It’s time for the NHL All-Star Game. Let’s find out who will be in top form, and what predictions about this year can’t wait to come true.
The “nhl all stars” is a list of the best players in each NHL All-Star game. The first one took place in 1947 and has been going on ever since.
13th of January, 2022
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ESPN personnel
The 2022 NHL All-Star Game rosters were released on Thursday, with Auston Matthews (Atlantic), Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan), Nathan MacKinnon (Central), and Connor McDavid serving as captains (Pacific).
There is plenty of star power on the 10-man rosters and the “last man in” voting group for each division, but a handful of great players are noticeably absent.
We asked our writers to break down the greatest snubs, the guys they’re most eager to watch during All-Star Weekend, and the players who didn’t make the squad this season but will undoubtedly make it in 2023.
Who was the most glaring omission from this year’s lineups?
Emily Kaplan: The NHL’s Hockey Operations Department makes the choices, and they don’t always prioritize who makes the most sense from an entertainment or marketing standpoint. In Vegas, I would have liked to see players with more personality displayed. Trevor Zegras of Anaheim, Elvis Merzlikins of Columbus, and Brady Tkachuk of Ottawa are among them.
While Adam Pelech is a fantastic defender, I always look forward to watching his Islanders teammate Mathew Barzal in the skills competition. Overall, I believe there should be more rookies and young players; for Detroit’s Lucas Raymond, this would have been an excellent introduction event. For me, Zegras is the greatest snub.
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Kristen Shilton: Patrice Bergeron is on pace to be a strong contender for the Selke Trophy (again), while Charlie McAvoy is enjoying an excellent season on the Boston blue line. Brad Marchand, on the other hand, has been consistently good for the Bruins this season, averaging about 1.50 points per game and ranking in the top 10 in the league in scoring.
Perhaps it’s because Marchand’s more colorful on-ice moments and off-ice statements detract from his real performance. Marchand is a top-tier attacker who has been able to carry his club through a lot of injury and illness-related setbacks, which is a tragedy.
Greg Wyshynski: I’m Greg Wyshynski, and I’m There’s a lot going on with these choices that we don’t know about. General managers talking to Colin Campbell about a top player refusing to participate in the event and being left off the roster are included in this category. That goes for the rosters’ unusual design for a 3-on-3 format, such as the need for two goaltenders from each division. After that, I’d want to execute some minor destruction on the Pacific Division in order to recruit Quinn Hughes.
Let’s take away Los Angeles Kings goaltender Adrian Kempe and replace him with Jonathan Quick, a goalie on the mend who thrives in the turmoil of 3-on-3 hockey. We can send Thatcher Demko home and bring in Hughes as the Canucks’ participant with Quick and John Gibson as goalies. With Alex Pietrangelo of the Vegas Golden Knights, the Pacific would get a second defender, and the All-Star Game would have an immensely talented 22-year-old who has earned his place in the limelight. Plus, for the first time, both Hughes brothers are in the All-Star Game, and Quinn Hughes will face Cale Makar in the first round. The featurettes are almost self-contained.
Arda Ocal: From a dazzle standpoint, Zegras is the greatest snub for me. You may argue that there are larger snubs statistically, but Zegras engineered one of the most spectacular goals in NHL history, and that alone merits a position. He’d be excellent in the skills competition at the very least. Plus, I’d want to see him thrive on a big platform like the All-Star Game. Honorable consideration to Nazem Kadri, who, although not getting the same attention as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in Colorado, has been a rock for his club this season and, in my view, is deserving of a berth in Vegas.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing during the All-Star Weekend festivities?
Kirill Kaprizov, Emily Kaplan. I had the good fortune to attend the KHL all-star game in Moscow in 2020, shortly before the epidemic, when Kaprizov was the league’s top player. It was a joy to see him at the time, and he was fully immersed in the weekend’s festivities. I’m glad to see him included since he’s an up-and-coming personality and face of the game.
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Cale Makar, Kristen Shilton. Is there anybody in the league right now who is more entertaining to watch in any position than him? When Makar gets the puck on his stick, it seems as though anything can happen. Makar can really loosen up and enjoy his attacking side in an All-Star atmosphere, when the emphasis won’t be on strong defensive performance. I’m excited to see what he has up his sleeve in a location where over-the-top shenanigans are tolerated, based on what he’s showed off recently in gaming settings.
Greg Wyshynski: I’m Greg Wyshynski, and I’m So, you may have heard of this guy on the Edmonton Oilers… but honestly, it’s Connor McDavid. The single most potent offensive hockey force in history, as well as a man on a mission: Please remember that at the 2020 All-Star Game in St. Louis, Mathew Barzal grabbed the title of “fastest skater” by 0.040 seconds. McDavid said that he hadn’t played in a week: “It’s challenging when you’ve been sitting on your bum for six days and then get in and attempt to go 100 mph.”
To retake the crown, I want to see Connor smash the sound barrier. I’d want to see him hit Jordan Eberle with a flying saucer pass. And, knowing how bad the Oilers have been recently, I simply want to see him having a good time.
Arda Ocal: I’d say Makar, but that’s Kristen’s choice, so I’ll go with Auston Matthews, and not only because I spoke with him about being captain on The Point. I anticipate him having a good time out there, scoring some beauties, sniping, and celling.
Name at least one player that did not make the roster this season but will next season.
Trevor Zegras is the largest; he generated the season’s most talked-about and viral hockey moment. Emily Kaplan: John Gibson has been the Ducks’ face for a long time, but this season has been all about the youngsters stepping up. Brady Tkachuk, Lucas Raymond, Elvis Merzlikins, Igor Shesterkin… This year, I would have selected any of them men, but next year would suffice!
Kristen Shilton: Without a question, Zegras. Lucas Raymond is a foregone conclusion. It’s usually difficult for goalies who have less opportunities to be chosen, but Igor Shesterkin must be there. With how well Elias Lindholm has performed this season (he might also be a snub! ), expect him to be in the mix again next season. Tanner Jeannot, an under-the-radar rookie with a lot of promise, is a secret candidate.
Jack Eichel, according to Greg Wyshynski. We have no clue how Eichel will fit in with the Vegas Golden Knights or what they will do with him as a franchise center. The All-Star Game, on the other hand, is all on offensive prowess, intriguing characters, and compelling narratives. When healthy, Eichel is one of hockey’s best offensive players; he lacks the filter that makes so many of his contemporaries so dull; and the tales don’t get much more interesting than Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel as teammates, almost eight years after they were picked first and second overall.
Mathew Barzal, presuming he doesn’t get in by “last man in” voting. Arda Ocal: We aren’t seeing much of Barzal’s flashiness and highlights this season because the Islanders have been shockingly terrible. If things go as planned next season, Barzal may be back in the limelight. He has the “flair for the thrilling” gene.
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