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Reactions: NHL All-Star snubs A few worthy candidates will be left out of the festivitiesPosted: Monday January 22, 2001 4:02 PMUpdated: Thursday February 01, 2001 4:38 PM
It happens every year at this time. NHL All-Star Game snubs. The 2001 NHL All-Star Game lineups for the World Team and the North American Team are out. CNNSI.com users were asked which players were robbed this year. A sample of the responses we received follows: My snub is all the Canadian teams. How do the Leafs only get one player? Curtis Joseph might be the MVP of the league, Gary Roberts is off to a great start and defenseman Thomas Kaberle has more points then three of the other world defensemen. On top of Toronto, Vancouver, another good club only has one player named. How about Jovo? Edmonton only one player. Montreal zero, Calgary zero. I think the Canadian teams are getting shafted. Come on Modin and Numminen?
I don't think Mats Sundin deserved an All-Star selection. His numbers pale in comparison to a lot who were looked over, like Patrik Elias. The only reason Sundin made the team was because he plays in Toronto and Torontonians would have made a huge stink if they didn't have anyone. And Cujo has not been as good as Brodeur, numbers don't lie. And why is Brian Leetch in the game? Sure, he scores a lot, but he lets an absurd amount go in, too. He is negative 13, one of the lowest in the league. If Leetchie wants to score points and forget about defense, be a forward. There is no way he can be considered a great defensemen when he is bad defensively.
I think one player that was overlooked by the All-Star committee has to be Vincent Damphousse of the San Jose Sharks. While it's true that he is now injured, he has been a great leader for the Sharks this season, especially during the beginning of the season when Owen Nolan wasn't playing. The Sharks are one of the league's top teams, and while both Ragnarsson and Nabokov were selected to the world team, not a single player or a single forward on the Sharks was selected. Damphousse may not be the highest goal scorer (nine), but he has 37 assists (fourth in the league), also making him the Sharks' point leader, and also leads the team in plus/minus (+17). How can the committee overlook this guy? He's been a leader of the team all season and he should be recognized as such. Nabokov doesn't get ALL the credit for this season's success.
Steve Yzerman should have been on the All-Star team. He is by far the best two-way player in the game. It seems like he is always forgotten for some reason. Even though he was hurt at the beginning of the season, since coming back he has averaged a point per game. He is the best leader in the game as well, which should be some bearing on the players picked. When the game is on the line, I think that you would want him out on the ice. He is simply a game breaker. Oh well, I guess he can rub it in the faces of the voters and the selection committee when he is once again lifting the Stanley Cup over his head in June.
I think that Ron Tugnutt should have made the All-Star team for the Blue Jackets. He was the first goalie of the two new teams to get a win and the fans of the Jackets like him and he plays great for them. He should have been on the roster and the NHL would have had the first goalie in the league to have gotten some votes for the President of the U.S. and play in the All-Star game.
Pierre Turgeon deserved to be on the North American All-Star team this year. The last few years he wasn't picked and now that he leads the team with the best winning percentage in points it's a no-brainer. Also the Colorado Avalanche has more than twice as many All-Stars
Adam Truska, Imperial, Mo. Teemu Selanne hits a bad slump when Paul Kariya breaks his foot. One man can't control a whole team. His consecutive streak of All-Star appearances has stopped. I give the man credit for doing all that he is worth this year. My viewpoint: Mario is a great player but shouldn't be allowed to play. The North American team has been created of those who are popular and the World Team, those who are posting good stats. Would someone make up their mind and prove to me how these people are voted in.
Anyone ever hear of Pierre Turgeon? The leading points scorer who isn't in the All-Star game. Ever see him play? The leading scorer on NHL's best team deserves an invitation.
The two biggest snubs in the league both come from one team. Pierre Turgeon is the best playmaker in the league. He works behind the net almost as good as Gretzky. Leading the best team in the league in points. Number two: Pavol Demitra makes the All-Star team last year and he is having a better year this year than he did last year.
I know that there are many players that didn't make it that should have. Ed Jovanoski and Steve Sullivan being real puzzles to me. However, the fact that Curtis Joseph is not on the All-Star team is astounding. This is not just a Toronto thing, the man is amazing. If Mats Sundin is an All-Star, and he's not, than CuJo should make this team 10 times over.
Mats Sundin has had a poor season and many people would prefer to see ex-holdout Alexi Yashin in his place. Sure there should be a Leaf at the All-Star game, but perhaps someone at the top of there game, such as CuJo. Who is one of the best goalies in the league along with Tommy Salo who held up the Oilers for almost every game, even Roman Cechmanek stated he should not be there! I am pleased for Janne Niinimaa and Simon Gange -- well deserved places for both emerging stars. My only absentee is Ed Jovanovski, he has come through so much in one year and he is the young Al MacInnis. Interesting point: last year's top two North American centers were Stevie Y. and Eric Lindross.
I mean come on, there is nobody in the All-Star game that deserves to be there more then Milan Hejduk. The guy is leading the league in goals, plus his line is virtually unstoppable. I realize that the All-Star roster is already packed full of Avs, but the NHL should really consider going to the NHL All-Stars vs. the Avalanche.
I think it is obvious that Colorado's Milan Hejduk should be on the World All-Star team. Yes, Colorado already has the greatest amount of players going to the All-Star Game and yes every team must be represented but Hejduk is tied for the league lead in goals scored and in this era of hockey that is a great feat. Players like Modin and Bure are not deserving of being at the All-Star game but since Bure was voted in and Modin must represent Tampa Bay, what choice do we have. I am sure that if there is an injury between now and the All-Star break Hejduk will be the first replacement on the World team, if not then it is a great error in judgement.
Ed Jovonoski. If it weren't for him, Vancouver would be out of the playoff picture. Put him in instead of Scott Stevens. Also, I think Milan Hejduk deserves a spot. How does one of the contenders for the Richard trophy not make the All-star Team?
Steve Yzerman comes back from an early season injury to send the Wings on a roll and ranks near the top in fan voting and still gets to sit at home. He has definitely been snubbed.
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