The NHL All-Star Ballot

Why is the NHL announcing the All-Star Game ballot in the first week of November? These teams have barely played one-eighth of their games. How do we know who deserves to participate in the All-Star Game this early in the season?

And let’s take a look at that ballot. There are 10 goaltenders listed for the Eastern Conference: Martin Biron (PHI), Martin Brodeur (NJD), Rick DiPietro (NYI), Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT), Kari Lehtonen (ATL), Henrik Lundqvist (NYR), Ryan Miller (BUF), Carey Price (MON), Vesa Toskala (TOR), and Tomas Vokoun (FLA). I love Philly, but is Biron really all-star quality on a regular basis? And Lehtonen? Are you kidding?

Polite regards to Tim Thomas (BOS), Jose Theodore (WAS), Cam Ward (CAR), Mike Smith/Olie Kolzig (TBL) and Martin Gerber/Alex Auld (OTT). You all stunk up the joint just a little too much for Gary Bettman’s comfort. The way he’s playing, Tim Thomas at least deserves a write-in campaign.

As for the forwards, there are so many it’s hard to overlook anyone. I did notice that Buffalo was represented by Tomas Vanek and Derek Roy. Vanek is an obvious selection; no one has been hotter to start the season. But Derek Roy? How do you not include Jason Pominville, who puts up more points and has greater leadship skills? Ridiculous.

I don’t get to see much of the West, so I can’t go into much depth there. I do know, however, that Alexander Frolov contributes far more to his team than Dustin Brown. 

And on a team that thrives on its youth, how is it that the Coyotes are represented by Jokinen, Doan and Bryzgalov? Get Peter Mueller in there!

And while we’re including every goaltender who ever lived, they couldn’t find a little room for Dan Ellis? I mean, if the nominations are based on last year’s play, then Ellis deserves to join the fray. He stood on his head to threaten the Stanley Cup winners during the first round of the playoffs.

I’ll wait to post my All-Star roster until December. Until then, voting starts November 12th. So be sure to get out there and elect the representatives from the Philadelphia Flyers:

Martin Biron, Goaltending
Kimmo Timonen, Defense
Daniel Briere, Forward
Simon Gagne, Forward
Mike Richards, Forward