FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The NHL All-Star Game brought together 44 of hockey’s greatest players, offering an ideal chance to gather their opinions on a variety of topics on and off the ice.
Here are 13 All-Stars on whether they’d change NHL rules or the Stanley Cup Playoff format; where they’d add the next expansion franchise; their favorite non-hockey athlete, cheat meals and other points of interest.
But first, we asked them to give some love to their own teammates.
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Player on your own team who is underrated/underappreciated?
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets: I would say [Connor Hellebuyck], actually. I know he’s here [as an All Star] and has that recognition. But we’re not in the place we are without him every night. Especially as a defenseman, I appreciate how good he is and what he does for our team.
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres: I would say Casey Mittelstadt is never getting any credit. He’s always doing the right things out there.
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs: I don’t know if it’s underrated, but obviously 88 [William Nylander], just what he’s done this year has been awesome to be a part of. He’s made our team very successful. I don’t know if it’s undercover or anything, but Willy’s obviously done some great things for us.
Johnny Gaudreau, Columbus Blue Jackets: You’ve got Nick Blankenburg, Kent Johnson, Yegor Chinakhov; there’s Kirill Marchenko. I think they have the opportunity and the ability to be at [All-Star] weekends like this.
Should the NHL expand the playoff field?
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche: I think keep it at 16 teams. You have to make it really hard to make it. I think 16 is a good number. Eight and eight.
Brock Nelson, New York…
