SI.com's 2015 NHL All-Star picks
Off The Draw
Rap video honoring Sabres All-Star Zemgus Girgensons is a classic
Hockey fans—many of them from Chicago, apparently—cast more than 35 million votes to determine six starters for the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. At forward are Latvian hero Zemgus Girgensons, of the Sabres, and Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, of the Blackhawks. On the backline are Chicago’s Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, while in net is teammate Corey Crawford.
NHL announces selections for 2015 All-Star Game
The NHL has filled out the rest of the roster. And it was no easy task, especially since the league wanted each franchise represented. There were more worthy candidates than there are spots available, and that meant there some All-Star-caliber players were snubbed when the league announced the remaining players on Saturday.
On Friday, Peter Laviolette of the Predators (the team with the league’s best points percentage) and Darryl Sutter of the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings were named to coach the two squads.
So who deserved the call? Taking on the delicate juggling act ourselves, and with an eye to offense—after all, who plays any defense in these glorified games of shinny?—we arrived at the following names (all stats as of Friday, Jan. 9):
Goalies (5)
• Pekka Rinne, Predators
Bona fides: first in wins (27); third in goals-against average (2.00); fourth in save percentage (.929)
• Carey Price, Canadiens
Bona fides: second in wins (22); sixth (tied) in goals-against average (2.20); fifth in save percentage (.927)
• Marc-Andre Fleury, Penguins
Bona fides:first in shutouts (6); fifth in wins (20), sixth (tied) in goals-against average (2.20)
• Jimmy Howard, Red Wings
Bona fides:11th in wins (16); fourth in goals-against average (2.08); ninth (tied) in save percentage (.921)
• Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers
Bona fides: second in shutouts (5); eighth (tied) in wins (19); 10th (tied) in goals-against average (2.30)
Injury replacement:Frederik Andersen, Ducks
Defensemen (10)
• Mark Giordano, Flames
Bona fides: second among defensemen in scoring (35 points)
• Kevin Shattenkirk, Blues
Bona fides: first among defensemen in scoring (36 points)
• Keith Yandle, Coyotes
Bona fides: 13th among defensemen in scoring (26 points); first in scoring for Arizona
• Aaron Ekblad, Panthers
Bona fides: third among rookies in scoring (23 points); second in scoring for Florida
Eye Test: How can Shea Weber's stats be this bad?
in goals (10); fifth (tied) in scoring (28 points)
• P.K. Subban, Canadiens
Bona fides: seventh among defensemen in scoring (27 points); second (tied) in scoring for Montreal
• Nick Leddy, Islanders
Bona fides: Breakthrough season on NHL’s most surprising team
• Erik Johnson, Avalanche
Bona fides: first (tied) among defensemen in goals (11)
• Erik Karlsson, Senators
Bona fides: fifth (tied) among defensemen in scoring (28 points)
• Brent Burns, Sharks
Bona fides: first (tied) among defensemen in goals (11); third in scoring (34 points)
Injury replacement:John Carlson, Capitals
Len Redkoles/Getty Images
Forwards (21)
• Jakub Voracek, Flyers
Bona fides: NHL’s leading scorer (49 points)
• Sidney Crosby, Penguins
Bona fides: Disappointing season, but still the league’s marquee star
• Tyler Seguin, Stars
Bona fides: NHL’s leading goal scorer (26)
• Alex Ovechkin, Capitals
Bona fides: “Rock star’s” goals down (21), overall game improved
• Steven Stamkos, Lightning
Bona fides: One of the game’s most exciting scorers
• Tyler Johnson, Lightning
Bona fides: third (tied) in scoring (45 points); first (tied) in plus-minus (+26)
• Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks
Bona fides: Hart Trophy favorite
• Vladimir Tarasenko, Blues
Bona fides: Human highlight reel through first half of season
• Rick Nash, Rangers
Bona fides: Comeback player of the year, with 25 goals
SI.com's 2014-15 NHL midseason award winners
Hometown hero establishing himself as dominant center
• Patrice Bergeron, Bruins
Bona fides: Most deserving player on an underperforming team
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oilers
Bona fides: Most consistent player on a terrible team
• Anze Kopitar, Kings
Bona fides: Rebounded from slow start with excellent December
• Zach Parise, Wild
Bona fides: Sentimental favorite to get the call
• Evgeni Malkin, Penguins
Bona fides: third (tied) in scoring (45 points); absolutely dominant of late
• Jaromir Jagr, Devils
Bona fides: The guy everyone wants to play with this year
• Daniel Sedin, Canucks
Bona fides: Coin flip gives him the nod over brother Henrik
• Dustin Byfuglien, Jets
Bona fides: Excelling on blue line, but versatility allows him to slide up front
• Eric Staal, Hurricanes
• Bona fides: Best player on a bad team
Phil Kessel, Maple Leafs
• Bona fides: No room for goalie Jonathan Bernier, so Kessel gets the nod as Toronto’s rep
Injury replacements:Nick Foligno, Blue Jackets; Filip Forsberg, Predators; Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings