NHL All-Star Game: Who Will Be Joining Crosby, Malkin and Toews in Raleigh?
The fans have spoken, and six players have had their tickets punched to Raleigh, North Carolina for this season’s NHL All-Star game. Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks will join Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The remaining 36 All-Star selections will be announced by the NHL this coming Tuesday.
Here are the 36 players (21 forwards, 10 defensemen, 5 goalies) most deserving of getting the nod come Tuesday.
Daniel Briere, F Philadelphia Flyers
1 of 36
21 G, 12 A, 33 PTS, plus-17
The veteran is having his best season in a Flyer uniform, where he has been a disappointment after leaving Buffalo.
Dustin Brown, F Los Angeles Kings
2 of 36
16 G, 17 A, 33 PTS, plus-15
The 26-year-old American-born captain of the Kings is on pace to have his best season in the NHL. Brown is just one of the many young talents that has returned hockey to relevance in Los Angeles.
Brent Burns, D Minnesota Wild
3 of 36
12 G, 14 A, 26 PTS, minus-2
Burns ranks second among NHL blueliners in goals, and is 13th in points. His production has been one of the handful of bright spots for Minnesota this season.
.png?w=256 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=256 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=256)
Dustin Byfuglien, D Atlanta Thrashers
4 of 36
16 G, 25 A, 41 PTS, plus-8
Byfuglien has continued his hot streak in Atlanta after playing a crucial role as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks last postseason. He leads all NHL defenseman in both goals and points.
Pavel Datsyuk, F Detroit Red Wings
5 of 36
12 G, 27 A, 39 PTS, minus-8
Datsyuk is currently sidelined with an injury, but had been on a torrid pace. He ranks 16th among forwards in points, despite having played only 33 games. Datsyuk should be healthy before the All-Star break and belongs in Raleigh.
Matt Duchene, F Colorado Avalanche
6 of 36
16 G, 24 A, 40 PTS, plus-4
Duchene has proven to be immune to the infamous sophomore slump. He ranks 14th among forwards in points and is in the top 20 in both goals and assists. Get used to seeing him in All-Star games, folks.
Alexander Edler, D Vancouver Canucks
7 of 36
4 G, 21 A, 25 PTS, plus-10
Edler has been a revelation for Coach Alain Vigneault, having by far his best season as a pro. Aside from the impressive offensive statistics, Edler has amassed only 16 PIM.
Tobias Enstrom, D Atlanta Thrashers
8 of 36
8 G, 28 A, 36 PTS, plus-5
Enstrom has already eclipsed his career high in goals this season and is well on his way to shattering his high-water mark in points as well. His improved play has helped contribute to Atlanta’s resurgence.
Loui Eriksson, F Dallas Stars
9 of 36
16 G, 29 A, 45 PTS, plus-15
Eriksson is ninth among forwards in points this season, his fifth in the NHL. The winger is one of the main reasons Dallas is near the top of the Western Conference.
Alex Goligoski, D Pittsburgh Penguins
10 of 36
7 G, 16 A, 23 PTS, plus-21
Goligoski ranks fourth among NHL defensemen with a plus-21 rating, and is nineteenth in points. He should be joining teammate Kris Letang in North Carolina with production like that.
Dany Heatley, F San Jose Sharks
11 of 36
15 G, 22 A, 37 PTS, plus-2
Heatley has been San Jose’s top offensive weapon all season, and is eighteenth among forwards in points. His goal production may be down from last year, but his assists have not wavered at all and he remains among the NHL elite.
Jonas Hiller, G Anaheim Ducks
12 of 36
20-14-3, 2.45 GAA, .926 Sv percentage, 3 SO
Hiller has experienced great success since taking over in net for Jean-Sebastian Giguere in Anaheim. The Swiss net minder is tied for second in wins and is the biggest reason the Ducks are in the thick of things out west.
Jarome Iginla, F Calgary Flames
13 of 36
17 G, 20 A, 37 PTS, minus-6
The Flames may be struggling in the standings, but their Captain has not been to blame. The grizzled vet has been healthy all year and is on pace to improve on his stat line from last season.
Ryan Kesler, F Vancouver Canucks
14 of 36
23 G, 16 A, 39 PTS, plus-17
One of the league’s top two-way forwards, Kesler is having a career year for the Canucks. The center ranks 15th in points and is fifth among forwards in the plus-minus category.
Anze Kopitar, F Los Angeles Kings
15 of 36
15 G, 29 A, 44 PTS, plus-13
Kopitar is blossoming into a top-notch player in Los Angeles. Teamed with Dustin Brown and Justin Williams, Kopitar finds himself in the top 10 in points as the Kings compete for playoff positioning in the west.
Nicklas Lidstrom, D Detroit Red Wings
16 of 36
11 G, 28 A, 39 PTS, plus-3
One of the best defenseman to ever take the ice, Lidstrom has not been slowed by age. The 40-year-old blueliner is both over-the-hill and second among defensemen in goals.
John-Michael Liles, D Colorado Avalanche
17 of 36
5 G, 25 A, 30 PTS, plus-11
The shifty defenseman has rejuvenated his career this year in Denver, as he is seventh best among defenseman in points. He has also been a weapon on the PP for the Avs, posting two goals on the man-advantage.
Alex Ovechkin, F Washington Capitals
18 of 36
14 G, 28 A, 42 PTS, plus-10
Alexander the Great is having yet another dazzling season in Washington, as his 42 points are 12th best in the league. His production on the PP is down, but he remains one of the league’s elite forwards.
