B/R NHL Roundtable: Biggest Snubs From the 2024 All-Star Game
The results are in and we know the first 32 roster spots for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto.
Naturally, some names that deserve to be on the roster are missing. The B/R NHL Staff called together a roundtable to discuss the biggest snubs from the announcement.
Disagree with the selections. Sound off in the comments section of the app.
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
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What if I told you William Nylander has somehow never been named an All-Star in his nine NHL seasons? You'd probably say, "Well, he's played each of those (save for his stint in 2015-16) alongside potentially generational goal-scorer Auston Matthews."
Matthews is up to his usual tricks—outdoing himself, even—this season, with 30 goals and 45 points in 35 games. The current All-Star rules are clear: One representative for each team. As much as we want to see every team represented, it stinks for someone like Nylander, who would be a multiple-time All-Star at this point if he were on roughly 20 other NHL teams for his entire career.
The 27-year-old deserves it most this year, though, as he's on pace to break all of his records with 19 goals and 51 points in 36 games. For the mathematicians at home, that's six more points than Matthews.
It doesn't feel good pitting the two against each other when they've both had seasons worth celebrating, it's just that Nylander deserves some recognition for once. He's got the edge in overall points and is on pace for a career year during a contract season. He was also a hometown hero and an excellent ambassador of the NHL during the Global Series in Sweden.
You do wonder how the game being held in Toronto impacted this decision. Are we assuming fans will vote Nylander in? Multiple representatives from the home team are usually in attendance, and this is Leafs Nation we're talking about.
While Nylander will almost certainly get voted in and end up attending his first-ever All-Star game right at home, he deserved to get an automatic bid this year. If the fans somehow don't end up voting him in, I'll never forgive the NHL for depriving us of his potential red carpet outfit.
- Sara Civian
Dylan Strome, Washington Capitals
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Nobody in Washington has screamed "All-Star material" this season. Alexander Ovechkin's game has fallen off a cliff. John Carlson's production has declined. Evgeni Kuznetsov is just trying to stay out of the press box.
But the solution here can't be nominating Tom Wilson, who is on pace for all of 43 points. And unlike some of his underperforming teammates, that's a fair reflection of his talent.
What's more, little about his game translates well to this type of event. There is no skills competition opportunity for throwing hits or taking coincidental minors after the whistle.
Dylan Strome deserves a look. The 2015 third overall pick tallied 65 points for the Caps last season and leads them in goals, with 13 in 2023-24. He has 21 primary points compared to Wilson's 14.
Strome is driving possession despite often playing with wingers who get in the way, and he has been a strong defensive presence as well. He's not truly one of the top centers in the league, but he's been the Capitals' best player this season and deserved the nod over Wilson.
- Adam Herman
Connor Ingram, Arizona Coyotes
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Multiple goaltenders were snubbed from deserving All-Star appearances in the Western Conference. One is Thatcher Demko, who is a Vezina contender, but it's hard to argue against the selection of Quinn Hughes.
The more glaring omission is Connor Ingram. The Coyotes deserve credit for lifting themselves into competent territory this season, but the primary driver of that has been their new-found starting goaltender.
Ingram has stolen the job from Karel Vejmelka by posting an impressive .919 save percentage in 22 games; despite playing for one of the most porous defenses in the NHL. Ingram has given up just 50 goals despite having an expected goals total of 63.8.
Clayton Keller is a very good player whose 31 points in 36 games are impressive given the lack of talent around him. But Ingram is far and away the Coyotes' MVP at the halfway point.
- Adam Herman
Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
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If everything was equal, the New York Rangers' All-Star selection should and would be Artemi Panarin.
The Breadman has a decent resume to be considered for the Hart Trophy with an eye-popping 51 points in 36 games. He's been the driving force to the Blueshirts' ridiculous start to the season and would have been a shoo-in for the All-Star Game.
But Panarin has more important matters to take care of during the All-Star Break:
So, with that in mind, I'd like to make a case for another Rangers player who didn't get selected for the All-Star Game.
Igor Shesterkin was chosen to go to Toronto, but he's been arguably New York's second-best goalie this season. Jonathan Quick, brought in to be the Russian's backup, has a lower goals against average (2.41 to 2.75) and a higher save percentage (.916 to .908).
Don't get me wrong, Shesterkin is one of the best goalies in the league. But this isn't the year to give him the All-Star nod.
If we're looking for a good candidate to represent the Rangers, why not Vincent Trocheck?
Playing on the same line as Panarin, the 30-year-old Pittsburgh native has been terrific playing Robin to Panarin's Batman. He has excelled in all situations and proved to be a dynamic faceoff winner with a 62.4 win percentage at the dot.
With 27 assists, the center has been the perfect setup man for a hot-shooting Panarin and has been vital throughout the first half.
Put it all together, and it's hard to argue Trocheck not being an All-Star for the Rangers for his importance.
- Lucky Ngamwajasat
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
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Jake Oettinger is an All Star-caliber goaltender. He proved that last season and certainly has in his 26 playoff starts. Any team would be thrilled to have him.
But if we're evaluating Oettinger by his actual performance at the halfway mark of the 2023-24 NHL season, he has not earned his way to the festivities in Toronto. He has a .901 save percentage, which barely puts him above league average despite playing for one of the best defensive teams in the NHL in Dallas. He's playing well below his standard from last season in which he ranked eighth among all goaltenders by goals saved above expected.
It's not as if the Stars—bona fide Stanley Cup contenders—are short on alternatives.
Jason Robertson is a legitimate superstar. Joe Pavelski's 34 points in 36 games at 39 years old is astonishing. Roope Hintz is flirting with a point-per-game pace and is one of the league's top offensive drivers.
We'll go with Robertson here. Not only does he lead the Stars in points but his offensive abilities would also stand out in the skills competition.
There will be well-deserved All-Star appearances in Oettinger's future, but this shouldn't be his moment.
- Adam Herman
Noah Dobson, New York Islanders
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Mat Barzal is the New York Islanders' All-Star representative and a very deserving one. But there's a player on his team who might deserve it slightly more.
Noah Dobson is having a breakout season and has become an important cog for the team as one of the NHL's top offensive defensemen. He's fourth among all NHL defensemen with 32 assists and is well on pace to break his career high of 51 points set during the 2021-22 season.
Offense from the blue line is a high commodity and to get that type of production from Dobson is one of the main reasons why the Isles are in a playoff spot.
That's no shade to Barzal who leads the team in points and is one of the league's most electric playmaking centers. But Dobson deserves his flowers and should be on the All-Star team.
- Lucky Ngamwajasat
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