NHL "All-Star Game" News Thread

Canadian Press
12/7/2006 8:01:20 PM

VANCOUVER (CP) - Roberto Luongo was tearing tape off his legs Thursday when he was asked if he's voted for teammate Rory Fitzpatrick for the all-star team yet.

"Five times," replied the Vancouver Canuck goaltender.

Coach Alain Vigneault admitted he's also cast a couple of ballots in Fitzpatrick's favour. So apparently have several thousand other people.

Trying to vote the journeyman defenceman on to the Western Conference team for the NHL all-star game has become a trend like reality TV. A spark that began with an Internet website has taken hold like wildfire. Fitzpatrick, who has played only 16 games this year after fracturing a bone in his heel, has garnered 144,819 votes, fifth most among Western Conference defenceman. That puts him ahead of teammate Mattias Ohlund and Scott Hannan of the San Jose Sharks.

FULL STORY

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This is nothing but a disgrace to the game. Rory Fitzpatrick?

Compared to the other "Professional" leagues out there, the NHL will continue to look like a joke.

There are some that say "who cares about the all-star weekend?" Well, I do. It's a time to showoff the Leagues best up to the half way point of the current season. Yes, there will always be controversy as to who does and does not make it in, but the talent of the league is the main reason the game is there, and it should continue to be that way. Even though we don't usually get it right (due to politics of the league, and for the most part, the Fan balloting), they've come close.

As a true Hockey fan that has been deeply concerned about the growth of the game for quite some time now, this just makes me shake my head.

I have not voted for Rory Fitzpatrick, nor do I intend to do anything of the sort.

EVER!

Thrashers' Hartley, Predators' Trotz Join All-Star Coaching Staffs

NHL.com
Jan 8, 2007, 4:03 PM EST

NEW YORK -- Head coaches Bob Hartley of the Atlanta Thrashers and Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators have joined the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star Team coaching staffs, respectively, for the 2007 NHL All-Star Game, Wednesday, Jan. 24 in Dallas (8 p.m. ET, VERSUS, CBC, RDS, NHL Radio).

Hartley will assist Eastern Conference head coach Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres, while Trotz will assist Western Conference head coach Randy Carlyle of the Anaheim Ducks.

Under the selection process for All-Star coaches, the head coach and assistant coach for the Eastern Conference All-Stars are the head coaches of the two teams with the top points percentages in the Eastern Conference through games of Friday, Jan. 5, the halfway point of the 2006-07 regular season. The head coach and assistant coach of the Western Conference All-Stars are the head coaches of the two teams with the best points percentages in the Western Conference.

Through Friday, Hartley's Thrashers recorded a points percentage of .640 (24-12-7, 55 points), trailing only the Sabres' .744 (29-9-3) in the Eastern Conference. Trotz' Predators posted a .695 points percentage (27-11-3, 57 points), second to the Ducks' .721 (28-9-6, 62 points) in the Western Conference.

Hartley will be making his second All-Star Game coaching appearance, having served as assistant to Joel Quenneville for the North America All-Stars at the 2001 All-Star Game in Denver. Trotz will be making his All-Star Game debut.

The 2007 NHL All-Star Celebration hosted at American Airlines Center in Dallas will feature live national broadcasts of the NHL YoungStars Game presented by Upper Deck and Dodge Nitro/NHL SuperSkills on Tuesday, Jan. 23 and the NHL All-Star Game on Wednesday, Jan. 24 on VERSUS in the United States and CBC and RDS in Canada starting at 8 p.m., ET. NHL RADIO on Westwood One will provide exclusive, national radio coverage in the United States and Canada, while Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio each will provide radio play-by-play coverage of the game.

FULL STORY

Carlyle and Ruff ready to coach at upcoming NHL all-star game in Dallas

Canadian Press
Jan 8, 2007, 6:37 PM EST

(CP) - Neither Randy Carlyle nor Lindy Ruff had any war stories to share about the 12 seasons they played against each other in the National Hockey League.

During a conference call Monday, each said they had great respect for the job the other has done as a head coach. They will get to face each other at the NHL all-star game on Jan. 24 in Dallas.

