NHL All-Star Game 2011: The Top 10 Players Who Got Snubbed

NHL All-Star rosters have been announced today, and as usual, there are some serious snubs.

All-Star rosters just aren't big enough to house the amount of stellar season performances put forth by all players, without skipping some fan favorites experiencing average years. 

With this in mind, here are 2011's All-Star snubs, and why they deserve the honor as much, if not more, than the rest of them that received their bid.

10. Ryan Suter, D, Nashville Predators

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06: Jarret Stoll #28 of the Los Angeles Kings puts a check on Ryan Suter #20 of the Nashville Predators during the second period at the Staples Center on January 6, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Ima

While Nashville teammate and fellow defenceman Shea Weber got the All-Star nod, word off the wires from Predator fans say Suter has been playing better this season.

He has chipped in 18 assists and boasts a +/- of 15.

9. Ondrej Pavelec, G, Atlanta Thrashers

Ondrej Pavelec boasts a .930 save percentage, but has only 15 wins and nine losses.

Pavelec has split time this season with the Thrashers and their affiliates, and Atlanta is hanging on to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, benefiting from a few extra games played more than their competitors.

Marc-Andre Fleury made it in, despite having similar numbers with one less shutout, but more wins.

8. Alex Goligoski, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 08: Alex Goligoski #3 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild on January 8, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The Penguins defenceman has 23 points and a +/- of 20 this season, but missed the cut in favor of teammate Kris Letang.

Letang has 37 points, 30 of them coming on assists. His +/- is the same, but he is performing slightly better this season.

Shea Weber of the Predators has only one more point and is -16 in +/- compared to Goligoski, but somehow still made it in.

7. Pavel Datsyuk, F, Detroit Red Wings

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NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 11: Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 11, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Red Wings defeated the the Devils 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Image

Another Red Wing that surprisingly missed the cut is Pavel Datsyuk. He has 39 points including 27 assists.

Making the team was Patrick Kane of Chicago, and he only has 33 points, and his +/- is -7, far below the +8 of Datsyuk. 

6. Niklas Backstrom, G, Minnesota Wild

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NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 04: Niklas Backstrom #32 of the Minnesota Wild skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 4, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. The Wild defeated the Devils 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Backstrom is a stellar goalie that puts up solid numbers year after year.

However, he has only played in 26 games this season, and likely missed the cut because he wasn't noticed. He has a .919 save percentage this year, and a shutout. 

His 2.58 goals against average is relative compared to All-Stars for this year, and he will be back to original form in no time.

5. Paul Stastny, F, Colorado Avalanche

Stastny is a perennial scorer, and this season doesn't seem to be much different. He already has 16 goals and 37 points, far better than St. Louis Blues' David Backes. 

Backes only has 12 goals and 33 total points, but got the All-Star nod.

4. Lubomir Visnovsky, D, Anaheim Ducks

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UNIONDALE, NY - DECEMBER 16: Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Anaheim Ducks skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on December 16, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Visnovsky has been an excellent force for the Ducks this season, and his numbers don't begin to explain the importance he represents for Anaheim's defense.

For a defenceman, Visnovsky can score points as well.

He has 33 points with 26 assists. His +6 is way better than the -11 of Ottawa's Erik Karlsson.

3. John-Michael Liles, D, Colorado Avalanche

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - DECEMBER 23: John-Michael Liles #4 of the Colorado Avalanche takes a slap shot against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center on December 23, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 3-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Liles has been a spark for the Avalanche all season, providing sound defence and 25 assists on his way to a +13 and 30 total points.

The Avalanche, Flyers and Red Wings seem to be the three teams deserving of more All-Star bids.

If Cam Fowler of Anaheim can make it in as a rookie with a +/- of -7, Liles deserves a spot as well.

2. Thomas Vokoun, G, Florida Panthers

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 23: Tomas Vokoun #29 of the Florida Panthers pulls in a rebound against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena on December 23, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. Florida won 4-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Vokoun is perhaps the best goalie to play for the worst team. Vokoun has recorded five shutouts, a .922 save percentage, and a 2.55 goals against average.

He likely got the snub because he has just 15 wins and 15 losses. Another reason why these All-Star ballots are so difficult to fill out.

1. Henrik Zetterberg, F, Detroit Red Wings

How in the world is this guy not in the All-Star game?

All of the top 15 points leaders at the forward position made it in, except for the Detroit Red Wing point machine, Zetterberg, who ranks seventh in the league in points.

Zetterberg has 49 points this season in 43 games, and is one of a small handful of Red Wings that got skipped.