The NHL's skills competition could have a new flavour to it when the Montreal Canadiens host All-Star Weekend in January.
The preliminary discussions have included NHL Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell, NHL Executive Vice President of Programming and Production John Shannon and NHLPA Director of Player Affairs Glenn Healy.
The event celebrates the Canadiens' 100th anniversary and pending commissioner Gary Bettman's approval, there will be changes. Most notably, the effort to include some of hockey's greats of the past.
A goaltending showdown between Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur has been discussed, but a more likely scenario would see Guy Lafleur or any number of former stars take part in either a head to head with Brodeur - or Roberto Luongo - or a competition against the NHL's young guns.
The skills competition will be simplified, but the staples will include the hardest shot, the fastest skater and shooting accuracy event.
To generate additional entertainment, a couple of options are being considered.
The favoured option would see all players shoot on NHL goalies with instant elimination. Only those players who score will advance until a winner is determined and potentially rewarded with a handsome donation to the charity of his choice.
A second option is the slam-dunk style shootout and involves pre-determined players, notified weeks in advance, shooting against a less qualified goaltender, be it a celebrity, or a goalie from another professional league such as the East Coast Hockey League.
Players who accept their All Star invite may be in for a nice surprise, like a Rolex watch or something substantial to show the NHL's and the Players' Association's appreciation for those who give up their weekend for the growth of the game.
Like the rest of the ideas Campbell, Shannon and Healy will present by week's end, a free Rolex has to be cleared by the commissioner.