Carlyle, coach of the league-leading Anaheim Ducks, will be behind the Western Conference bench while Ruff, in his ninth year as coach of the Buffalo Sabres, will coach the Eastern Conference. Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators is the West's assistant coach while Bob Hartley of the Atlanta Thrashers is the East's assistant.

"Back when Lindy and I played, he was in Buffalo and I was in Pittsburgh and we were rivals in the sense that Buffalo was a bus ride and that was the only team we bussed to," Carlyle said as both men took part in a conference call Monday.

"Lindy was a competitive individual who went out and worked hard and committed to his team. Obviously, as a coach, he's done a tremendous job in Buffalo. I look forward one day to talking about it."

The two men earned all-star jobs by posting the best points-per-game percentage in their respective conferences in the first half of the season.

"I have respect for Randy," said Ruff. "He was a good competitor and he's a very intense coach.

"We're not friends or anything. but he has certainly done an exceptional job with Anaheim."

The starting lineups for the all-star game are decided by fan voting. They are to be announced Tuesday night.

A win over Detroit on Sunday snapped a four-game losing run and gave the Ducks a 29-9-6 mark and 64 points in 44 games. The Sabres are 30-9-3 for 63 points in 42 matches so far.

So far, it has been a two-team race for the President's Trophy, awarded to the club with the most points in the regular season. Not that it's a prize they pay much attention to.

"Is it important? In the big scheme, it's not what we're after," said Ruff. "But on the way to trying to win the Stanley Cup, if the President's Trophy gets in the way, I'm fine with that."

As players, the two men had little in common.

Carlyle played in four all-star games during his 18-year career as one of the league's best defencemen with Toronto, Pittsburgh and Winnipeg from 1976-77 to 1992-93. He won a Norris Trophy as top defenceman in 1981 with the Penguins.

Ruff was an honest if unexceptional forward for Buffalo and the New York Rangers from 1979-80 to 1990-91, putting up 300 points in 691 NHL games.

He's had more impact behind the bench. Ruff won the Jack Adams Trophy as coach of the year last season. He also coached the World Team at the 1999 all-star game in Tampa, when it pitted the top North Americans against the best Europeans.

While Carlyle's Ducks are built on star players, particularly the league's best defence duo of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, Ruff's Sabres win with a team-oriented game based on speed and offence. They lead the league with 164 goals.

"I try to use the strengths of the players," Ruff said. "Our team is built with a lot of skilled offensive players and we're trying to play to that strength.

"I think the players have had a lot of fun playing the last couple of years and it shows in our game."

Carlyle's squad has been scrambling of late due to injuries to Pronger (broken foot), defenceman Francois Beauchemin (spleen), goaltender Jean-Francois Giguere (groin) and forward Todd Marchant (abdominal strain).

FULL STORY

Report: Fitzpatrick not voted in

TSN.ca Staff
1/9/2007 9:15:18 AM

It appears an awkward situation for Rory Fitzpatrick will be avoided.

According to the Vancouver Sun, Fitzpatrick will not be among the top two vote getters among Western Conference defencemen when the NHL releases its All-Star Game voting results later today.

"I've said all along I don't think I'll get in that top two," the Canucks blueliner told the Sun Monday. "We'll wait and see what happens [today]."

FULL STORY

Crosby, Ovechkin named All-Star starters

Canadian Press
1/9/2007 9:57:00 PM

NEW YORK (CP) - Another first for Sid The Kid.

Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby is the youngest player ever voted to an NHL all-star game since fan balloting began in 1986.

The NHL announced its starters Tuesday and Crosby, at 19 years five months, is the youngest since Jaromir Jagr was voted in at 19 years 11 months in 1992.

Crosby and fellow super sophomore Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals led a sweep first-time starters on the Eastern Conference, joined by Montreal Canadiens defenceman Sheldon Souray and a trio of Buffalo Sabres: centre Daniel Briere, goalie Ryan Miller and defenceman Brian Campbell.

The Sabres are the first team to place three players in the starting lineup of an all-star game since the inception of fan voting in 1986. Buffalo is the top team in the East Division this year after finishing a win short of advancing to the Stanley Cup last season.

