Post by Calgary Flames on Mar 18, 2022 9:14:07 GMT -6
GM Dean Richter had the unenviable task of selecting the Western Conference allstars in the inaugural season of the PFHL. There are always hurt feelings and angry GMs when a player having a fantastic year is left off the roster. Here are the players selected.
Starting 5 are as follows:
Line 1: Panarin (CHI) Malkin (CHI) Rantanen (CHI)
1st Pair: Klefbom (SJS) Theodore (ANA)
The rest of the forwards shake out as:
Line 2: Matthews (VGK) McDavid (SJS) Patrnak (WPG)
Line 3: Marner (STL) Stone (ANA) Aho (SEA)
Line 4: Kadri (ARI) Barkov (DAL) Svechnikov (COL)
Extra: Horvat (EDM)
2nd Pair: Josi (MIN) Weegar (LAK)
3rd Pair: Makar (NSH) Girard (VAN)
Starting Goalie: Oettinger (MIN)
Back up 1: Smith (CGY)
Back up 2: Francouz (DAL)
The first thing you will notice is that the entire first line for Chicago is deservedly all included and will, in a surprise to no one, start the game for the West. The terrifying trio has combined for 243 points through 47 games (average of 81 points each, and a combined 5.2 per game). The second line is just as scary with three of the most dynamic players in the league. Lines three and four both have some interesting skill guys that can also shut down guys in Stone, Aho, Barkov and Kadri.....perhaps we will see some allstar game trapping?
Oskar Klefbom is having a surprising year and has deservedly got a starting nod with Theodore. The pair is 1-2 in the league for defensive scoring with 58 and 54 points respectively. Josi and Weegar form the second unit but the 3rd pair could be the most dynamic with Makar and Girard flying up and down the ice. The West actually have 7 of the top 10 scorers on defense and none of the players making the squad have less than 45.
On goal Oettinger leads the way, followed by Smith and Francouz. Scoring is high in the PFHL. This trio is 1-2-3 in the West so are definitely deserving of the nod.
Now lets have a look who was left off. Time to bitch!
Rasmus Dahlin (CGY): Dahlin is 10th in NHL defensive scoring and tied for the lead in goals with 14. He is could have made the team and no one would have blinked.
Patrick Kane (VAN): Scoring at well over a point per game the NHL Allstar game veteran would have been deserving in another strong year.
Jake Guentzel (LAK): Similar to Kane, Guentzel is having an extremely strong year but like Kane he was likely a victim of having a D man team mate stealing his spot.
Sidney EFFING Crosby (SJS): WTF? 61 points in 47 games isn't enough to get one of the greatest players EVER on the ice?
So which teams had multiple players where one could have been removed? Chicago had 3 but they all need to be there. San Jose had 2 in McDavid and Klefbom. Dallas had 2 in Barkov and Francouz. Hmmm....3rd best goalie or Sid the Kid? So let's pull Francouz. Next goalie up would either be Shesterkin (VGK) or Binnington (LAK). The problem is that you're not pulling out Matthews for Vegas. You could pull Weegar for Dahlin but the numbers still don't work. You see how hard this!
Please let us know who you think missed out on a deserving spot. Thanks to Dean Richter for making the selections and opening himself up to deserved criticism.
Starting 5 are as follows:
Line 1: Panarin (CHI) Malkin (CHI) Rantanen (CHI)
1st Pair: Klefbom (SJS) Theodore (ANA)
The rest of the forwards shake out as:
Line 2: Matthews (VGK) McDavid (SJS) Patrnak (WPG)
Line 3: Marner (STL) Stone (ANA) Aho (SEA)
Line 4: Kadri (ARI) Barkov (DAL) Svechnikov (COL)
Extra: Horvat (EDM)
2nd Pair: Josi (MIN) Weegar (LAK)
3rd Pair: Makar (NSH) Girard (VAN)
Starting Goalie: Oettinger (MIN)
Back up 1: Smith (CGY)
Back up 2: Francouz (DAL)
The first thing you will notice is that the entire first line for Chicago is deservedly all included and will, in a surprise to no one, start the game for the West. The terrifying trio has combined for 243 points through 47 games (average of 81 points each, and a combined 5.2 per game). The second line is just as scary with three of the most dynamic players in the league. Lines three and four both have some interesting skill guys that can also shut down guys in Stone, Aho, Barkov and Kadri.....perhaps we will see some allstar game trapping?
Oskar Klefbom is having a surprising year and has deservedly got a starting nod with Theodore. The pair is 1-2 in the league for defensive scoring with 58 and 54 points respectively. Josi and Weegar form the second unit but the 3rd pair could be the most dynamic with Makar and Girard flying up and down the ice. The West actually have 7 of the top 10 scorers on defense and none of the players making the squad have less than 45.
On goal Oettinger leads the way, followed by Smith and Francouz. Scoring is high in the PFHL. This trio is 1-2-3 in the West so are definitely deserving of the nod.
Now lets have a look who was left off. Time to bitch!
Rasmus Dahlin (CGY): Dahlin is 10th in NHL defensive scoring and tied for the lead in goals with 14. He is could have made the team and no one would have blinked.
Patrick Kane (VAN): Scoring at well over a point per game the NHL Allstar game veteran would have been deserving in another strong year.
Jake Guentzel (LAK): Similar to Kane, Guentzel is having an extremely strong year but like Kane he was likely a victim of having a D man team mate stealing his spot.
Sidney EFFING Crosby (SJS): WTF? 61 points in 47 games isn't enough to get one of the greatest players EVER on the ice?
So which teams had multiple players where one could have been removed? Chicago had 3 but they all need to be there. San Jose had 2 in McDavid and Klefbom. Dallas had 2 in Barkov and Francouz. Hmmm....3rd best goalie or Sid the Kid? So let's pull Francouz. Next goalie up would either be Shesterkin (VGK) or Binnington (LAK). The problem is that you're not pulling out Matthews for Vegas. You could pull Weegar for Dahlin but the numbers still don't work. You see how hard this!
Please let us know who you think missed out on a deserving spot. Thanks to Dean Richter for making the selections and opening himself up to deserved criticism.