It’s been two weeks since the National Hockey League unveiled its 2011 NHL All-Star fan balloting experience. How has it gone for you? Because I’m kind of upset with what I see.
Sidney Crosby, of course, leads all players in votes, becoming the first to cross the million mark. Yes, the most popular player in the league should lead them all, shouldn’t he? And as for the rest, the league-leader in wins is first among netminders and the reigning Norris Trophy winner has a slim-but-strong grasp of the top spot for blueliners.
But in what universe does “Sid the Kid” not make it into the All-Star game? Or Duncan Keith? These guys are the league’s marketed players. They’re the ones featured in the advertisements on the NHL Network, in print ads. Heck, Crosby’s even got a show on HBO half-dedicated to covering him. Coincidentally, the other half of that show is dedicated to the second-place vote-getter in Alexander Ovechkin.
In fact, I’m disappointed from the start with the ballot the league presented me. Just looking at it, I notice several baffling selections, as well as some left off which do the same. Names like Tyler Myers, the 2010 Calder Trophy-winning defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres, who requires a write-in vote, while the Dallas Stars’ Stephane Robidas makes an appearance. Nothing against Robidas, but he’s a middle-of-the-road defensmeman. Myers has the potential to win Norris. Or how about Ryan Suter making the list. No offense to Nashville Predators fans out there, but he’s not likely to represent your team in Carolina in February.
What about Jordan? (Photo: Getty)
We all know fans love their star players, especially when they either play for their hometown team or grew up on the same streets as them. Cheering for that hometown success story, or the guy regularly lighting the lamp at your arena is enjoyable. It gets people to watch these otherwise pointless spectacles.
And let’s face it: From a fan perspective, there is nothing worse than the NHL All-Star exhibition. It’s really for the players and the league. We get the skill competition. That’s our treat.
So why can’t we ever do something to shake up the league’s game? We have a true method of entropy at our disposal, a way to provide something real. And we use it to put Sidney Crosby in the game? I am thoroughly disappointed in you, fans.
So I’m calling for “Vote for Rory, Part Deux.” If you remember, the campaign focused on getting enough write-in support to get league everyman, Rory Fitzpatrick, of the Vancouver Canucks, into the 2007 All-Star exhibition. Despite the appeal of the initiative, the attempt fell short due to Rory’s less-than-spectacular statistics and the bemoaning media and league, who felt he hadn’t earned the right to participate.
So why not focus this year’s might-of-the-fan into sending someone who does deserve the honor? A guy like Buffalo’s Jordan Leopold. Through 25 games this season, including Saturday’s loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Leopold is third on the Sabres in scoring and second in the league among defensemen in goals scored. He has seven goals, a number he registered in 61 games in Florida last season on his way to a career-best 11 last season. He’s on pace to shatter that number, even if he trails off through the rest of the season. He’s also a plus player on the Sabres, who have been an underwhelming team through the first quarter of the schedule.
And it’s not even a contract year.
But besides Leopold’s statistics, the guy also has marketability to more than just Sabres fans. He is a journeyman, having played on many teams throughout his career. With stops in Calgary, Colorado, Florida and Pittsburgh before Buffalo, that’s quite the fan base.
It doesn’t even need to be Leopold. Each team has their own version, a guy who has done better than any expectation thrust upon them. But many of them made the ballot. Leopold didn’t. My point is give your vote to someone who’s really going to use it. Because Crosby, Ovechkin and Keith won’t. They’re locks no matter what. Give someone else a chance.
