Seth Jones enjoyed his NHL All-Star experience, but he and Chicago Blackhawks teammate Patrick Kane critique ‘gimmicky’ skills events

There was a lot Seth Jones enjoyed about his fourth NHL All-Star experience last weekend and a lot he didn’t — including the hardest shot competition.

The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman came in last among five contestants with his fastest shot clocking in at 94.7 mph.

“I think that’s the last time the NHL puts me in it, I’m sure,” Jones joked. “That’s my third time. I think the first time I shot 99 (mph) when I was younger. I was looking to crack 100 this year but not that close.”

Jones couldn’t say what went wrong.

“I haven’t even watched it, to be honest, because it’s nothing to watch,” he said. “I’m not going to watch myself shoot 95 (mph).”

Jones did have plenty to celebrate. He recorded three points for Team Central, including a goal that set a record for most career goals (six) by a defenseman since the NHL switched to a 3-on-3 tournament format in 2016.

Jones said he had “good chemistry” with Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller and St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko in the first game, a 6-4 win versus Team Pacific.

“Every year you’re starting to see it get a little bit more intense out there,” he said. “And then the second game (a 7-5 loss to Team Atlantic in the final), we couldn’t really get anything going. But I enjoyed playing with those guys.”

Jones has been a fan of the competitive atmosphere of the tournament, but he and other Hawks who spoke to the Tribune aren’t big fans of some of the sideshow elements of the league’s midseason showcase.

The biggest target for criticism: the breakaway challenge, in which skaters often dress up in costume and play on pop culture themes while trying to score against celebrity goalies.

“It’s cool for the fans to see that other side of players and the entertainment side, but at the same time we want to see the players actually go and try to score against these best goalies in the world,” Jones said. “Like, do real moves that they do in the game.”

Patrick Kane, who donned a Superman cape in the 2012 breakaway challenge, took an even dimmer view of the event.

“I think that breakaway challenge has kind of worn itself out a little bit,” Kane told the Tribune before the Hawks returned to the ice Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks at the United Center. “You look at (Ducks forward Trevor) Zegras last year, he was unreal in that competition and he doesn’t even win because some judge is a fan of (Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo).”

Actor and die-hard Blues fan Jon Hamm gave Pietrangelo — a former Blues captain — a 19 out of 10 by placing two cards together to form a “!” and “9.” That gave Pietrangelo the victory despite taking easily the most unimaginative “trick shot” and still missing the net twice.

“So he gets the prize money and no one ever remembers what he did,” Kane said. “I know what they’re trying to do. Seems to me like they’re trying to find that one viral clip, hope it takes off and help grow the game.

“I know what they’re trying to do, but go back to basics. I think it’s more enjoyable for the true hockey fan.”

Hawks defenseman Jake McCabe wasn’t impressed with this year’s events either.

“I watched the NHL skills competition — I don’t think that was it,” McCabe said. “And I appreciate guys trying to be charismatic and play the character role like the NHL is trying to do. I don’t know if it’s landing exactly right.”

Not landing and probably too long.

“It’s awesome they went to 3-on-3, (but) for skills it’s just too long,” said Kane, who has made nine All-Star appearances and has played in the 3-on-3 format five times. “Even when you’re there, you’re just standing around the whole time waiting for it to be done.

“It shouldn’t be three hours. You could probably eliminate an hour off that. I’m not sure if they do that for ads or whatever it is. And the last couple of years, it’s felt like it gets maybe a little bit too gimmicky.

“It’d be better off just going back to the skills competition like they did in the ‘90s, like the puck control relay. I even liked the one where they did like a shootout, and if you score you advance and it comes down to one player. That’s fun to see because you can see who can score and last the longest.”

Jones also was curious why it felt like there was so much dead time during this year’s All-Star Skills night.

“They probably had a three-hour time slot for TV. I’m guessing that’s what happened,” he said. “There were two white (Zambonis) — kind of unnecessary (since) we’re not really chewing up the ice out there. And it just really dragged out.

“I feel bad for even the fastest skater (contestants). Some of those guys, they had to do the lap and then wait an hour and a half and get cold again and then do another lap for the final. I think they can just tighten it up a bit.”

Still, Jones will take away positives from All-Star Weekend in Sunrise, Fla. It’s always a chance to catch up with former teammates and buddies around the league.

“My family was there as well, Mom and Grandma,” Jones said. “It’s nice to get away and compete with some of the best players in the world.”

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