Blackhawks Make Play For All-Star Game, Draft

By Marcus Gilmer in News on May 6, 2010 8:40PM

While the Blackhawks are busy battling the Canucks in the NHL playoffs on the ice, off of it, they're pitching the league. Specifically, they're lobbying the NHL for rights to host both an NHL All-Star Game as well as the league's annual draft. Chicago's been the site of the NHL All-Star Game three times but the last was almost 20 years ago (1991). Said league commissioner Gary Bettman:

"The Blackhawks are interested in as many league events as they can get. Obviously this is a great city. We had a wonderful Winter Classic here [in 2009], and we're mindful of that. From our standpoint, it's more of a question of having a limited number of assets to allocate over 30 clubs, and we're trying to be fair and judicious in doing that. I have no doubt as to the ability of this franchise, this building and this city to be a wonderful host for whatever they do."

The Blackhawks aren't alone in their desire for the league's spotlight. The 2011 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Carolina Hurricanes. While no site has been selected for the 2012 or 2013 All-Star Games, teams like the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Toronto Maple Leafs have expressed a desire to host '12 or '13. 2014 is another Olympic year, which would mean there would be no All-Star Game. That's provided the NHL opts to allow its players to compete in the Olympics which isn't as much a given as some might think.