"It's just gone to prove that the last year and a half hasn't been by accident," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who will lead the East squad. "Last year was what it was, and this year we've built off from where we were."

The 2005 all-star game was cancelled because of the year-long lockout and the game wasn't held last season because the NHL took a break for the Turin Olympics.

Crosby led all players with 825,783 votes and registered the second-highest number of votes ever. Jagr received 1,020,736 in 2000 while with Pittsburgh.

Ovechkin ranked third among Eastern Conference forwards with 475,297 votes, the highest total registered by a Russian player.

Briere was second among Eastern Conference forwards with 475,857 votes and third overall behind Crosby and San Jose's Joe Thornton (663,931). Interestingly, his No. 48 jersey has ranked fourth overall in sales in first half of this season.

Teammate Miller led all NHL goalies with 539,635 votes, the second-highest total among netminders since Curtis Joseph had 554,789 in 2000.

But Rory Fitzpatrick didn't make it despite a well-publicized Internet campaign to get the journeyman defenceman from the Vancouver Canucks in the all-star classic. He finished with 550,177 votes, a record for a write-in candidate, but still behind starters Scott Niedermayer of Anaheim (591,657) and Nicklas Lidstrom of Detroit (573,069).

For Lidstrom, it will mark the seventh straight year that he will start an NHL all-star game and this year's event will mark his ninth overall. Lidstrom is one of only four Red Wings to play 1,000 games, joining Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman and Alex Delvecchio and this year was named the first European-born team captain with the off-season retirement of Yzerman.

Niedermayer led all Western Conference defencemen with 591,657 votes and will take part in his fourth all-star game. In 2004, he won the fastest skater competition at 2004 all-star skills event and at his first all-star appearance in 1998.

Fitzpatrick's teammate Roberto Luongo will be at the Jan. 24 game in Dallas, however, after leading all Western Conference goalies with 484,861 votes. Up front, Colorado veteran Joe Sakic is joined by San Jose teammates Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo. Luongo and Cheechoo are first-time starters.

FULL STORY

2006-07 NHL All-Star Starters

Western Conference

FORWARD:
JOE THORNTON
C, SAN JOSE SHARKS
After 42 games in 2006-07, Thornton has showed no signed of slowing down from his Hart Trophy-winning campaign. The former first overall pick makes his fourth appearance in the All-Star Game, and his first as a Western Conference selection.

FORWARD:
JOE SAKIC
C, COLORADO AVALANCHE
The Avs may have struggled in the first half of the season, but Colorado's captain has been the model of consistency. The Burnaby, B.C. native, making his 12th All-Star appearance, leads all Avalanche skaters in goals, assists and points.

FORWARD:
JONATHAN CHEECHOO
RW, SAN JOSE SHARKS
Cheechoo became a household name in the hockey world in 2005-06, leading the NHL in goals with 56 and capturing the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy. The 26-year-old is making his first-ever appearance in the All-Star Game.

DEFENCE:
SCOTT NIEDERMAYER
D, ANAHEIM DUCKS
The Ducks knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Niedermayer in 2005 - a proven winner and a premier talent on the blueline. The former Norris winner and three-time Stanley Cup champion will make his fourth All-Star appearance in January.

DEFENCE:
NICKLAS LIDSTROM
D, DETROIT RED WINGS
With Steve Yzerman retired, the veteran blueliner holds the mantle as the heart and soul of Hockeytown. He's arguably the best defenceman in the league, and his puckhandling and playmaking abilities outweigh anything you'll read in the stats pages. Lidstrom makes his ninth appearance at the All-Star Game.

GOAL:
ROBERTO LUONGO
G, VANCOUVER CANUCKS
The Canucks have been hot as of late, and much of it is attributed to their franchise player in net. Vancouver's offence has struggled at times this season, but as long as Luongo is in goal, the team always has a chance to win. Luongo will be making his second All-Star appearance in Dallas.

Eastern Conference

FORWARD:
SIDNEY CROSBY
C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
You'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't think Sid the Kid is the best hockey player in the world right now. Through the first half of the 2006-07 season, the 19-year old leads the NHL in scoring and could do something even The Great One couldn't accomplish: win the Art Ross Trophy as a teenager.

