Best of the West: NHL All-Star Candidates

With the NHL All-Star game approaching, here is a list of five amazing players I have personally selected on the online ballot. Hopefully, browsing through the list will help you decide as well.

Center

In the 2008 all-star game, your Western Conference is proud to present—Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings.

 This center easily has the best hands at center in the West this season, posting points with—and during injuries to—Henrik Zetterberg.

With 50 points in 41 games and a plus 22, while only racking together 6 PIMs, he's my outstanding vote for the West All-star center.

He's a major part of Detroit's success, and he's chasing the East's Lecavalier as top scoring center in the NHL.

Left Wing

Henrik Zetterberg. The ying to Datsyuk's yang. It's hard for a Colorado fan to send two Red Wings to the All-star game, but you simply cannot argue with his success. 52 points in just 36 games.

Zetterberg is a powerful Left Wing, and with the chemistry already there, it's a recipe for West success.

He's also not shy of shooting either, amassing 188 shots.

Right Wing

The Calgary Flames powerhouse, Jarome Iginla.

Iginla has been the scoring backbone of the Flames for seasons past, and the improved supplemental scoring has only increased his offensive output.

He's racked up 57 points in 42 games. He's totalled 178 shots, and sits high atop a plus 18 rating.

Iginla needs no help from Iron Mike, and you shouldn't need any help putting this player on your ballot.

Defense

Edmonton's bad boy, Chris Pronger. Much of his success last season was attributed to his partnership with he-who-would-not-decide, Niedermayer.

But this season, Pronger showed he could get the job done. 31 points in 43 games, and of course, 89 PIMs.

Why not Lidstrom? I already have two Red Wings,—don't make me change the title to "Wings are the Best and that Makes Me Sad

In the other blue-line spot: Dion-The Hammer-Phaneuf. Not only does he contribute offensively, he's arguably one of the hardest hitting defensemen in the league. He's a man every NHL team wants, and the Flames get.

Phaneuf has produced 29 points in 42 games, but his real all-star quality is his phyiscal toughness and willingness to put himself at risk for a win.

While it was hard to keep Lidstrom off the ballot, it's obvious to see that we lose very little when we select this young, improving defenseman.

Goaltender

It would be easy to select Luongo, considering he's carrying the Canucks on his back—and, with the Sedins, is the only reason they even have a shot at the playoffs.

But it would be rude to ignore the stellar play of Evgeni Nabokov. With the trading of Toskala to Toronto, Nabokov has cemented their decision with a GAA of 2.02, a league lead in NHL wins with 22, a save percentage of .917%, and an impressive five shutouts, all this in 40 games.

When looking at the Vezina voting, it's apparent that Luongo may have to wait another year, given a class that gives us Kiprusoff, Nabokov, Giguere, Backstrom, and even Osgood.

The Western conference shows no lack of talent, and with these selections, it's sure to be an exciting All-Star game, and I'll be watching to see where all these players take this tremendous start, while I hope Budaj wins Vezina, and Stastny breaks 100.