NHL All-Star Selections

I've been pretty adamant about my huge disappointment in the first six players voted in earlier this month for the 2012 Tim Horton's NHL All-Star game on January 29, 2012.  Today the NHL finished announcing the rest of this years selections for the weekend in Ottawa.  Looking at the list of 36 veterans and 12 rookies, I have mixed emotions about the final roster.

As far as the rookie roster, it was pretty much a no brainer on most of those guys.  Luke Adam quickly became a shining star on the Buffalo Sabres as a key playmaker on the second line this year.  Ryan Nugent-Hopkins may only be 18 but is giving fans in Edmonton a reason to be excited about the team and is the NHL rookie scoring leader.    The future of the NHL is in good hands with the talent coming up through the ranks.

As far as the veteran selections, I have a few I don't agree with at all.  First off, I like all of the goalie selections with the exception of the Montreal Canadians, Carey Price.  Like I said in my January 4, 2012 article on Armchair Report, "Price plays a lot of games but doesn’t have any real amazing stats other then the fact that he has lost more games for his team then won them."  A 15-15-7 record for an All-Star goalie isn't very impressive at all.

I was much more pleased with the defense selected this year.  The Nashville Predators' Shea Webber and the Florida Panthers' Brian Campbell are two of the best two-way defenseman in the NHL.  Combine them with the physical play of the Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara and the Winnipeg Jets' Dustin Byfuglien and the game is starting to look a little more interesting.

My biggest disappointment with the All-Star Team selection would have to be Alex Ovechkin.  He just finally started producing again for the Washington Capitals after an extremely slow start to the season.  The Buffalo Sabres' left winger, Thomas Vanek, has more goals and assists then Ovi has and is a better all around player, but he got snubbed by the committee.  The Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla probably fits into the same category as Ovechkin as someone that may have been selected based more on his past merits then this season's.  I would have rather seen Patrik Elias from the New Jersey Devils get the spot on the roster.

The All-Star selections may not have been perfect in my eyes but its sure to still be an exciting weekend in Ottawa.  With all of that talent on the ice, hockey fans are sure to be entertained.  The draft begins the excitement on Friday night as the captains put together their dream rosters!