2013 NHL All-Star Game Will Be Hosted By Columbus Blue Jackets

It's hard to pull many positives from a team that has an NHL-worst 32 points this season, but here's a big one: the league announced Saturday that the Columbus Blue Jackets will host the 2013 All-Star festivities on the weekend of Jan. 26 and 27.

The 12-year-old franchise has never hosted the All-Star weekend, but they did host the 2007 NHL Draft, and commissioner Gary Bettman pointed to its success as part of the reason for choosing Columbus:

"We're looking forward to bringing our All-Star celebration to Columbus," Bettman said. "The Blue Jackets did a great job of hosting the NHL Draft in 2007, and I have no doubt they will raise the bar even higher when they welcome our All-Star celebration next January."

According to Puck Rakers, the NHL would not approve the city of Columbus for the game in the past because the area around the arena did not have enough high-end hotel rooms. That's changing, though, as a 500-room Hilton just blocks from the rink will be completed in September this year. Congratulations, Columbus.

For instant reaction on this announcement from die-hard Columbus Blue Jackets fans, check out The Cannon.