Re-Casting the NHL All-Star Ballot

It happens every year. 

Some undeserving players get voted onto the All-Star team, effectively stealing the roster spots of several players who happened to be more worthy during that particular season.

On top of this, the league ultimately snubs even more players by adhering to the arcane rule that every team must have at least one representative.

We get it.  You want fans from every NHL market to tune into the game and be able to say “Hey, he plays for my team!” 

Enough already. 

Some teams are simply not deserving of having an All-Star representative.

It’s bad enough in baseball, where there are twenty-five roster spots.  There are a mere twenty-one spots available for each conference in the NHL’s midseason spectacle, which is unfortunately becoming less interesting by the year.  But I digress.

Here are the All-Star rosters and how they should have looked.  No fan balloting where people with nothing better to do sit in their basements in Montreal or Pittsburgh and vote online over and over. 

And no more playing nice and letting every team have a player in the game.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Patrick Kane

Probably shouldn’t have been voted in, but definitely deserved a spot as the dynamic offensive leader of the surging Blackhawks. 

KEEP HIM.

Jonathan Toews

No question Toews has many great years ahead, but this nod was premature. 

CUT HIM.

Ryan Getzlaf

Few in the game today combine his playmaking ability and grit. 

KEEP HIM.

Dustin Brown

A beneficiary of the “play nice” rule as the Kings’ only representative, he has been nowhere near as effective as he was last season. 

CUT HIM.

Pavel Datsyuk

Just another solid season for a world-class hockey player. 

KEEP HIM.

Shane Doan

Captain Coyote may top last season’s career-best point total. 

KEEP HIM.

Milan Hejduk

On pace to see a drop in his goal total for the fourth time in five seasons. 

CUT HIM.

Mike Modano

A nice sentimental pick by the league to take this Hall of Famer in the twilight of his career, but he’s just taking a spot from a more deserving, younger player. 

CUT HIM.

Jarome Iginla

Looking at a third-straight 90-point season, he does it all. 

KEEP HIM.

Rick Nash

Should top his career best in points and is no longer just a one-dimensional player, either. 

KEEP HIM.

Joe Thornton

The best player on the league’s best team this season. 

KEEP HIM.

Keith Tkachuk

Cracked 500 career goals and 1,000 career points in the last year, but his numbers this year really don’t justify him being here. 

CUT HIM.

Brian Campbell

Showing good return for the monster contract and playing big minutes in Chicago. 

KEEP HIM.

Scott Niedermayer

Still has tremendous ability even after contemplating retirement, but is a minus player this season. 

CUT HIM.

Dan Boyle

Leading point-getter among defensemen and a big key to the Sharks’ power play. 

KEEP HIM.

Nicklas Lidstrom

Playing the same great hockey he does every year. 

KEEP HIM.

Sheldon Souray

Showing his pre-injury form again with twelve goals already. 

KEEP HIM.

Shea Weber

Slowed down after a torrid start, but still leads defensemen in goals with thirteen. 

KEEP HIM.

J-S Giguere

Has been outplayed by his backup Jonas Hiller so far this year and ranks 36th in GAA. 

CUT HIM.

Niklas Backstrom

Top five in wins, shutouts, GAA, and save percentage. 

KEEP HIM.

Roberto Luongo

Having a great year until it was derailed by injury.  As a result, not enough games played to be here. 

CUT HIM.

So I’m cutting Toews, Brown, Hejduk, Modano, Tkachuk, Niedermayer, Giguere, and Luongo.  Here’s who should be playing in their stead:

Patrick Marleau

Things got downright ugly for him last year and he was nearly shipped out of town, but he’s on pace to smash career highs in goals and points.

Devin Setoguchi

Yes, another Shark.  Setoguchi is having an explosive sophomore season.

Daniel Sedin

Should have an even better second half with Sundin in the lineup.

Marian Hossa

Numbers slightly down from previous seasons, but plays in all situations and is a huge plus player.

Henrik Zetterberg

I’m not trying to make this a team of Red Wings, but you can’t argue with the way Zetterberg produces every year.