FORWARD:
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN
LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS
The 2006 Calder Trophy winner may be fluent in English, but has no idea what the term 'sophomore jinx' means. Through January 8, the Russian phenom shared the league lead in goals and was third in the NHL scoring race. He'll be making his first All-Star appearance in Dallas, and it certainly won't be his last.

FORWARD:
DANIEL BRIERE
C, BUFFALO SABRES
Briere is a key component of a Sabres team that is not only the best in the Eastern Conference, but also the most exciting to watch. The 5'10 forward, going to his first All-Star Game, epitomizes the way the NHL game is played now - with plenty of speed, scoring and creativity.

DEFENCE:
BRIAN CAMPBELL
D, BUFFALO SABRES
The 27-year-old blueliner was a big part of Buffalo's success in 2005-06, leading all Sabres defenders in scoring in the regular season. He hasn't missed a beat this year, leading the team's defence corps with 26 points and plus-17.

DEFENCE:
SHELDON SOURAY
D, MONTREAL CANADIENS
The Habs have one of the NHL's best power plays this season, and look no further than Souray as one of the key components. He's on pace to set a new team record for power play goals by a defenceman, and is tied for fourth among NHL blueliners in scoring. The Elk Point, Alberta native will be making his second appearance at the All-Star Game.

GOAL:
RYAN MILLER
G, BUFFALO SABRES
To be a Stanley Cup contender, a team needs a top-flight goaltender. And the Buffalo Sabres have just that in Miller. He spent parts of four seasons perfecting his game in the American Hockey League, and it's paying off in dividends right now for the Sabres. Miller will be making his first-ever appearance at the All-Star Game.

CP fills out rest of the Eastern and Western all-star teams

Colin Campbell and the NHL's hockey operations department were busy Wednesday trying to fill out the remaining spots for the all-star teams.

CP has decided to help them out with some unsolicited advice.

The fans selected the six starters for the Eastern and Western Conference teams facing off in Dallas on Jan. 24. Here are CP's picks for the remaining nine forwards, four defencemen and two goalies on each side. The teams will be officially announced on TV during the first intermission of Saturday afternoon's Montreal-Ottawa game.

Western Conference

Goal: Roberto Luongo was deservedly voted the starter after carrying the Vancouver Canucks in the first half of the season. A no-brainer to be sure, he's a candidate for the Hart Trophy at this point.

CP's picks to join him in Dallas: Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary, and J.S. Giguere, Anaheim.

The skinny: Kiprusoff, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie, has been outstanding once again this season for the low-scoring Flames. Giguere has recaptured his form of 2003, when he led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup final, his .924 save percentage second in the Western Conference.

The best save percentage belongs to Nashville's Chris Mason at .928, one of the season's best stories. Dominik Hasek has turned back the clock in Detroit, too, but it's felt Kipper and Giggy deserve to accompany Luongo to the Lone Star state.

Defence: The fans didn't take any gambles here, voting in the last two Norris Trophy winners in Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom and Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer. No argument there.

CP's picks for the other four: Chris Pronger, Anaheim; Philippe Boucher, Dallas; Kimmo Timonen, Nashville; Lubomir Visnovsky, Los Angeles.

The skinny: Pronger won't be able to play in all likelihood because of a broken foot but in reality he's been the best defenceman in the NHL this season. We'll replace the injured Pronger with Calgary's Dion Phaneuf.

Boucher is a heartfelt story, playing some of the best hockey in his career and putting up big numbers while dealing with the ailing health of his father. Timonen would be a household name in most other markets, one of the league's truly underrated stars. Visnovsky is proving last season's career year wasn't a fluke.

Sergei Zubov and Mathieu Schneider also deserve to be included but we like our choices.

Forwards: Due to San Jose fans stuffing ballot box, Jonathan Cheechoo is a starter despite only 13 goals at the halfway mark. His 56 goals last season, however, are testimony that he's a star. Teammate Joe Thornton and Colorado superstar Joe Sakic join him as starters and there's no arguing there.

