All Star Shenanigans

It’s that time of year again where us fans can vote for our favorite All Stars into a game meant to display the best skills and entertain the fans but usually doesn’t do the trick. As always, there are questionable players on the ballot, and while we know you cant make everyone happy, let’s take a look at the ones we feel really aren’t deserving of being there (official names on the ballot at the end of the article).

But first let me say this. I know a lot of people see the All Star game as a joke, and I won’t try and prove otherwise. You like it or you don’t. But really, did they have to make the jerseys a joke too? At least give us a decent set of jerseys for the damn thing. (jerseys can be seen here: http://nhllogos.blogspot.com/2007/11/atlanta-all-star-jerseys.html)


Should not be on the ballot:

Eastern Conference

Ray Emery, Ottawa Senators
What exactly has he done for this? No, honestly, tell me, what has Emery done for a nomination?

Bryan McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs
Maybe two years ago, but not now. McCabe is pretty good, but not all star worthy.

Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh Penguins
Horrible in his own end, afraid to shoot the puck and even more afraid to be hit. Sergei Gonchar should be put here ahead of him no ifs ands or buts.

Slava Kozlov, Atlanta Thrashers
Kozlov is good, but not elite, and that’s who should be on the ballot.

Justin Williams, Carolina Hurricanes
This must be some kind of sick joke. Not that Williams is bad, but to suggest he is at the level of the best in the game is absurd.



Western Conference

Nikolai Khabibulan, Chicago Blackhawks
Khabibulan has yet to be anything close to All Star caliber, or even the goalie that won the cup in Tampa since he came to Chicago.

Rob Blake, LA Kings
He may still be better than a lot of defenders in the league, but Blake isn’t the same player he was. Not a huge stretch, but still.

Ed Jovanovski, Phoenix Coyotes
Another guy that hasn’t been the same since he switched teams, Jovo has yet to provide the Yotes with the defensive stalwart they needed, and that tells me you shouldn’t be here. He’s doing better this year, yes, but not his old alls tar caliber play.

Mike Modano, Dallas Stars
Talk about living off name, Christ. Ok you’re the highest scoring American born player, but you’re not still the player that got you to that status.

Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis Blues
Not that he’s taken a nose dive in recent years, but it’s enough that there are better options than him.



On the bubble:

Tomas Vokoun, Florida Panthers
Has been shaky in net at times, but the potential is there.


Bill Guerin, NY Islanders
Not too bad, but his main strengths have been things other than scoring this year.

Sheldon Souray, Edmonton Oilers
I’ve always felt he was a bit over rated, and the fact he took so long to sign in the off season tells you he wasn’t as impressive as some make him out to be. Plus he’s been injured much of the year.

Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks
Still living off that Richard Trophy I see…

David Legwand, Nashville Predators
I’ve always been a fan of Legwand, but not this much.




EASTERN CONFERENCE

Goaltenders

Martin Biron, Philadelphia Flyers
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Rick DiPietro, New York Islanders
Ray Emery, Ottawa Senators
Cristobal Huet, Montreal Canadiens
Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Tomas Vokoun, Florida Panthers
Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes

Defensemen

Jay Bouwmeester, Florida Panthers
Dan Boyle, Tampa Bay Lightning
Brian Campbell, Buffalo Sabres
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs
Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens
Bryan McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs
Chris Phillips, Ottawa Senators
Wade Redden, Ottawa Senators
Henrik Tallinder, Buffalo Sabres
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh Penguins

Forwards

Maxim Afinogenov, Buffalo Sabres
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Jason Blake, Toronto Maple Leafs
Daniel Briere, Philadelphia Flyers
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Chris Drury, New York Rangers
Patrik Elias, New Jersey Devils
Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers
Brian Gionta, New Jersey Devils
Scott Gomez, New York Rangers
Bill Guerin, New York Islanders
Dany Heatley, Ottawa Senators
Marian Hossa, Atlanta Thrashers
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
Olli Jokinen, Florida Panthers
Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers
Slava Kozlov, Atlanta Thrashers
Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Marc Savard, Boston Bruins
Brendan Shanahan, New York Rangers
Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators
Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs
Thomas Vanek, Buffalo Sabres
Justin Williams, Carolina Hurricanes

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Goaltenders

Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
J.S. Giguere, Anaheim Ducks
Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings
Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago Blackhawks
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
Pascal Leclaire, Columbus Blue Jackets
Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks
Marty Turco, Dallas Stars

Defensemen

Francois Beauchemin, Anaheim Ducks
Rob Blake, Los Angeles Kings
Scott Hannan, Colorado Avalanche
Ed Jovanovski, Phoenix Coyotes
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
Mattias Ohlund, Vancouver Canucks
Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames
Chris Pronger, Anaheim Ducks
Brian Rafalski, Detroit Red Wings
Robyn Regehr, Calgary Flames
Sheldon Souray, Edmonton Oilers
Lubomir Visnovsky, Los Angeles Kings
Sergei Zubov, Dallas Stars

Forwards

Jason Arnott, Nashville Predators
Mike Cammalleri, Los Angeles Kings
Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes
Marian Gaborik, Minnesota Wild
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Martin Havlat, Chicago Blackhawks
Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche
Ales Hemsky, Edmonton Oilers
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Paul Kariya, St. Louis Blues
Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Daymond Langkow, Calgary Flames
David Legwand, Nashville Predators
Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
Andy McDonald, Anaheim Ducks
Mike Modano, Dallas Stars
Brenden Morrow, Dallas Stars
Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets
Markus Naslund, Vancouver Canucks
Brian Rolston, Minnesota Wild
Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Ryan Smyth, Colorado Avalanche
Paul Stastny, Colorado Avalanche
Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis Blues
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings