NHL All-Star Picks

Today the NHL announces its list of All-Stars. The big story will be if "hard working" Rory Fitzpatrick of the Vancouver Canucks is able to make the squad. I've already sounded off on this topic so let's move to more important issues...well, before we do, let me just add this one last comment.

If Fitzpatrick does make the starting line-up due to fan balloting, the best thing for Coach Randy Carlyle to do is to allow Fitzpatrick to suit up and start the game. After his first shift, Carlyle should sit him down and leave him on the bench for the remainder of the game. In all due respect, Fitzpatrick has no right to be there, and I think both men know this. Letting him start the game will please his fan base of approximately 200 people who have nothing better to do than sit at a computer for an inordinate number of hours and click the same voting button over and over again. After they get their jollies out of seeing what they've accomplished like little kids who wait and see Moms reaction after they’ve done something maliciously wrong, they'll switch their attention to the next neo-fad and this debacle will be over with.

Now, on to the picks. The following are selections based on extensive coverage throughout the first half of the season and not just based on what NHL.com has listed as their most recent statistically hierarchy. Although many of the players I do name as All-Stars are amongst the leagues most proficient in scoring, their ability to take over a game when they lay foot on the ice this year has made them very good representatives in my eyes. I've left in players who may not be able to participate due to recent injuries as their totals still deem them All-Stars.

Eastern Conference

Starters:
Forwards - S. Crosby, M. Hossa, J. Jagr
Defensemen - S. Souray, B. Campbell
Goalie - M. Broduer

Bench:
Forwards - Ovechkin, St. Louis, Lecavalier, Heatley, Briere, Straka, Savard, Afinegenov, Kovolchuk
Defensemen - Chara, Kaberle, Preissing, Boyle
Goalies - Huet, Emery

When picking the starting line up, it's almost impossible to pass on these three forwards. Crosby, Hossa and Jagr have been using NHL rinks as if they were their own personal backyard ponds. The ability to see the ice and create more for everyone around them is first in the minds of these three individuals. They are all at, or near the top, of their respective conferences point race and add an element to the game only rivaled by a few. Their poise and flair makes them a joy to watch every night.

Anchoring the blue line are two players who can move the puck quickly and impose their will when needed. Sheldon Souray has had a fantastic season so far for the Montreal Candadiens in all categories. He's once again found his shot that has made him so deadly in the past and is finding a way to get it off at the most critical moments. This is reflective in his 3-game winning goals but more importantly in his 25 powerplay points to help lift the Habs to one of the top PP's in the Leauge and solidify their claim as legitimate contenders in the East. Campbell is the leader of a young Sabres defensive core and has done an outstanding job of minimizing opponents chances and creating for the dynamic offensive players in front of him. He may not dazzle you with his scoring production, but makes his mark with hard, clean hits and very intelligent play.

Sitting in goal is someone who's getting very used to this mid-season festivity; Martin Brodeur. Brodeur is once again at the top of his game and has got the New Jersey Devils rolling again. When Mary's on his game, there's not a better net minder in the League.

Rounding out the Eastern Conference roster includes many mid season staples such as Heatley, Kovolchuck and Chara. Alexander the Great just missed my cut at the starting line up in part because he was matched against players who contribute in all facets just a little better, the cheap hit on Briere earlier this year, and also because of that hideous all red racer jump suit he was sporting at the Georgetown Hoyas Men’s Basketball game last night, not a great look Alex.

Western Conference

Starters:
Forwards - T. Selanne, J. Iginla, J. Thorton
Defensemen - C. Pronger, N. Lidstrom
Goalie - D. Hasek

Bench:
Forwards - Frolov, Sakic, Marleau, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Rolston, Kopitar, Kariya, Tangauy
Defense - Niedermayer, Schneider, Visnovsky, Phaneuf
Goalies - Giguere, Kiprusoff

It wasn't too difficult to name the starting forwards for the Western team. With Selanne looking like the Finnish-Flash again, he's got his legs back and is flying around the ice. I was watching the Wings/Ducks game last week and Temmu is a pleasure to watch. He moves so easily and finds the right lanes and open space to be at on the ice. His passing ability has improved and now that he has his scoring touch back, he and the Ducks could be looking at a deep trip into June. Iginla and Thorton are doing what they do best. Iginla has found his game after struggling a little last year and is doing so on a team that is desperate for consistent scoring. Thorton is putting up another great year and constantly reminds Bruins faithful what absolute morons their management team was when they dealt the star last season.

Lidstrom and Pronger: The two men who will start on defense for the West are staples and need no explanation. The West is a very deep conference when it comes to blue liners with Zubov, Timonen, Liles and Boucher just getting edged for All-Star status. This will be something to watch come playoff time when teams tighten up and don't play that free spirited, goal oriented brand of hockey found during the regular season.

In net for the West is just an outstanding story. Dominik Hasek has been everything the Wings could ask for and then some. Coming into the off-season, Detroit wasn't sure what their situation would be in terms of a net minder. Ken Holland went with a winner, and someone who's been to Hockeytown before and has only been rewarded. By increasing his stretching regime and paying closer attention to daily bumps and bruises, Hasek has put together an excellent first half of the season. He does play behind a very deep defensive core in Detroit, but as the last line of defense, has been remarkable. At times he's known to play the puck carelessly, but without his quirks, Dom just wouldn't be the same.

The bench for the West is filled with players who have been performing at the top of their game and leading their teams. Now lining with Joe Thorton, Patrick Marleau has been on a tear and has made himself the person you want with the puck when it matters most.

The two youngsters on the LA Kings, Alex Frolov and Anze Kopitar, are dazzling Euros who are just finding the magic on North American soil. These two kids will be a treat for Kings fans for years to come.

