2012 NHL All-Star Roster: Kris Versteeg and More Shocking Snubs

On Thursday the NHL announced the full roster for the 2012 All-Star Game in Ottawa which takes place on January 28, and there are a several players who were snubbed.

Florida Panthers forward Kris Versteeg is one player who deserves to be on the All-Star roster, but he won't make the game unless injuries or other circumstances open up a spot for him.

The All-Star game captains have yet to be announced, but they will divide the players into two teams fantasy draft style on January 26.

Let's look at five players who deserve to be on the All-Star game roster, but were snubbed when the league selected the final 36 players.

Jordan Eberle

The young Edmonton Oilers winger is the only player in the top 10 in scoring not to make the All-Star game roster.

I understand Jordan Eberle is young and will get his chances to make the All-Star game, but he is very deserving given the fact he has been a consistent offensive threat on one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams in the NHL.

Eberle leads the Oilers in scoring and is a much more deserving player for the game than Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, who made the roster.

Despite being injured, Eberle should have been recognized with a selection then replaced because of his injury.

Nicklas Lidstrom

UPDATE: According to Josh Rimer, Nicklas Lidstrom did not want to participate in the All-Star Game.

The Detroit Red Wings' legendary defenseman is having another awesome season but he was shockingly snubbed from the All-Star game roster.

Lidstrom has 23 points this season with a plus/minus rating of 17. He has played fantastic on defense and his leadership has been huge for a Red Wings team that has struggled at times this season.

He deserves to be on the All-Star roster over defensemen such as Dustin Byfuglien and Dennis Wideman. It's an embarrassment that Lidstrom was not among the defenseman chosen to play in the All-Star game.

Kevin Bieksa

The Vancouver Canucks defenseman has played very well in his own zone this season and has even been a threat offensively as well.

Bieksa ranked seventh in the NHL among defensemen with 25 points on four goals and 21 assists. His leadership and tremendous defensive play has helped the Canucks rise back to the top of the Western Conference standings after the team's poor start to the season.

He is an underrated player that still does not get the credit he deserves as a top-tier NHL defenseman.

Kris Versteeg

The Florida Panthers are the surprise team of the 2011-12 NHL season and remain in first place atop the Southeast division, but their leading scorer was snubbed of an All-Star game roster spot.

Kris Versteeg has 39 points this season on 17 goals and 22 assists, and is on pace to score 78 points this year, which would shatter his previous career high of 53.

Versteeg has been amazing for the Panthers and is a primary reason the team is playing so well right now.

If hockey wants to succeed in Florida, the NHL needs to recognize the players on those teams doing well. The omission of Versteeg was a terrible move by the league.

Versteeg should have made the roster over New York Islanders center John Tavares.

Patrice Bergeron

The Boston Bruins center is the most deserving All-Star game candidate from the defending Stanley Cup champions, even more than young star Tyler Seguin, who made the roster.

Bergeron is the leading Frank J. Selke Trophy candidate for his tremendous defensive play this season, and his playmaking and passing abilities have been so important to the Bruins' success this season.

Bergeron is second on the Bruins in points, and ranks among the best faceoff men in the NHL.

Bergeron is a complete player, and the one skater the Bruins cannot afford to lose if they want to win a second consecutive championship.

He should have been recognized for his great first half of the season with an All-Star game selection.

Follow Nicholas Goss on Twitter for constant NHL news and analysis. Follow @NicholasGoss35.

Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.