The KHL just pulled off something delightfully hockey-weird and awesome: a hardest-shot competition for goaltenders at its All-Star festivities — and honestly, it’s one of the most entertaining ideas hockey has seen in years.
While the National Hockey League has essentially checked out on its All-Star Game in recent seasons, the Kontinental Hockey League leaned all the way in, letting goalies skate up, tee it up, and fire absolute bombs at an empty net. Some shots were awkward. Some were impressive. All of it was fun.
And that’s the point.
Imagine back in the day Ron Hextall taking slapshots or jumping into a shootout during All-Star Weekend. The guy already treated puck-handling like a full-contact sport, giving him a radar gun would’ve been must-see TV.
Or how about Ilya Bryzgalov?
Forget shot velocity, Bryz would’ve turned the whole thing into performance art. One minute he’s missing wide, the next he’s explaining how the universe is “so humongous big.” Pure chaos. Pure entertainment.
If — and when — the NHL ever brings back a meaningful All-Star Game and skills competition, this is a no-brainer addition. Fans don’t need another stale accuracy contest. They need personality. They need moments.
Give us goalie hardest shots. Give us goalie shootouts.
Hextall would’ve embraced it. Bryz would’ve broken the internet.
The NHL needs this!