CP's picks for the other nine: Jarome Iginla, Calgary; Teemu Selanne, Anaheim; Paul Kariya, Nashville; Alexander Frolov, Los Angeles; Patrick Marleau, San Jose; Henrik Sedin, Vancouver; Daniel Sedin, Vancouver; Steve Sullivan, Nashville; Ryan Smyth, Edmonton.

The skinny: The Sedin twins come as a package so you can't just pick one.

Frolov is having a career season. Marleau doesn't mind playing in Thornton's shadow but he's been equally impressive again this season. Smyth's numbers aren't among the league leaders only because of games missed through injury but his 32 points (21-11) in 32 games heading into Wednesday's affair at San Jose says it all.

We'll be the first to admit that Anaheim linemates Andy McDonald and Chris Kunitz deserve consideration but there's already a few Ducks on the team.

Eastern Conference

Goal: Ryan Miller was the fans' choice as starter in large part because people in Buffalo apparently had nothing better to do than vote repeatedly for their favourite players. Miller has a bright career ahead of him and certainly should be in this year's all-star game, but not as the starter. That honour should belong to the NHL's best goalie and future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur.

CP's picks to join Miller: Brodeur, New Jersey, and Cristobal Huet, Montreal.

The skinny: What else can you say about a goalie who leads the NHL in wins, goals-against average, shutouts and is third in save percentage. Here's what you say: Vezina. In the meantime, another trip to the all-star game for Brodeur will suffice.

Huet is the backbone of a Montreal team that has overachieved this season. His .927 save percentage, the most important indicator in goalie stats, is second in the NHL and he's the No. 1 reason Habs fans have every right to dream of a possible playoff run this spring.

Defence: It seems Sabres fans also affected the outcome here. Is Brian Campbell an all-star? Yes, of course. A starter? No way. He ranked 17th among NHL blue-liners in points with 26 (5-21) before Wednesday night's game at Chicago with an impressive plus-17 rating (fifth among NHL defencemen). The fans also selected Montreal's Sheldon Souray and there's no arguing there, his 14 goals and booming slapshot are both the best among NHL defencemen.

CP's picks for the other four spots: Tomas Kaberle, Toronto; Dan Boyle, Tampa; Sergei Gonchar, Pittsburgh; Brian Rafalski, New Jersey.

The skinny: Gonchar is still prone to the odd gaffe but he's putting up terrific offensive numbers this season, 31 points (6-25) before Wednesday's game, and this is an all-star game where fans want goals, not a neutral zone trap contest.

Rafalski has been splendid in all areas of the ice on a Devils blue-line that isn't very deep. Montreal's Andrei Markov is having an all-star year but two Canadiens are enough.

Forwards: Super sophomores Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh and Alexander Ovechkin of Washington were obvious and perfect choices by the fans as starters. Buffalo's Daniel Briere is the third starting forward and that's fine. The flashy centre is having a career year.

CP's picks for the other nine: No easy task given that 16 of the top 20 scoring forwards in the NHL are from the Eastern Conference. But here we go: Marian Hossa, Atlanta; Martin St. Louis, Tampa, Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa; Jaromir Jagr, N.Y. Rangers; Dany Heatley, Ottawa; Marc Savard, Boston; Brendan Shanahan, N.Y. Rangers; Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina; Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta.

The skinny: Some deserving players definitely being snubbed here but again, the East is scoring goals this season.

We feel bad for Jason Spezza of Ottawa, Martin Straka and Michael Nylander of the Rangers, Ray Whitney of Carolina, Maxim Afinogenov of Buffalo, Boston's Patrice Bergeron and Slava Kozlov of Atlanta, among others.

The greybeards Shanahan and Brind'Amour are just too good a story to leave out.

If there still was a commissioner's pick for each team, here are CP's two sentimental choices:

In the East, Saku Koivu, Montreal. He still can't see 100 per cent out of one eye but he's on pace for a career season. The cancer survivor proves yet again that desire and hard work amount to great things.

In the West, Daniel Cleary, Detroit. Once labelled a first-round bust, the pride of Newfoundland is filling the net and fulfilling the promise he showed a decade ago as an OHL star.

Perreault, Selanne among all-stars

Canadian Press
1/13/2007 2:53:21 PM

NEW YORK (CP) - Yanic Perreault, who didn't have a team when the season started, will be joining the NHL's best at the Jan. 24 all-star game in Dallas.

