12/21/24
January 23, 2004
NHL All-Star reserves named.: Let the debates begin...
I second the "Boynton?" inquiry. And Messier is in there as a sentimental pick. Which is OK I suppose. Damn, is Lang ever oogly. I hope the league doesn't "accidentally" uninvite Roenick.
posted by Succa at 09:15 AM on January 23, 2004
I'd have gone with Aebischer as well, simply for having played 9 more games than Roli. I'd drop Norstrom before I'd drop Kuba. Luongo should be the East's starter, IMO. And Boynton is questionable for sure....How about Bryan 'Superman' McCabe?! Modano being named has got to be the biggest joke. Not having Hedjuk there is a crime. Nagy should be there. And Weight. And Havlat. And Savard. And Frank Kaberle should get the nod. He's having a career year, almost doubling his usual scoring pace. And remember, he's the older of the brothers Kaberle, so this more than a developmental surge.
posted by garfield at 09:31 AM on January 23, 2004
I'm a Leaf fan, so I think I'm pretty qualified to say: "Gary Roberts?" Savard, Havlat, Kozlov, Briere, Ribeiro, Ryder, Spezza...I'd have chosen any of these guys over Roberts for three reasons: 1) They are having better seasons. 2) They are younger and are the future of the league and who we should be showcasing. 3) In Briere's case, it adds a previously unrepresented team (Buffalo) to the mix. That said, I'm real glad that Messier got the nod. He really has been NYR's best overall player. Plus, how cool is it that he plays in an old-timers game BEFORE playing in his last all-star game? You could make a pretty good squad from the players NOT selected to the All-Star Game: G: Belfour, Aebischer, Osgood D: Gonchar, Schneider, McCabe, Tarnstrom, Chara, Zidlicky F: Savard, Weight, Demitra, Spezza, Hejduk, Hull, Ryder, Havlat, Ribeiro, Kozlov, Recchi, Stillman
posted by grum@work at 10:13 AM on January 23, 2004
Kuba shouldn't have made the team, but Roloson has been excellent this year. And don't forget, it is in Minnesota, and since Gaborik decided to take this year off, it's nice to have someone from the Wild on the team. Tickets for the game and skills competition are impossible to get, but I am going to the afternoon practice section. And I think this is the first time ever that they have charged an admission for it. I can't wait, it's going to be a fun day in St. Paul.
posted by emoeby at 10:20 AM on January 23, 2004
"He really has been NYR's best overall player." Grum, this is the silliest thing I've ever seen you write. I've watched at least 90% of their games. I agree with his selection for the sentimental factors and see that his stats aren't that bad, but he's hardly been the best player for the Rangers this year. He doesn't skate anymore. He floats around banking on his wisdom and failing ability to make plays for him. He hooks and coasts and flails his stick in passing lane without effect. He hasn't gone in a corner this century. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but he's not All-Star caliber right now. Lindros, Holik, Rucinsky and a slew of others are having better years, even if it doesn't show up in the scoring columns. I wouldn't invite them either, but they have been better overall this year. I have to wonder about the NHL... Why showcase older players? Why not put the 20-25 year olds on the club and show the fans what we have in store for us. Let Messier and Roberts play in old-timers games.
posted by 86 at 10:28 AM on January 23, 2004
The NHL has always treated the All-Start game as a showcase for the popular players. Not necessarily the players that are having a good year. Which kinda makes I guess if you want to sell the place out. Die hard fans would like to see the up and comers, but most casual wouldn't know who those people are and therefore would be less likely to show up. I thought that every team had to have at least one player invited to the All-Star game, but I don't see anyone from Pittsburgh?
posted by camcanuck at 11:40 AM on January 23, 2004
Actually, there's no Penguins, Hurricanes, Sabres, Blackhawks, Ducks, or Oilers... I always thought every team had to be represented, too, but I guess not...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:52 AM on January 23, 2004
This is a year of transition for the League, and introducing its new stars would've been a better idea than giving fogies a good bye tour. But, it seems the NHL still isn't learning. In other news, Sather might be making a last ditch effort to salvage the season and his job. Separating equipment form the rest of the team is as sure of a sign as you are going to get before an actual annoucement. If the Caps are having a fire sale, I beg that Ferguson steals Gonchar.
posted by garfield at 12:00 PM on January 23, 2004
Grum, this is the silliest thing I've ever seen you write. You haven't been reading enough of what I write. I'll admit to lazy research. I knew that he lead the team in goals and figured that if he was on the good side of the +/-, he was probably doing well. I mentally skipped over Lindros (injuries), Holik (bad last year) and Rucinsky (forgot he was in NY). I just don't like Kovalev, so I'd never want him on an all-star team. Thanks for straightening me out.
posted by grum@work at 12:42 PM on January 23, 2004
You could make a pretty good squad from the players NOT selected to the All-Star Game Actually, if the ice was circular and a third team added, that would be majorly cool. Could bring in the alliances concept from Survivor and tag team on some forwards.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:08 PM on January 23, 2004
any minute now Sens are interested in Bondra, but supposedly the Leafs may be running interference. Talk about a race in the East.
posted by garfield at 01:14 PM on January 23, 2004
here's the story about the other suitors. i feel like jgirl right now.
posted by garfield at 01:18 PM on January 23, 2004
What's wrong with Nick Boynton besides a lack of press? In my limited viewing, he's Boston's strongest defenseman. I've never seen someone so young be so sound defending a 2 on 1 break. Which may or may not qualify him for the 2004 All-Star Game, I suppose.
posted by yerfatma at 02:11 PM on January 23, 2004
The last time a Bruin defender impressed me was opening night when Jillson scored twice.
posted by garfield at 03:37 PM on January 23, 2004
Nothing at all is wrong with Boynton, yerfatma. He's a fine player and a former Ottawa 67 to boot. He's just hasn't had a better year than Chara, Gonchar, or McCabe.
posted by Succa at 03:45 PM on January 23, 2004
I always thought every team had to be represented, too, but I guess not... They ditched it during those years of N.America vs. The World, I think. Why they didn't bring it back, I don't know. It's stupid. Every team's fan should be represented -- and sometimes it might cause surprises by some of the "lesser" players (remember Damphousse's 4 goals? If they didn't *have* to select someone from the Leafs that year, he probably wouldn't have been there.) Roloson vs Aebischer is a toss-up for me, but Kuba shouldn't be there. I just take that as pandering to the All-Star game host city fans. And Boynton over McCabe? I know I'm a Leaf fan and all, but seriously..?
posted by mkn at 12:41 AM on January 24, 2004
No Oilers? That sucks. Agreed, mkn, every team should have a representative. If nothing else, there's humour value for fans of the other teams when they see the boneheads who play out of the spotlight on the weaker teams. Like Edmonton. Howver, an argument for Jason Smith going could be made. He's tied for eigth in plus/minus among defencemen. Of course, his style isn't really suited for the all-star game.
posted by alex_reno at 05:22 AM on January 25, 2004
Roloson over Aebischer? Kuba over Schneider? Luongo over Belfour? Boynton? I really think Kris Draper should've gotten a nod, too, but I wouldn't kick any of the West forwards off for him to replace (except, maybe, Modano)...