Brian Rafalski

The most deserving defenseman left off, I’m putting him in Niedermayer’s place.  This would give Detroit five players.

Steve Mason

Has been playing unconsciously-good hockey of late, and deserves a spot with the big boys rather than in the young stars game.

Nikolai Khabibulin

Has outplayed newcomer Cristobal Huet in the Chicago crease this year.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Sidney Crosby

Will have another 100-point season. 

KEEP HIM.

Evgeni Malkin

League’s leading scorer. 

KEEP HIM.

Alexei Kovalev

Byproduct of ballot stuffing, nowhere near the production he had last year. 

CUT HIM.

Jeff Carter

Leading the league in goals and has established himself as one of the top snipers in the league. 

KEEP HIM.

Dany Heatley

Currently on an eight-game goal drought, and is a minus player after three straight years of hovering around plus-30. 

CUT HIM.

Ilya Kovalchuk

Still putting up the points despite wanting out of Atlanta. 

KEEP HIM.

Vincent Lecavalier

Respectable numbers on a trainwreck of a team, but not worthy this season. 

CUT HIM.

Alex Ovechkin

Another 50-goal, 100-point season is on its way. 

KEEP HIM.

Zach Parise

A career year for a blossoming star. 

KEEP HIM.

Marc Savard

Only Malkin and Thornton have more assists and no one tops his plus-29 rating. 

KEEP HIM.

Eric Staal

Strangely, Staal is finally a plus player for the first time, even though his numbers are down and most of his teammates are in the minus. 

CUT HIM.

Thomas Vanek

Should break his career high of 43 goals, but 50 might be tough after slowing down recently. 

KEEP HIM.

Andrei Markov

With Sheldon Souray and Mark Streit leaving in recent seasons, Markov is the man on the blueline in Montreal and has been solid offensively. 

KEEP HIM.

Mike Komisarek

Fans voted in this rock-solid defenseman, but he missed too much time with injury to merit leaving him on here. 

CUT HIM.

Jay Bouwmeester

The Panthers will sure miss him when he’s gone.  He plays big minutes and is easily their best player. 

KEEP HIM.

Zdeno Chara

No reason to argue with this pick. 

KEEP HIM.

Tomas Kaberle

Decent offensive production and the league would never go for an All-Star game without a Maple Leaf in it.  But I’m not the league. 

CUT HIM.

Mark Streit

Turned out to be a good signing for the Islanders and could break career highs across the board. 

KEEP HIM.

Carey Price

Good when he’s in the lineup, but he’s battling injuries right now. 

CUT HIM.

Henrik Lundqvist

The Rangers would be nowhere without him.  Three-time Vezina finalist, yet this is his first All-Star game. 

KEEP HIM.

Tim Thomas

Bruins seem to have found just the right formula with him and Fernandez. 

KEEP HIM.

My Eastern Conference cuts are Kovalev, Heatley, Lecavalier, Staal, Komisarek, Kaberle, Price.  In their place:

Patrik Elias

Has rediscovered pre-lockout form and should surpass 90 points.

David Krejci

Like several Bruins, has come out of nowhere and is having career year.

Mike Richards

Might be best two-way forward in the game and should top last year’s career best totals.

Nicklas Backstrom

Tough call, but I give him the last forward spot over Boston’s Phil Kessel.

Dennis Wideman

More points and better plus/minus than teammate Chara.

Mike Green

Missed time with injury but is still fourth in defenseman goals and top ten in points.

Ryan Miller

Keeping Buffalo in the race, his GAA is down and save percentage is way up.

So there you have the real 2008-09 NHL All-Stars.  Largely reflective of the standings, the Red Wings and Bruins top my list with five all-stars apiece. 

The Sharks come in with four players, while Washington and Chicago have three representatives.

To the fans in Los Angeles, Colorado, Dallas, St. Louis, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Toronto, you won’t be seeing any of your players.  Don’t be upset; I told you I wouldn’t play nice.