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Tuesday December 11, 2007 @ 06:40 PM EST

As you know, the All-Star game isn’t that far away, and fans like me are casting their votes to see their players get honored as this years starters for the All-Star Game. Lets not sit around…here are my picks:
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forward #1=Jaromir Jagr-NYRLets face it, Jagr is a beast, a man among men. But damn is he a great player. Jagr is once again donning the Captain’s C on his blue shirt and he’s doing a terrific job, keeping his team in the 1st place race in his division before the All-Star break comes around. He is second on his team in every offensive category, 7 goals, 14 assists, and 21 points. He has 2 Power Play Goals and he has a whopping, team leading 3 game winning goals. Definately a great pick for Atlanta this year.
Forward#2=Maxim Afinagenov-BUF
This was an interesting pick for me, but nonetheless a good one. He might not be as offensively talented as Jagr is, but he is still a phenomenal player. Hockey iosn’t all about the offense, its about how you start plays that get you goals. Afinagenov can clearly do that. He is a hell of a playmaker, which is probably why he has vaulted the Sabres to a 6-4 record in the past 10 games. Despite Buffalo’s poor start, he was an integral part of their playoff run last year, and an integral part of their offense this year. He’ll send the East to a win again.
Forward #3=Sidney Crosby-PIT
Don’t roll your eyes at me, come on, even I recognize that Sidney Crosby is the next coming of Gretzky. This guy is the Pittsburgh offense and is keeping them close in the race for 1st in their division (only 5 points back). He leads in every offensive category except Power Play goals: 14 goals, 26 assists, 40 points, 4 PP Goals and 2 Game winners. The youngest kid to don the “C”? Come on, gimme a break, of course he deserves to go to Atlanta.
Defenseman #1=Zdeno Chara-BOS
Now this is a great positional defnseman. Zdeno Chara is an amazing playmaker and exhibits great awareness on the ice. He isn’t an offensive powerhouse, but just like Afinagenov earlier, he can start plays. This season he has 4 goals, second place team-wise 14 assists, 18 points and 2 PP Goals. he sets up people to score and thats what wins the Bruins games. Did I mention that Boston is 2nd in the Atlantic? Did I also mention that Chara is their Captain? There you have it…your defenseman for Atlanta this year.
Defenseman #2=Mike Commodore-CAR
Despite the lack of pretty much any stats for him at this point, Mike Commodore is my pick really just to be able to play. He is a very skilled defenseman who, when given the puck, can shoot. Not neccessarily score, but shoot, and we all know that shooting is what gets pressure on a goalie to see if he can think on his feet. He has had 28 shots on goal, which shows he can phase out a goalie enough for his team to find a weak spot. Overall he is a well-rounded positional player, and I’d like to see him play in Atlanta this year.
Goalie=Henrik Lundqvist-NYR
When you have a goalie that is either #2 or in the top 10 of every Goalie Stat category out there, who has been nominated in his rookie season 2 years ago for the Vespa trophy, you have to let this calibur of goalie start. He is second in the NHL in goals against average with 1.94, shutouts with 5, and tied for 1st with 15 wins. He is currently tied for 6th in save percentage with .924.If Lundy doesn’t start this game I will be very dissappointed. He deserves it after keeping his team in a 1st place race only 1 point behind the Devils for 1st in the Atlantic Division. Lundy, pack your bags for Atlanta.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forward #1=Pavel Datsyuk-DET
Pavel Datsyuk is a trooper, and don’t forget that. 12 goals, 24 assists, 36 points…come on, you have to let him in. Hes an Assistant Captain and hes pullin the load of a Captain…3 PP Goals and 2 game winners prove how good he is at makin plays happen and gettin the puck to the back of the net when you need it. He should definately start in Atlanta.
Forward #2=Jonathan Cheechoo-SJ
Now heres a guy and team that aren’t getting much credit unless you’re Barry Melrose.I personally think his performance is coming from the new look they have. But lets get on with this. Although he has 4 goals, 5 assists, and 9 points, he rarely gets the credit for half the teams work. He put up 65 shots this season, which shows how much pressure he can get on a goalie. He can pass, he can shoot, he can make plays happen even if he isnt the one starting them. He should pack up for the ATL.
Forward #3=Ryan Getzlaf-ANA
now you want genuine production, then youve got it right here. Getzlaf is once again proving his worth this season, adding onto his resume of his Stanley Cup year last season. This year he leads the team in points and assists, with 22 and 35 respectively, has 13 goals, second behind Cory Perry, 3 PP Goals and 1 game winner. He starts plays, and plays great positional hockey, knowing where hes supposed to be at all times, aand also knowing when to get involved in the play as well. I reccomend Getzlaf to travel to Atlanta and give some great competition this year.
Defenseman #1=Brian Rafalski-DET
Now I know full well this guy is old, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play. Like he always was in New Jersey, Rafalski starts plays and watches them unfold. Despite having only 3 goals so far, he has 20 assists, thus proving the playmaker point. I know this one is short, but hes a playmaker, and more importantly a veteran deserving such an opportunity to play in Atlanta this year, and thats what matters.
Defenseman #2=Chris Pronger-ANA
He went form the goal scorer to the goal maker this year, just like many defenseman did coming in from last year. Chris Pronger was not only an integral part of the Cup run last year, but he has played an amazing playmaker role as well this year. Scoring 4 and starting 20, he has helped Anaheim stay in the race for 1st back 2 points from Dallas. He is the Captain of this squad and has shown it on and off the ice this year. I look forward to seeing him in the ATL.
Goalie=Dominik Hasek-DET
There goes that look again. Come on, Hasek is daring, skillfull, has lots of dexterity, is consistent, and he’s a seasoned veteran. It’s hard to see where his season is going because he splits the majority of the starts with Chris Osgood, his equally skillful counterpart, but in his 15 starts he has 8 wins with 1 being a shutout, 5 losses, and 1 OT loss. His Goals Against average has dwindled to a 2.48 and his save percentage is below .9, but I’m sure he’ll come around in the second half of the season. I would like to see him play rather than start, but we’ll see how the cards deal out.
Those are my predictions this year. Later on, we’ll see how I did and my prediction of the All-Star Game.