With the NHL All Star Weekend festivities beginning tonight we here at UTL have been doing some reflecting on the season we have witnessed thus far. The first four months of this season have been filled with plenty of memorable moments, outstanding performances, surprise front office decisions, and everything in between. I’m taking this opportunity to recognize some of the players that won’t be playing in San Jose this weekend. These are players that are some of the best the league has to offer but may not be recognized for their work. There are various reasons why these players were omitted from the festivities, some missed time due to injury, others play in divisions loaded with talent, some have styles of play that don’t show up on the standard stat sheets, and a few were outright snubbed. So without further adieu I present to you the All-Underrated Team.
Left Wing
Artemi Panarin, Columbus Blue Jackets: The bread man was overshadowed by teammate Cam Atkinson and was snubbed of a trip to California. It’s remarkable that he has not appeared in an All Star game in his short career as he has registered 286 points in 289 games. He is one of the more skilled forwards in the league and the 3 on 3 format could be the perfect theater for him to showcase his abilities with the puck. The league also robbed us of a chance to see Panarin and former linemate Patrick Kane go head to head in the skills competition.
Center
Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames: Monahan is the top center on arguably the league’s most underrated team so it only makes sense he earned a spot on this team. With 61 points in 51 games it’s criminal that most fans aren’t aware of the hockey this 24 year old has been playing. With Johnny Gaudreau on his line, Monahan faces opponents top lines every night and is dominant in doing so as he carries a 54.3 CF% which means his team is in possession of the puck for a majority of his minutes. Perhaps a lengthy playoff run can give Monahan some recognition league wide.
Right Wing
Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets: This snub is almost criminal as Laine is one of the top young players in the league. With 25 goals this season you’d think Laine would be an automatic to make the team but perhaps his measly 9 assists are what are holding him back. Perhaps that hideous beard he grew at the start of the year has something to do with his omission. Regardless the league should have him playing this weekend so they can market a young star that has plenty of personality.
Defense
Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames: Yet another member of the Calgary Flames finds his way onto this team. Giordano is a two time all star so he should have some name recognition league wide. He has been the anchor of the Flames defense and has been able to get it done at both ends of the ice s his zone starts are equal between the offensive and defensive zone. With 52 points, Giordano only Brent Burns for the league lead among defenseman. In terms of possession, the 35 year old carries a 55.5 CF% which is pretty dominant. On the bright side, having some time to rest could help Giordano rest up for a long postseason.
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs: This snub occurred simply because someone from each team has to participate in the All Star game. Rielly is considerably better than Keith Yandle and Thomas Chabot, but someone from the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators had to make the team and the Atlantic Division chose to carry only two defenseman. Rielly is third amongst defenseman with 50 points and is likely to be a Norris Trophy candidate for the league’s best dman. I’m sure the Toronto media will react calmly to this roster decision.
Goaltender
Robin Lehner, New York Islanders: Lehner was brought into the Islander’s system this year to provide depth but has emerged as their starting netminder. Lehner has the best save percentage among goaltenders who have played more than 20 games which is an impressive feat. Name recognition may be the cause for his snub as defending Stanley Cup champion Braden Holtby and future Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist will be representing the Metropolitan Division instead of Lehner
Honorable Mention
Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton: While these two may not statistically be all stars, they deserve to be here due to their contributions to the host city. Even though Marleau plays for the Maple Leafs now he will certainly be remembered for his days in teal. Whenever these legends decide to call it a career it is almost certain that their numbers will be retired by the Sharks. This pair helped put the Sharks on the map as a contender in the Pacific Division and helped grow the hockey community in San Jose. Don’t be surprised if they make an appearance at some point this weekend.
Despite these players not being represented the next two days should be fun for hockey fans and the season will only get more exciting as the playoff push begins to heat up.
Comments