MacKinnon

This will be MacKinnon’s seventh All-Star game in his impressive 11 year career. Fans selected MacKinnon to lead the Central Division as captain twice in 2019 and 2020. He has been having a career year as he put together a 19-game point streak that just ended recently. With 56 points during the point streak, he rose to second place in the league. He is also on pace to have an amazing 131 points by the end of the season, 20 more than his highest year in 2022–2023.

Nathan MacKinnon (@Avalanche) is the first player in 35 years to record a point in each of his team’s first 20+ home games of a season.

The last guy to do it? Wayne Gretzky in 1988-89, when he found the scoresheet in all 40 Kings home games.#NHLStats: https://t.co/M3bpZmUWWl pic.twitter.com/ETnGlNgfGI

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 3, 2024

Fans could have the chance to vote on the remaining 12 players to make the roster soon. Those players will more than likely be Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen for the Avalanche.

Rantanen

This could be Rantanen’s fourth game in nine years. One of the most memorable was 2019, when he was on the same line as MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. Rantanen himself has been on a roll lately with 16 points in 11 games. There has been a little of drama as Artturi Lehkonen’s father called out Rantanen for his offseason training routine and they exchanged words via the media. Rantanen is on pace for another career year in which he will break the century mark in consecutive years with 101 points.

Mikko Rantanen has six goals in seven games since being called out by Artturi Lehkonen's dad #Avs pic.twitter.com/fNo0vuKfvu

— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) December 28, 2023

Makar

The former Norris Trophy winning defenseman Cale Makar has gone to the All-Star game the last two years. Fans consider Makar being one of the best, if not the best defensemen in the game at the moment. He changes the way the forwards have to attack him with unique skating style and puck handling skills. He is second in the league in points for a defenseman with 44 points behind Quinn Hughs of the Vancouver Canucks. But Makar has done it four fewer games than Hughes. Makar is on pace to break 100 points this season for the first time in his career after only getting 86 in the Stanley Cup year.

Cale Makar moves. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/9pJzCHL1rL

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 28, 2023

The Avalanche are at a point where they are putting together consistent talent in the club. Some players deserve recognition like Valeri Nichushkin, who has exploded since coming to Colorado. Another player that deserves an honorable mention would be Devon Toews. His scoresheet may show that he does not score often, but his shut down defense is something to behold. Unfortunately, not every player can go, despite what some fans think. No matter who attends this year’s event, it is all about the fans and having fun.

The post MacKinnon makes All-Star roster, Makar and Rantanen snubbed appeared first on The Rink.

HEY NOW, HE’S AN ALL STAR pic.twitter.com/4uP5tjt4TO

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 13, 2022

DeBrincat joins a talented Central Division squad featuring forwards Kyle Connor, Kirill Kaprizov, Clayton Keller, Jordan Kyrou, Nathan MacKinnon and Joe Pavelski, defenseman Cale Makar and goaltenders Juuse Saros and Cam Talbot. Seven of the Central Division’s selections will be making their all-star debuts, as only Keller, MacKinnon and Pavelski have participated in All-Star Weekend prior to this year.

DeBrincat learned of the news in a team meeting held on Thursday, as Blackhawks Interim Head Coach Derek King announced DeBrincat’s selection.

Casual. Cool. Calm. Cat. #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/u3M98xhSY0

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 13, 2022

However, DeBrincat may not be the only Blackhawk headed to this year’s All-Star Weekend, as the NHL is holding its Last Men In fan voting contest, where fans will select the final player named to each division’s all star team. Representing the Blackhawks on the Last Men In ballot is defenseman Seth Jones.

Jones is no stranger to all-star weekend, having represented the Columbus Blue Jackets in three all-star games (2017, 2019, 2020) in addition to being selected for the 2018 contest but being unable to participate due to an injury.

Ultimately the Last Men In contest is a popularity contest, but it would behoove Central Division fans to vote for either Jones or Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, as Makar is the lone blueliner currently on the Central Division roster.

Voting for the Last Men In contest concludes on Monday, Jan. 17 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

All-Star Weekend is being hosted by the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas. The 2022 NHL All-Star Skills will take place on Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. EST, while the 2022 NHL All-Star Game tournament will be held on Feb. 5 beginning at 3 p.m. EST.

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