Ondrej Pavelec, G Atlanta Thrashers
19 of 36
15-9-4, 2.27 GAA, .927 Sv percentage, 2 SO
Pavelec has been a revelation in the net for Atlanta this season. Pavelec ranks near the top of the charts in both GAA and save percentage, and is a big reason why the Thrashers are competing in the Eastern Conference this year.
Corey Perry, F Anaheim Ducks
20 of 36
21 G, 24 A, 45 PTS, plus-4
Perry has been healthy all season and his productivity is at the best it’s been his entire career. He ranks eighth in points and has been clutch on the PP, with seven goals during the man-advantage.
Carey Price, G Montreal Canadiens
21 of 36
20-14-3, 2.32 GAA, .920 Sv percentage, 4 SO
Price took over after last year’s playoff hero Jaroslav Halak was shipped off to St. Louis and has not disappointed. He currently ranks second in wins and is tied for fourth with four shutouts.
Jonathan Quick, G Los Angeles Kings
22 of 36
18-10-1, 2.09 GAA, .922 Sv percentage, 4 SO
The young net-minder has continued his ascent to being one of the league’s premier men between the pipes. Only Boston’s Tim Thomas has a better GAA than Quick, who has made the Kings a contender in the Western Conference.
Brian Rafalski, D Detroit Red Wings
23 of 36
2 G, 27 A, 29 PTS, plus-11
The reliable veteran is having another superb season for his favorite team as a child. He ranks eighth in scoring and has been called for only 10 PIM, a number Head Coach Mike Babcock is quite pleased with.
Brad Richards, F Dallas Stars
24 of 36
18 G, 29 A, 47 PTS, plus-7
Richards has picked up where he left off last season—as a premiere forward in the world. He has had a phenomenal season for coach Marc Crawford. Richards hasn’t put up numbers like this since he was a member of Tampa Bay’s cup-winning team in 2003-2004.
Mike Richards, F Philadelphia Flyers
25 of 36
13 G, 24 A, 37 PTS, plus-9
His goal totals may be down, but the Philly Captain has played well in all facets of the game this season, and his presence in the lineup has helped catapult the Flyers to the top of the Eastern Conference. In addition to his 24 assists, he is one of the league’s top penalty killers and is fifth in shorthanded goals.
Daniel Sedin, F Vancouver Canucks
26 of 36
25 G, 29 A, 54 PTS, plus-16
Daniel is having yet another terrific season in Vancouver, as he currently sits third in both goals and points. Daniel and soon-to-be-mentioned twin Henrik have combined to form one of the league’s most dangerous duos.
Henrik Sedin, F Vancouver Canucks
27 of 36
9 G, 45 A, 54 PTS, plus-16
Fitting that both Sedins have identical point totals and plus-minus ratings. Henrik leads the league with his 45 assists, and his performance this year is a big reason many believe this may be Vancouver’s year.
Alexander Semin, F Washington Capitals
28 of 36
18 G, 17 A, 35 PTS, plus-8
The winger opposite Alexander the Great is putting up high-caliber numbers yet again this season, and his presence on the ice has opened up more space for Ovechkin. His six PP goals rank among the league leaders.
Patrick Sharp, F Chicago Blackhawks
29 of 36
24 G, 18 A, 42 PTS, minus-9
Chicago’s top forward this year has not been Hossa, Kane or Toews, but rather Patrick Sharp. Sharp is one goal shy of tying his total from last season. He has kept the Blackhawks afloat so far this season, and his nine PP goals have led to the Blackhawks having the league’s top PP unit.
Eric Staal, F Carolina Hurricanes
30 of 36
20 G, 20 A, 40 PTS, minus-5
Staal will be the lone representative of the host Hurricanes at the All-Star game this year. That said, he is a worthy representative. Staal is on pace to eclipse the 40-goal plateau.
Steven Stamkos, F Tampa Bay Lightning
31 of 36
31 G, 26 A, 57 PTS, plus-12
This will be the first All-Star game for Stamkos, and it is sure to be just the first of many. The youngster has quietly dominated for Tampa Bay. Any discussion about the league’s top player must include Stamkos. He trails only Sidney Crosby in goals and points.
Martin St. Louis, F Tampa Bay Lightning
32 of 36
18 G, 34 A, 52 PTS, plus-6
The veteran is having his best season since 2006-07, and currently sits at fifth in points. St. Louis is a major reason the Lightning find themselves relevant once again.
Tim Thomas, G Boston Bruins
33 of 36
18-4-6, 1.84 GAA, .944 Sv percentage, 5 SO
Thomas has responded by being the league’s top tender this year, coming off a disappointing season that saw him lose the starting job. He currently tops in the league in GAA, save percentage and shutouts—quite the feat for a 36-year-old.
Lubomir Visnovsky, D Anaheim Ducks
34 of 36
7 G, 25 A, 32 PTS, plus-5
Visnovsky has surpassed the 50-point mark just twice in his 11-year career, yet sits fifth among defenseman in points right now. His presence at the blue line has been quite the compliment to Anaheim’s potent scoring lines.
Ryan Whitney, D Edmonton Oilers
35 of 36
2 G, 25 A, 27 PTS, plus-13
Up until his recent ankle injury, Whitney was experiencing a rare patch of good health and it was showing in his play. Before the injury, Whitney was on pace to amass 65 points this season, which would be a career high.
Henrik Zetterberg, F Detroit Red Wings
36 of 36
15 G, 31 A, 46 PTS, plus-12
Zetterberg hasn’t been this healthy in years and his production has shot up as a result. The Swedish winger leads Detroit in points and is seventh in the league. He is as dangerous as anyone in this league and as long as he is in the lineup, the Red Wings will be a force to be reckoned with.
.png?w=480 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=480 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=480)
.png?w=600 "B/R NHL Staff Second-Round Predictions 🏒")
