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I voted for 6 guys to make this year’s NHL All-Star game in Columbus, OH.  My votes proved to be irrelevant, though, considering the entire country of Latvia voted Zemgus Girgensons onto the roster and the Chicago Blackhawks’ bandwagon full of fans selected the 5 other members of the “First Six NHL All-Stars” — goaltender Corey Crawford, defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, in addition to forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

I’m not saying, by any means, that these players shouldn’t have been All-Stars this season.  In fact, I’d probably choose a few (if not, all) of these guys to be on my own “NHL All-Star” Team… except for Girgensons, who would only make it if we absolutely had to add a member of the Buffalo Sabres to the squad.

I think, given my qualifications, I should surely be the one to decide who gets to play in this game.  With that said, let’s take a look at who’d I’d select to one All-Star team [if we were actually living in my imaginary world…].  I’ll include 1) the player’s name 2) their current NHL team 3) a few words summarizing why they should be on this team —

3 goaltenders, 12 forwards, 6 defensemen…………….. Here we go!

GOALTENDERS

  1. Pekka Rinne, NSH — best goalie in the NHL (injury aside)
  2. Carey Price, MTL — .927 save % for a team in one of hockey’s toughest markets
  3. Jaroslav Halak, NYI — quietly has become the Islanders’ franchise goalie

FORWARDS

  1. Vladimir Tarasenko, STL — breakout season
  2. Jakub Voracek, PHI — leading the league in points as of 1/16/15
  3. Tyler Seguin, DAL — leading the league in goals as of 1/16/15
  4. Rick Nash, NYR — where would the Rangers be without this guy?
  5. Evgeni Malkin, PIT — consistently one of the best players in the game
  6. Sidney Crosby, PIT — we know this guy
  7. Steven Stamkos, TBL — mayor of #SnipeCity
  8. Tyler Johnson, TBL — 48 points, +26 rating… playing in the shadow of Stamkos
  9. Patrick Kane, CHI — stud
  10. Ryan Getzlaf, ANA — insane on-ice vision
  11. John Tavares, NYI — leader of the Isles’ turnaround
  12. Filip Forsberg, NSH — maybe the Caps shouldn’t have traded this guy…

DEFENSEMEN

  1. Kevin Shattenkirk, STL — leads all defensemen in points
  2. Mark Giordano, CGY — 11 goals, +18 rating
  3. Shea Weber, NSH — currently possesses the best slapshot in the NHL
  4. P.K. Subban, MTL — it’s simple: he’s the man
  5. John Carlson, WSH — 31 points, +15 rating
  6. Duncan Keith, CHI — leader of the Blackhawks’ D

This team would probably beat any combination of professional hockey players in the world.  Some of you might be thinking… “Wow, he left ‘X’ off the team!” or “How did ‘Y’ not make this team?”  It’s not that simple.  There are more than 12 forwards who are deserving of an All-Star bid, there are more than 3 goaltenders deserving of an All-Star bid and there are more than 6 defensemen deserving of All-Star bids.