The 35-year-old Phoenix Coyotes centre, whose clutch goals have helped turn around his team's season, signed a US$700,000, one-year deal Oct. 29 and didn't look back, putting up 14 goals and 11 assists in 31 games before taking on San Jose on Saturday night.

It's the first career all-star nomination for the native of Sherbrooke, Que.

Veteran winger Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks joined Perreault among the Western Conference all-stars named by the league Saturday. Selanne will be playing in his 10th career all-star game. The Finnish Flash had 57 points (28-29) before Saturday night's game against Colorado, eighth among NHL scorers and tops in the Western Conference.

The hometown fans in Dallas will have two of their own in the all-star game, goaltender Marty Turco, who will be appearing in his third all-star game, and defenceman Philippe Boucher, a first-time selection.

Seven other players added to the Western Conference roster will be making their all-star game debut: goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff and defenceman Dion Phaneuf of the Calgary Flames, defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky of the Los Angeles Kings, and forwards Martin Havlat of the Chicago Blackhawks, Brian Rolston of the Minnesota Wild, Ryan Smyth of the Edmonton Oilers and Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings.

Defenceman Kimmo Timonen of the Nashville Predators and forwards Bill Guerin of the St. Louis Blues, Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks and Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets were also named to the Western team. They join the six starters voted in by the fans: forwards Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche, Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo of the Sharks, defencemen Scott Niedermayer of the Ducks and Nicklas Lidstrom of the Red Wings, and goaltender Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks.

Injured stars Jarome Iginla of the Flames and Chris Pronger of the Ducks would have been automatic choices but will still be on the sidelines during the all-star break.

In the East, headed to his ninth all-star game will be New Jersey Devils superstar goalie Martin Brodeur, putting him fourth on the all-time goaltenders list behind Glenn Hall (13), Terry Sawchuk (11) and Patrick Roy (11).

Also selected to the Eastern Conference roster were five players making their all-star game debut: forwards Eric Staal and Justin Williams from the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, goaltender Cristobal Huet of the Montreal Canadiens, defenceman Jay Bouwmeester of the Florida Panthers and forward Jason Blake of the New York Islanders.

Rounding the Eastern picks are defencemen Brian Rafalski of the Devils, Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins and Tomas Kaberle of the Toronto Maple Leafs plus forwards Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Marian Hossa of the Atlanta Thrashers, Dany Heatley of the Ottawa Senators, Simon Gagne of the Philadelphia Flyers and greybeard Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers.

"It's a great honour," Heatley said during CBC's Hockey Day In Canada. "It's fun weekend, I'm looking forward to it."

The roster additions were selected by the NHL's hockey operations department, after consultation with NHL GMs.

Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, winger Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, goaltender Ryan Miller, defenceman Brian Campbell and centre Daniel Briere from the Buffalo Sabres, and defenceman Sheldon Souray of the Canadiens were already selected in fan balloting as starters.

With only 18 skaters and three goalies on each team, the league has a tough task and some obvious names didn't make it: centre Marc Savard of Boston, defenceman Dan Boyle of Tampa, centre Rod Brind'Amour of Carolina, forwards Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka of the Rangers, centre Olli Jokinen of Florida, winger Paul Kariya of Nashville, wingers Ilya Kovalchuk and Slava Kozlov of Atlanta, winger Maxim Afinogenov of Buffalo, goalie Dominik Hasek of Detroit, winger Alexander Frolov of Los Angeles, and goalie J.S. Giguere of Anaheim, among others.

FULL STORY

Actually, now that I browse through things again, is there any reason why Rod Brind'Amour didn't make it in ahead of Eric Staal?

As much as I like Staal, Brind'Amour should have made it in ahead of him IMO.

50 Points (13G, 17A) in 42 games, compared to 37 Points (19G, 18A)) is not even close.

It's not all about Points? I don't think I have to bring up Brind'Amour's leadership and such. This is just in-excuseable.

That, and Justin Williams making it in ahead of Ray Whitney.

I mean, it's not like these players are getting any younger, and they've both had well-deserving seasons.