OTTAWA, Ontario - As exciting as All-Star Weekend was here in Ottawa, the lead-up included nearly as much discussion of the players who wouldn't be at the game as those who would. Injuries kept Mikko Koivu, Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Dustin Byfuglien out of the game, so it's difficult to fault them, but others just decided they didn't want to go for personal reasons.

This latter group included most notably Alexander Ovechkin, but also respected veterans like Teemu Selanne and Nicklas Lidstrom. If a player is likely to be selected to go to the All-Star Game, should it be so easy to choose not to?

On Media Day during this past weekend's festivities, Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen made his thoughts on the issue abundantly clear.

"I always think this is your personal choice, but, for the fans, I don't think it's right [to opt out of the game]," Timonen said. "The fans are the ones who pay our salary, and that kind of stuff. They wanted to see [Ovechkin]. He's one of the best players in the world. But at the same time, it's been a long season for him, maybe he's got a tiny injury or something, but as a fan I wanted to see him here."

Brian Elliott acknowledged that it would be hard to make any sort of rules against opting out of the All-Star Game, just like Timonen did, but insisted that he'd never say no to the opportunity--and that for everyone who opts out, there are lots of guys who'd love the chance to play in the All-Star Game.

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OTTAWA, Ontario - As he was taking in the media circus after the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in his home arena, Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean was stopped and questioned by reporters about what's been essential in him establishing himself as a successful first-time head coach in Ottawa.

"The moustache," MacLean deadpanned to the interviewer, who was lost for words.

MacLean's bristles, which have earned him a moniker of The Paulrus on this site, aren't all MacLean has going for him, though. He's also earned the respect of the players, and that's translated to results on the ice.

"[MacLean]'s brought accountability, he's brought in a good system, and he's let us have fun, too," said Jason Spezza, when asked during the weekend what MacLean's done to lead the team to their success. "We're a hard-working team, and we work hard in practice. He makes sure everybody knows where they stand on the team, but he also lets us enjoy the game."

That accountability leads to trust, and that's something MacLean believes is indispensable for a coach to earn from his players.

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OTTAWA, Ontario - From start to finish, the faithful in Ottawa made it abundantly clear how they felt about the presence of several of the best Toronto Maple Leafs coming into the city for the All-Star Game festivities: The booing started mercilessly during the Fantasy Draft, and continued through the Skills Competition and the game itself. It was no surprise, though, and the players were able to have a bit of fun with it.

At the Fantasy Draft, Team Chara assistant captain and Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul looked a little uncomfortable with the booing at first, but that didn't stop him from drafting his two teammates to the squad. Dion Phaneuf said the passion of the fans actually made the environment a little bit more fun after the draft.

"I think I probably would have been [booed whether drafted by Lupul or Daniel Alfredsson]," Phaneuf said. "But I really enjoyed it. It was fun to be here, and the fans were energetic throughout the whole event. I'm looking forward to the whole weekend."

Phaneuf also said he expected more of the same through the weekend, and the fans didn't disappoint.

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This All-Star game had everything you'd expect from one: Tons of scoring, and no defense. The theme for tonight, besides the obvious and intoxicating adoration for Daniel Alfredsson, was that someone else was going to do all the work if you wanted to score a goal. This was a passing clinic disguised as a hockey game, as the strategy all night was to pass until you found an open net. There also seemed to be an unwritten rule of no slapshots or one-timers as snapshots and wristers dominated the play.

It was obvious that Team Alfie was a Senators-based team as they gave up the first goal in every period, and twice spotted Team Chara three-goal leads before mounting a comeback. Seemed like a regular script was in order, with a Team Alfie comeback on tap for the third period. Those hopes were dashed by a Team Alfie Killer and a Team Alfie Zero (yes, we're giving out zeroes for an All-Star game) -- but we'll get to that.

There were 21 goals scored in the game, 12 for Team Chara and 9 for Team Alfie. I may or may not recap them all--I have pages of notes to go through-- so we may as well get started.

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OTTAWA, Ontario - There were many entertaining events at the NHL Fan Fair event held in the city's new convention center, but without a doubt the best was the kids' foam hockey game: take off your shoes, grab a foam-bladed stick, and get ready to dominate.

Tonight's game was an especially spirited battle, with two separate children crying to my great amusement. Though the game started off like a bunch of guppies feeding from the same spot, top talent eventually broke through.

Now, everyone knows that stick handling a plastic puck on a plastic floor would challenge even Jason Spezza, but it would not prevent him from blind passes, and it didn't prevent these kids from attempting them either.

(Read on for heroes and zeroes...)

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OTTAWA, Ontario - After Brian Elliott's 2010-11 season, expectations for the goaltender were at an all-time low. He signed a two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues, was penciled in for a spot on the Blues' AHL affiliate, and then went and blew everyone's expectations out of the water--being named to the NHL All-Star Game in the process. The key for Elliott? Just getting back to basics, and keeping things simple.

"Sometimes, you look in the mirror, and you figure out what you did before to make you a good goalie, and I just tried to stay as patient and limit my movements as much as possible," Elliott explained. "And stay calm in there. When you're trying to get the win, you're trying to make saves, I think that's when you get in trouble, because you're not waiting for the pucks to you. That's when you start opening up and making holes for yourself."

This All-Star Game wasn't the first one Elliott was selected to play in. He got the nod to play for the Canadian All-Star Team in the 2009 AHL All-Star Game, and was poised to start there until everything in Ottawa fell apart, and Elliott came in to try and piece things back together. Even still, Elliott was a little disappointed to miss his last opportunity.

"I was a little bummed out that I didn't get to go in the AHL All-Star Game, but you're playing in the NHL, which is your goal," he said. "They said, 'Take the rest, you're staying up here the rest of the year,' and you can't really complain about that. This is obviously a little bit higher up on the scale, and I'm happy to be a part of it, and hopefully I won't have to miss this game."

Elliott certainly won't be missing this game, especially after his impressive showing during the Skills Competition. He was selected with Team Alfredsson's seventh overall pick--which was earlier than he expected.

"I thought I was going to be the last goalie picked," Elliott admitted after the draft.

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OTTAWA, Ontario - There were some serious moments among the lighter fare at the 2012 NHL All-Star Media Day, perhaps none more serious than Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza's comments about the upcoming NHL-NHLPA collective bargaining agreement negotiations this summer.

Most remember that last time these two sides were negotiating, the entire 2004-05 season was collateral damage in the battle--and in the end, it seemed like the union gave up more than the league. This time, league revenue steadily climbing, the NHLPA won't be eager to give up much more.

"I think the league is making more money than they've ever made and is in good shape," Spezza said. "We gave up quite a bit last time, so I would think that they can figure something out. Between the two sides, there should be a good deal. As players, we want to play, but we want to make sure it's the right deal. I think there's a deal out there that can be made, that's right for both sides."

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10:00-10:45 a.m.
HNIC Chat Session with George Stroumboulopoulos
Hockey Night in Canada Booth, 3rd Level

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
2012 Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair Dancers

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