Feb. 02--The All-Star break and Sunday's game in Nashville cut short last week's schedule, so here's what we learned in Nashville about the midseason showcase and what players want to see next year, when the festivities will take place at Staples Center:
--Ducks right wing Corey Perry said he'd like the Saturday skills contests to include more of the entertaining moves players came up with last weekend. Among the best: Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban wore a jersey and wig to impersonate Jaromir Jagr, Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks wore a Chewbacca mask, and Burns and teammate Joe Pavelski brought their sons onto the ice for a cute moment during the breakaway challenge.
"I think the fans enjoy that kind of thing," Perry said. "I know the players really enjoyed it. We didn't know what was going on and with the kids out there, it's all in good fun and great humor." Perry's also anticipating a touch of glamour in the next All-Star Game. "L.A. is going to put on a great show and it's Hollywood so it's going to be fun," he said.
--A star-struck All-Star, Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall, had one request for what he'd like to see next year: "Lots of celebrities. I think that would be awesome, a warm place like L.A. where they can really let the stars come out. I think that would be a lot of fun."
--Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has two requests: "Hollywood stars, the beach. That would be it."
--Subban apparently is looking for romance in L.A. "I'm still trying to find that Miss Right," he said. "So hopefully a nice Hollywood actress." On a serious note, Subban said social media use has changed the relationship between fans and players by providing new ways to interact.
"I think it's almost safe to say now the new generation are more fans of individual players than they are the logos on the front of the jersey," he said. "I know people like my dad who are fans, they're fans of the logo. But our new fans, they're on social media now, they want to see what pictures you're tweeting, what you're doing, where you're going. That's a big part of our fan base in professional sports now."
