McKenna’s Mailbag: Coaching critiques, playing in the minors, hardest shot, and more

Former NHL goaltender Mike McKenna answers questions from readers!

Not sure which markets you are targeting in the US, but I think there are plenty of local outlets that do a great job of holding feet to the fire when it comes to NHL teams.

That said, I can sympathize with your feelings. I’ve played  – and worked – in markets where the local media isn’t very critical. And I think there are several factors involved.

Some reporters simply don’t know the game well enough to be comfortable bringing the heat. And I get that. But I think it’s part of the job to be opinionated and critical. Fans want a voice to champion their thoughts, and it doesn’t take a career in hockey for a media member to accomplish that.

But I also think some NHL teams try very hard to control the message. And I believe there are media outlets that are scared to ruffle the feathers of a team’s PR staff or management. They fear losing access. And they don’t want to be on bad terms with the lifeblood of their industry.

But I think that’s weak. Teams deserve criticism. But it has to be done in a respectful way. Ask questions that are pointed – but not personal. Players and teams do not appreciate feeling attacked.

I played in both! And I think each game meant something different. They occurred at very different times in my life. The ECHL game in 2007 – I had only recently graduated from St. Lawrence and life was simple. I wasn’t making very much money and I viewed the All-Star selection as a potential platform. Maybe I would play well enough and an AHL team would notice me. It was exciting.

The 2016 AHL All-Star game in Syracuse, New York was really cool because it was later in my career and felt like an affirmation of what I had accomplished up to that point. I was really proud to make that team – even as a late addition. That was the best part. Feeling like someone had noticed.

The worst parts? Well, for the ECHL game I wasn’t able to take part in the skill competition. I was with the Calgary Flames AHL affiliate – the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights – and had to fly to Boise the day of the game. It was a bummer not getting the full experience. But I was happy to be there.

And the part that stung with the AHL game – my wife was too pregnant to travel. So I had to go solo while she stayed back in Portland, Maine with our oldest daughter. It wasn’t ideal but thankfully they were able to watch. It was still pretty special.

Martin Frk. And I recently wrote about him. You can check it out here.

I take it your question relates to the NHL Skills Competition that took place Friday night in Las Vegas. And I think you’re onto something.

I think the best way to answer is this: it’s super relaxed until it’s showtime. Every player in an NHL All-Star game wants to win. Their inner competitiveness is truly on display.

Fastest skater, accuracy shooting, hardest shot – take your pick – they all carry weight around the league and locker room. Players like Ray Bourque and Mike Gartner had Hall of Fame careers, but each is remembered just as much for their performance in skills competitions. Bourque was unbeatable in accuracy shooting. Gartner was the top dog in the fastest skater.

Imagine being Jordan Kyrou and upsetting Connor McDavid in this year’s fastest skater competition. Is there a bigger bragging right?

Whichever team puts in a claim and is lower in the standings gets the player. It happened to me once. Philadelphia and Toronto put in a waiver claim, and the Flyers were lower than the Leafs in the standings. So off I went to Philly.

I’ll only speak for myself. But I loved shootouts. They were a one-on-one challenge and something I took a lot of pride in. In fact, my first and last professional wins were both via shootout.

That said, I can’t stand that professional hockey games are decided by them. I think across the board, players would prefer to end the game playing hockey. But who knows how long that might take, and the NHL has to factor in TV windows, ice conditions, and the safety of the players. There hasn’t been much appetite to go past five minutes of overtime.

But fans need a winner. Players need a winner. Ties are the worst. So from that standpoint, I like having the shootout. If it’s the best option for the NHL, so be it. But it is a little trivial.