The crowds have been insane everywhere you go this weekend, including this group of a hundred or so fans who waited next to the Bell Centre's parking garage for over an hour after the pre-skills competition practice. 

In weather that was well, well below freezing. (It's been about -15 Celsius, or five Fahrenheit, the whole time.)

Did I mention the practice was sold out? 

If the NHL's hell-bent on continuing to have all-star games, they should always be in locales like this, where even the frivolous aspects of the weekend are seen as major events. The players were treated like royalty – or at least rock stars – and many probably signed more autographs the past three days than they have all season. 

"We skated out there and couldn't believe it," Devils star Zach Parise said of the sold out open practice. "Not only were they there, there was excitement, energy in the rink – it's crazy. I don't think you're going to get that too many other cities."

No, you're not. And for all the moaning and groaning from media and hardcore fans over how much they loathe the all-star game, it's really not for them. It's for the kids and the sponsors, and from what I've seen so far, both love the event. 

The league itself has a huge portion of its staff here, and treats the weekend as the signature event of the season. It's bigger than the draft, bigger than the Stanley Cup finals (as far as a 'league' function) and brings in dollars like you wouldn't believe. 

They'll never get rid of it, save for those Olympic years. I'm not sure it even matters that they play the silly shinny game on the Sunday.

Heck, quite a few people and media from out of town came out for the festivities on Friday and Saturday and are making their way home before the alleged centrepiece event takes place. 

It's been a special weekend for a lot of people, including all of the players with connections to this province – it's no accident Stephane Robidas and Marty St. Louis were two of the injury replacements – and it'd be a mistake to write this off as another dull NHL-sponsored exercise. The players care and quite a few fans do, too, and the best parts of the event have all been off the ice.