-teams-for-2011-nhl-all-star-game-source

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=340505

The 2011 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft will be Friday, Jan. 28, to kick off All-Star Weekend, which will be hosted for the first time by the Carolina Hurricanes.
NEW NHL ALL-STAR GAME FORMAT
* Fans will continue to play the lead role in the selection of All-Stars when 2011 NHL All-Star Fan Balloting presented by XM launches on Monday, Nov. 15. The All-Star Balloting process, which is entirely digital for the fourth consecutive game, runs through Jan. 3.

* From a group of 100 players on the ballot, fans will vote for their top six All-Stars by position without regard to the Conference in which the player plays. Fans will also have the ability to write-in a player of their choice.

* The three forwards, two defensemen and one goalie receiving the most votes will be named NHL All-Stars.

* As with previous All-Star games, the remaining 36 All-Stars will be named by the NHL Hockey Operations Dept. for a total of 42 All-Star players (3 goalies, 6 defensemen and 12 forwards per team).

* Following the selection of All-Stars, NHL Hockey Operations will designate 12 NHL rookies to participate in the Honda NHL SuperSkills® on Saturday, January 29 for a total of 54 NHL players taking part in All-Star weekend.

* After the 42 NHL All-Stars have been selected, two captains will be chosen per team by the players.

* On Friday, January 28, 2011, a fantasy draft event will be held in Raleigh with all 54 NHL players (42 All-Stars and 12 rookies) during which the captains will draft the remaining members of their respective teams.

* First selection in the draft will be determined by coin flip and selections will continue on an alternating basis.

* Each team will be required to select three goalies, six defensemen and 23 forwards in any order they choose.

* After the selection of the All-Star game rosters, the captains will select among the 12 rookies to fill out the rosters for the Honda NHL SuperSkills.

* Each team will feature six rookies participating in various skills competitions.

* Teams will participate in six different skills, including NHL Fastest Skater, NHL Breakaway Challenge, Accuracy Shooting, Skills Challenge Relay, NHL Hardest shot and the NHL Elimination Shoot Out.
Captains for each side will select from a pool of players chosen by a combination of fan balloting and the NHL Hockey Operations Department. The change in format is a joint effort by the League and the NHL Players' Association.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=543059

When it takes that much ink to explain the process, it seems pretty silly.

^^^ Yup!

When I was talking about "sticks-in-the-middle" with a couple of coworkers, they had no idea what I was going on about. I guess pond hockey was popular where they grew up.

A picture's worth a thousand words, or in this case a video (looks like they were making three teams):

3cT1T7JZb0E

Sticks in the middle. Man that brings back a lot of memories.

They should just cancel the ASG and let the players have the time off. ;)

We still do sticks in the middle at pickup hockey.