The NHL announced the remaining players who will make the trip to Columbus, Ohio for the 2015 NHL All-Star weekend, which will take place Jan. 23 to Jan. 25.
The league named 36 players who will join Zemgus Girgensons (Buffalo Sabres) and Corey Crawford, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks, who were voted to the roster by fans.
As with any All-Star Game, there were a few casualties of the limited roster space. Some pretty big names will not be participating in the weekend’s festivities.
Here are the top seven All-Star Game snubs.
Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals) — 13 goals, 27 assists, +4
Backstrom leads the Washington Capitals in assists and points.
The 26-year-old has never been an all-star in his career, although a lockout and two seasons of the league forgoing the All-Star Game for the Winter Olympic Games are part of the reason why.
John Carlson (Washington Capitals) — 4 goals, 26 assists, 30 points, +14
Carlson trails only Brent Burns, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Mark Giordano in points by a defenceman. Those three players have been named to the All-Star Game.
Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins) — 20 W, 2.20 GAA, .925 Sv%, 6 SO
Fleury has been league average in terms of save percentage over the past few seasons, but he’s playing at a near-elite level through the first half of 2014-15. His six shutouts lead the league.
Jaromir Jagr (New Jersey Devils) — 9 goals, 16 assists, 25 points, -10
Jagr doesn’t have the big goal or point totals of the majority of forwards who were named all-stars, but he’s Jaromir Jagr.
It’s common to see superstars nearing the end of their careers take a trip to the All-Star Game in other sports as a nod to their legacy. Jagr’s teammate Patrik Elias, who was named to the roster (and also presents a good case for the legacy argument), is fifth on the Devils in scoring. Jagr leads the Devils in scoring at the age of 43.
Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators) — 7 goals, 21 assists, 28 points, -9
Karlsson brings an element of excitement to the game. He’s one of the top power play performers in the league among defencemen and a former Norris Trophy winner, too.
Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks) — 21 goals, 16 assists, 37 points, +11
Only four players have scored more goals than Pavelski this season and they’re all heading to Columbus for the All-Star Game. Tyler Seguin, Rick Nash, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Steven Stamkos all received their due, yet Pavelski is left on the outside looking in.
Pavelski’s Sharks teammate Brent Burns will be the lone representative from San Jose.
P.K. Subban (Montreal Canadiens) — 8 goals, 19 assists, 27 points, +9
If the All-Star Game is meant to be fun and entertaining for fans it’s hard to fathom how one of its most exciting players and more affable personalities didn’t get an invite. The Montreal Canadiens have the second most wins in the Eastern Conference with 26 and goaltender Carey Price will be the only player they send to Columbus.
Honourable mentions: T.J. Brodie, Cody Franson, Jaroslav Halak, Braden Holtby, Roman Josi, Nikita Kucherov, Mark Streit, James van Riemsdyk