Finally, Daty and Zets just couldn't be left off the list of All-Stars. Their play, although statistically wise, is down from years past, and in light of the fact that this is their team now that Yzerman has stepped down, they have been dominant players whenever they step on the ice. Pavel Datsyuk is a player who demands respect from every team in the league. With his supierior hand-eye coordination, skating ability and knowledge of the game, he is Manning-esque in quarterbacking the Wings attack. Hank is the second coming of Peter Forsberg. He plays like an animal on the ice, flying into corners, beating defenders to icing calls, scoring both finesse and muscle goals and does this all with a giant smile on his face and his hair everywhere. Let's just say that I'm very lucky to be able to watch both of these studs in Red and White on a daily basis.

That rounds out my All-Star line ups. The game should be a treat to watch, although not exactly what you would call a true hockey game, it's a very fun time for everyone involved and an honour to those representing their respective conferences. Another added bonus is that the NHL will be treating its fans to a glimpse of the new, redesigned game jerseys that will be used next season. All I've heard is that they'll be form fitting.

As for me, well I'm off to the gym right now to make sure my form will be fitting into one of the new sweaters.

Enjoy the game from Dallas on Jan.24th. It should be fun.

- JW

Please Fans, Wake Up!

When the NHL All-Stars are named early in the New Year there will be one glaring stand-out; Rory Fitzpatrick. The people who closely follow the league will attest that Fitzpatick is a very distant afterthought when mentioning the list of possible All-Star candidates. Actually, who am I kidding? I doubt anyone outside of Vancouver or his hometown of Rochester, NY knew he was even in the NHL. The likes of Pronger, Lidstrom, Nidermayer, Phaneuf and Zubov are often common place in the leagues mid-season exhibition. This year, a travesty will happen, and the future of all-star fan balloting may hang in the balance.

With a quirky, but somewhat ingenious marketing ploy, the Vancouver Canucks and Rory Fitzpatrick's faithful followers have united as one to carry this blue collar representative to the second spot among NHL defensemen in Western Conference balloting as of today.

With the implementation of a basic website and parody t-shirts, the marketing group at the Canucks has done a fantastic job to bring some attention to a sport that desperately needs it. I only hope that's all it brings; attention.

The fans are asked to voice their collective opinion and vote for who they think deserves to be in the starting line-up for the goal parade we call an All-Star game. This is not a new process for the league; it is done across the board, by all professional sports. Do I think it is the best formula for finding the most deserving players? No. Is it rewarding for the fans to have an input into who they would like to pay to see play in one game? Yes.

Indirectly, it is the fans that pay the players inordinate amounts of money to play a game, but it's not their right to make a mockery of the system.

If Fitzpatrick does make the starting line-up, he was quoted as saying that he wasn't sure if he would actually accept the honor; that he would discuss with his fellow colleagues around the league and get their input.

RORY, YOU'RE NOT AN ALL-STAR!! This should not be something you have to think about.

It is a great honor to be recognized by the fans for your dazzling play, consistency, production, and plain hard work. From these attributes, Fitzpatrick is 1 for 4, yes, he works hard.

In fact, Rory has only played in 20 games so far this season and has an ever impressive 0G, 0A and -1 +/- rating to show for his “hard” work. This is far from All-Star figures and would alienate him amongst his peers if indeed he does decide to make the trip to Dallas.

Don’t think this is a new coming of age for fans. We have been rallying behind fan-favourites in years past, despite the fact they may not be truly having an All-Star year.

Grant Hill was voted to start the 2001 NBA All-Star game although appearing in only 4 games that year due to his infamous ankle injuries. Mike Schmidt was voted into the 1989 MLB All-Star game even after he announced his retirement from the game only two months into the season. These two examples pale in comparison to Mr. Fitzpatrick however.

Hill is a great talent, although unfortunately having to deal with recurring seasons plagued with injuries. He actually had to sit out that All-Star game due the an injury. Schmidt, being a multiple league MVP and 12-time All-Star, was simply being thanked by the fans who got to marvel in his brilliance for so many years. He too did not participate in the game.

Even this past year we have seen how far teams will go to increase the attention their club is receiving. A.J. Pierzynski of the Chicago White Sox was engulfed in a marketing campaign that made light of his altercation at home plate earlier in the season with Cubs catcher, Michael Barrett.

Barrett, steaming mad that Pierzynski had just scored and had something to say about it, clocked Pierzynski in the side of the head. The campaign read "Punch AJ." Although not entirely deserving of the honor, the catcher still did have decent numbers and wasn't buried at the end of the bench.

In this case though, Fitzpatrick is not deserving whatsoever. He will be out of place with the other true All-Stars of the league. What will he be thinking while he's sitting in the dressing room lacing ‘em up before the morning skate; "Wow, this is fun. I've only played half the games this year and have accumulated a total of 9G and 18A throughout my 10 year career."

On his player bio at nhl.com his highlights for the year read: Logged a season-high 20:16 of ice time and had a plus one rating, Oct. 26/06 at Chi.

20:16 of ice time!?! This is your highlight for the season? And against Chicago nonetheless, one of the leagues worst teams.

If Fitzpatrick does get voted into the All-Star game I can only hope he has the decency to withdraw gracefully. He can thank all of his avid supporters, but letting the players who are deserving of the honor to go instead.

Being named an All-Star should not be taken lightly. The life of a pro athlete can be over at any minute and for this honor to be tossed around like a joke is somewhat disheartening.

Maybe what fans are trying to say is they don't care who plays in the game. If this is the case, well, then all hope for a bright future is seemingly lost.

So please, get out and vote. Vote for Lidstrom. Vote for Neidermayer. Vote for Phaneuf. Vote for Liles. Vote for Visnovsky. Vote for Schneider. Please, vote for a real All-Star, not Rory.

- JW