Jimmy Howard and Pavel Datsyuk are All-Stars

by Amerinadian on Jan 12, 2012 12:10 PM CST in News

Despite our #VoteJimmah campaign failing to get Jimmy Howard voted in to the All-Star Game next month in Ottawa, the NHL did the right thing by recognizing that Tiberius has been one of the 6 best goaltenders this season and picked him to participate in the All-Star Game. Joining Jimmy will be Pavel Datsyuk, making his 4th appearance at the game.

While we're all very excited that Jimmy is finally getting the recognition he deserves for his stellar season, Wing fans are going to be up in arms that TPH Nicklas Lidstrom was not picked. Now I know that Wing fans are going to be PISSED that Lids won't be playing, what with him being the greatest defenseman of the last 25 years, but there are 2 things to remember here; first, he may very well have been picked and declined (not that we'll ever know), and second, it's based on this year and is not a lifetime achievement award.

Personally, I'm glad that Lidstrom is going to have an entire week off to rest. 42 year old bodies don't heal as fast as they used to, and any extended time off he can get is only going to serve the Wings well going forward.

The full list can be found here. Congrats to Jimmy and Pavs.

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I’m going to assume he wasn’t picked, just so I can be outraged at the snub by the league, yet secretly happy that he will get the extra rest.

by NMJ on Jan 12, 2012 12:38 PM CST reply actions

Not pissed at all about Lidstrom not going

Completely on-board with the idea that he told the NHL he’d rather not do it.

by J.J. from Kansas on Jan 12, 2012 12:38 PM CST reply actions

I think that they didn't pick him out of fairness to the rest of the players

I mean, there is only one Lidstrom and two teams…somebody would miss out. It’s better that Lids not spoil the competition for everyone.

In reality I’m glad he gets to rest as well.

Manager of the Mursak League's Banzai Bananas. BANZAI!!!

by Dannik99 on Jan 12, 2012 12:39 PM CST reply actions 5 recs

Good Way too look at it

Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs

by Detroitnr1 on Jan 12, 2012 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

+7 in an 11-10 Win. I don’t think having him on the ice at all is fair to other teams, but who cares about fairness.

by Hornecker on Jan 12, 2012 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

I'm glad we didn't have more players picked.

I can wait till our real ASG during the SC Finals.

Brad Stuart should be our backup goalie.

by AppState on Jan 12, 2012 12:44 PM CST reply actions

dont you remember?

it was either last year or the year before but remember how him and pav opted not to go to the all star game and they both got one game suspensions because of it? im guessing that lids hasent cared about the all star game for a while now. he would rather have the rest.

by Drumbum87 on Jan 12, 2012 12:44 PM CST reply actions

From what I have heard, the league offices have become much more understanding about these things so long as they are informed before the final picks and the players are not voted in. So long as a public obligation hasn’t been made, a player can pull his participation with a quick phone call to a NHLPA rep or the league offices.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jan 12, 2012 2:34 PM CST up reply actions

Found this in Helene St. James' article in the Free Press

“The All-Star Game, they’ve got to find players from every team to make sure as many teams are represented,” said Wings general manager Ken Holland.

“Obviously, Jimmy Howard has probably played as well as any goalie in the NHL and he’s deserving. We’ve got a lot of other candidates and the ultimately chose Datsyuk.

“I talked to Lidstrom in the last month and Nick told me that although he would be honored to go, his preference would be to have a four-day breather with his family.”

So it wasn’t a snub from the league; TPH pretty much said, “I don’t want to go.”

by zfan16 on Jan 12, 2012 12:45 PM CST reply actions

I just heard on the ticket Lidstrom is going?

by mikerlz on Jan 12, 2012 12:46 PM CST reply actions

Nick was an All-Star Captain last year so

I can see him wanting that to be his last all-star game.
Congrats to Pavel and Jimmy!

by InMDmissingtheD on Jan 12, 2012 1:01 PM CST reply actions

unrelated quick question

i was talking to my friend about how awesome the power play used to be when Fedorov would play the point back in the day… but i was only like 10 back then and cant remember who would play on the wing with Yzerman and Shanny? random history question i know but who doesnt like thinking back to those days?

by Drumbum87 on Jan 12, 2012 1:08 PM CST reply actions

Depends on when...it changed around a bit

Homer was common though…later on. Cici was there for a while too. It’s hard to remember back that far now.

Manager of the Mursak League's Banzai Bananas. BANZAI!!!

by Dannik99 on Jan 12, 2012 1:14 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry, it couldn't have been Dino, he was out at the end of the 95-96 season.

Which means it was either Homer, Dande, Kozlov, Larionov or Lapointe.

Yeah, I know that doesn’t narrow it down much.

Manager of the Mursak League's Banzai Bananas. BANZAI!!!

by Dannik99 on Jan 12, 2012 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

i seem to recall kozlov and lapointe

by Drumbum87 on Jan 12, 2012 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

Update to the update

Word is now trickling out that Lidstrom went to the NHL and asked to be kept out of the game so he could get the weekend off. Same with Selanne.

Winging It In Motown

by Amerinadian on Jan 12, 2012 1:23 PM CST reply actions

Sounds just fine to me

It’s not as though Nick needed one more ASG to get him over the hump for the HOF anyway.

Think about how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are even stupider! --George Carlin

by J_Stone on Jan 12, 2012 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

True

But not being at this one is going to add a bit of height to the hump he’d have to overcome to win the Norris this season and tie Bobby Orr.

by J.J. from Kansas on Jan 12, 2012 1:56 PM CST up reply actions

Eh....

If he plays good enough he will win the Norris regardless of what happened right now.

Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs

by Detroitnr1 on Jan 12, 2012 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

I wish I could believe that

But I honestly feel that Lidstrom will not only have to be the best defenseman, but that he’ll have to be a noticeable step better than everybody else in order to win it this year. There’s no way he wins a “close” race with other candidates.

by J.J. from Kansas on Jan 12, 2012 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

I agree. Karlsson has played too well and so have Chara, Weber, and even Suter. Karlsson and Weber, in particular, are beloved by the media right now, so it will be hard for Lidstrom to outshine them enough.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jan 12, 2012 2:42 PM CST up reply actions

Same with Selanne.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jan 12, 2012 2:38 PM CST up reply actions

Does anyone else want Kessel to be a Captain

And have the option of picking Ovie or anyone else, and have him pick the other guy?

I'm a Homer

by holmstrom96 on Jan 12, 2012 1:25 PM CST reply actions

I support this

Manager of the Mursak League's Banzai Bananas. BANZAI!!!

by Dannik99 on Jan 12, 2012 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

I still think it's BS

Reading the comments has made me feel a little better but I’m still pissed. The league should give him an official invitation every year and be so lucky if he graces them with his presence!! Not even have him on the ballot, because c’mon… DUH! If their is even the slightest, tiny, itty bitty, weeny beeny, pitty, peeny pewny chance that the league even thought about snubbing him, then fuck that!

And breath. Haha.

"WINGnut--BOLThead"
Let's GO..Wings, Tigers, Lions, Wolverines (oh my!) & Bolts!!!! (RIP Cory Smoot aka Flattus Maximus of GWAR)

by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Jan 12, 2012 3:21 PM CST reply actions