Mike Fuller’s Fantasy NHL All Star Game 2013
Along with the numerous cancelled regular season games, the lockout also claimed the annual NHL All-Star Game and all the festivities that come along with it. Columbus was due to host this year and although many fans aren’t huge supporters of what is often a glorified non-contact scrimmage it does serve as a useful midseason break for most of the NHL. Around 40 games in to a full length season is when selections are usually made, and seeing we are now at the point in the shortened 48-game schedule who would be in the mix this year? I had myself a quick draft that followed the new format of the last two years and sorted the resulting rosters in to individual lines, forgive the abundance of centers causing problems, this is what I came up with:
I’m aware that there might be a few contentious inclusions here, plenty of players not making the imaginary trip to Columbus could feel hard done by. A fair number goalies could lay claim to Carey Price’s spot; Cory Schneider and Corey Crawford to name a few, however the Canadiens netminder got the nod for his consistency and the fact he’s shouldered more of the work.
The final few forwards was also extremely tough to narrow down. Nicklas Backstrom was the leading point scorer but although his production is there it’s usually been pretty streaky and helped by Ovechkin’s sniping. Claude Giroux was another, his cause hampered by a slightly disappointing start to the season.
Commiserations on defence must be offered to Kimmo Timonen, who has played the point on Philadelphia’s PP brilliantly, however he doesn’t play that many minutes against the opponents’ top line. The likes of Brian Campbell and Mark Streit probably suffered because of the lack of support they get on offense-first teams.
St Louis are the highest placed team not represented, Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo were their most likely candidates but I don’t believe either has stood out enough this year. Dallas are also unfortunate, but the other two without a player there are Florida and Calgary for obvious reasons.
The honour of being last man drafted (which gets you a car at the real event as Phil Kessel and Logan Couture know all to well) went to Matt Moulson, though it at least meant he and his good buddy John Tavares were kept together.
As for what would happen if these two teams actually faced off, anything could happen. In a proper game I think I’d give the edge to Team B, simply because they look slightly more balanced and possess the more defence-oriented blueliners. Because of the lockout though we’ll never know, and with the Winter Olympics to look forward to next year there won’t be a 2014 All-Star Game either. It’s hardly a major loss, although there’s always some fun in the debates. Feel free to challenge some of my questionable decisions!
