All-Star Starters Announced

[kwik1980]

Starters for this season's All-Star game were announced today. The game takes place on Feb. 8 in Minnesota, and the reserves will be announced on Jan. 22. The starters were chosen by fan vote

Eastern Conference:

Coach: Pat Quinn (Toronto)

Goaltender- Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)
Defense- Scott Stevens (New Jersey), Scott Neidermayer (New Jersey)
Wingers- Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta), Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay)
Center- Joe Thornton (Boston)

Western Conference:

Coach: Dave Lewis (Detroit)

Goaltender: Marty Turco (Dallas)
Defense- Rob Blake (Colorado), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit)
Wingers- Bill Guerin (Dallas), Todd Bertuzzi (Vancouver)
Center- Mike Modano (Dallas)

[Matt in the Hat]

Wow. Woth those picks you would expect Jersey and Dallas to be in first place.

Pat Quinn is a big fat ********!

[Frieslander]

Originally posted by Matt in the Hat
Wow. Woth those picks you would expect Jersey and Dallas to be in first place.

Pat Quinn is a big fat ********!

Name a goalie and 2 defensemen from the Eastern Conf. you'd put ahead of Brodeur, Stevens and Niedermayer.

You've got the reigning Vezina winner, one of the best defensman of all-time, and a guy having another slightly under-the-radar but worthy of Norris consideration-type season.

...but complain all you want about the Dallas picks.

[Matt in the Hat]

Originally posted by Frieslander
Name a goalie and 2 defensemen from the Eastern Conf. you'd put ahead of Brodeur, Stevens and Niedermayer.

You've got the reigning Vezina winner, one of the best defensman of all-time, and a guy having another slightly under-the-radar but worthy of Norris consideration-type season.

...but complain all you want about the Dallas picks.

Maybe I'm a little bit partial, but I think that Adrian Acuoin should replace Stevens. He is the leader in ice minutes and +/- at this point in the season, possibly the most important stats for a defenseman.

Brodeur and Neidermayer are studs. They deserve to be there.

Pat Quinn is still a big fat ********

[Frieslander]

Originally posted by Matt in the Hat
Maybe I'm a little bit partial, but I think that Adrian Acuoin should replace Stevens. He is the leader in ice minutes and +/- at this point in the season, possibly the most important stats for a defenseman.

Brodeur and Neidermayer are studs. They deserve to be there.

Pat Quinn is still a big fat ********

Aucoin doesn't quite have the name recognition yet. You can't expect him to be voted a starter even if he may deserve it.

If it makes you feel better, check out how many votes Joe Thornton got. He is starting, but for a guy who is clearly the best center in the East he shouldn't have the fewest votes among eastern starters.

Pat Quinn will always be a big fat ********.

[otterulz]

Sheldon Souray has had a stud-like year. And half of his 32 points have come on the power play. But of course this is all a popularity contest. I respect Stevens, but c'mon, starting? It's like saying Cal Ripken Jr. deserved to be starting 3B the last few years of his career for the AL.

[Papa Bouba Diop]

Souray just exploded this year, I never thought he had so much potential especially after all the operations he got on his wrist.

[DevilDave]

Obviously Devils and Stars fans stuffed the ballot box...

To be honest, even as a Devils fan, I have to agree with those who feel Stevens got votes mostly by reputation... I don't doubt he'll be in the Hockey Hall of Fame someday, but there might be more deserving d-men in the East this year.

But I certainly can make a good case for Nieds deserving a starting spot, even with a handful of d-men in the Eastern Conference with better stats, including ex-Devil Souray. Three Cups, he's just at the peak of his career and there are fewer more explosive defensemen in the league.

And you'd have to be crazy to question Marty as the best of the East so far this year.

And yeah, Pat Quinn is a loudmouthed fat ********.