Four Senators make all-star cut
Fans have voted four Senators into the starting lineup for the NHL all-star game in Ottawa, including captain Daniel Alfredsson and surprise late-charger Milan Michalek.
Fans have voted four Senators into the starting lineup for the NHL all-star game in Ottawa, including captain Daniel Alfredsson and surprise late-charger Milan Michalek.
They join Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson, centre Jason Spezza, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf and Bruins goalie Tim Thomas in the starting six.
The results of the vote were announced on the NHL’s web site at 10:30 a.m. and were posted on the scoreboard at Scotiabank Place minutes later. The Senators, who were in the middle of their morning skate ahead of Thursday night’s home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, shouted and tapped their sticks on the ice to congratulate their colleagues.
The addition of Michalek is a shocker. Leafs winger Phil Kessel led all forwards for much of the voting period an appeared to be a lock to make the cut.
Instead, a late push by Senators fans — urged on by multiple fan and media campaigns — took him out of the running at the last minute. He wound up missing out by more than 42,000 votes.
Another Leaf, goalie James Reimer, held the lead among goalies heading into the final week, but was edged by Stanley Cup winner Thomas.
Karlsson garnered more votes (939,951) than any other player, an impressive feat considering Alfredsson appeared to be the sentimental favourite in the capital. The diminutive defenceman is arguably the most deserving of the four Senators, given he has been running away with the scoring lead among NHL defencemen.
“I’m very appreciative of it,” Karlsson said after the skate. “The community and everybody in Ottawa did a really good job of promoting it and making people realize we’re actually playing good this year.
“It’s nice to see Alfie, Spezza and Milo got in as well.”
Alfredsson agreed that the Senators’ team play had a lot to do with the successful campaign.
“We’ve played pretty well, we’ve surprised a lot of people so far. When you look at Spezza, Karlsson and Milan, they’ve had good starts to the season and it would be tough to select who was going to go if we didn’t get voted in. To see four of us get in, when the all-star game is here, is great,” he said.
Spezza called it an “honour” to be voted in.
“(We’re) really appreciative of the fan support we got. To get four of us voted in is pretty special,” he said. It shows how much the fans are behind us.
“Fans have really got on board, crowds have been great this year. People have really been excited. It has been a great year so far and this is a great way to cap off the first half.”
Senators fans contributed to a 66 per cent increase in all-star votes this year. Last season’s game was played in Raleigh, North Carolina.
More news and notes from the morning skate:
— Injured defenceman Chris Phillips worked out today and could return to the lineup as early as the weekend. He’s recovering from a concussion.
— Craig Anderson will get the start in goal for the Senators.
Congratulations Afie, Spezza, Michalek and Karlsson!
Great effort by Senators fans to ice a strong home-team line-up for Ottawa’s All-Star game.
Bonus points, of course for using Michalek to oust Kessel from the line-up!
Our boys will do Ottawa proud!
I am so happy for the guys , and so proud of sens fans for pulling together and making this happen !!!! Go SENS !!
This is a joke. Some of these players (Spezza) have no business in the All-Star game. It is more of a popularity contest just because the game is in Ottawa. This is sad.
waaahhhhh
You do realize that he is one of the better first line centers in the league and is 11th overall for points right now? I think if you’re 11th in the league for points you’re an all-star…
What a joke, I thought this was the ALL STAR game!!!! The only one that deserves to be there is Karlsson
I’m a Sens fan but, don’t think Spezza & Michalek deserve to be starters, on the team but not starter.
wahhhh
Don’t take it so hard Mr Corvo! The game has been a popularity contest for many, many years now. Doesn’t matter what city its played in. As of today, Spezza is 5th in scoring for centers. Eight points behind the leader, Henrik Sedin. Not too shabby, so don’t spout off he doesn’t deserve the recognition of the all-star game. Take it up with Bettman if you have a problem with it!
Spezza leads the team in points idiot
Mr. Corvo and James don’t be sourpusses. Of course it’s a popularity contest, that’s why the NHL does it, it gets the fans involved. And besides it’s only for the starting lineup. Every team gets a representative. And as Dave says, of course Spezza deserves to be there as does Michalek, look at their numbers. Alfie is picked because he’s the best, it’s in his home rink and he is a fan favorite by far.
Unbelievable that Phil Kessel was not selected in the All Star Game. Why doesnt Ottawa just vote in their whole team…
This is a total joke…
Leaf Nation
The leafs nation probably stopped voting because they didn’t want him picked last in the allstar draft again. That was pretty embarasing.
Wahhhh!
wahhhhhh
Hey Leaf Nation….If you wanted Kessel in why didn’t you vote for him. Obviously not as passionate as Sens Fans. You and the Leafs are the total jokes.
Why would anyone consider watching this years All Star Game.
Alfredsson deserves to be on the team, but Spezza and Michalek.
I dont think so… Maybe those two might make the AHL All Star Team. Unbelievable…
Ya, and you’re probably disappointed that Remier didn’t make it, Leaf Nation. Talk about a joke – that would have been the biggest joke of all. They guy’s hardly even played this year, got one season, and he led the goalie voting til the last day Whatever! Thankfully common sense prevailed there. Anyway, I think the popularity contest is a bit cheesy as well (we’ve seen it before, eg Montreal), but if that’s the way it works, why can’t we benefit as well.
Go Sens!
I seem to recall it being in Montreal a few years ago and the full starting line up of 5 were all habs. Of course the fans of the city it’s in will vote in their players. All 4 of these players are top players – check out the stats. Alfie is the captain of the team in the city that the game is being held in – of course he would be voted in. Way to go Ottawa Fans!
GO SENS GO!
BooHoo Leafers, all you had to do is vote, there is 5 million of you and you dont care enough about Kessel and Reimer and Lupul to bother. Just shows what a directionless organization the Maple Leafs are. Not going to change being owned by faceless corporations who only care about $$$, not fans. If you did not vote for your Leafs, dont post here
It’s not the “popularity” game, it’s the “all star” game. Not one of the top ten scores in the league are starting. Ottawa fans really just undermined the honor of being voted a starter.
Undermined? That’s a tad dramatic. If I were a player and my home town voted like crazy to get me into the allstar game, I’d be pretty honored that fans cared that much. Also, Ottawa isn’t a big city with a large population, so there must have been some votes comming in from other non-ottawa fans to get those players in.
There are another three lines to pick, but this is why they let fan’s vote players in. They are players that fans want to see, or players that are all-stars to the fans.
It’s not like we voted in Rory Fitzpatrick (no offence). These are great players who are playing very well this season.
“These are great players who are playing very well this season.”
Alfredsson’s is 68th in NHL scoring.
He also just scored his 401st goal. Also, you figure 22 guys per team and 31 teams, he’s 68th out of approximately 682. Still in the top 10 percent.
Jaromir Jagr is one of the the top ten scorers of ALL TIME (ahead of Phil Esposito among others) and he has more points the Alfredsson this year.
Wait, you mean the AS game is nothing but a popularity contest? Shocking!
This is the kind of ridiculous result that just discredits the whole current system. If they are going to continue to hold an all-star game (pretty much a nothing event imo) they should come up with a more credible way of picking the team. Poll the sprtswriters, perhaps.
@rb333 Quote “Not one of the top ten scores in the league are starting.”
Michalek is 8th in league goal scoring. Why don’t you check your information before you spout off.
Michalek is 8th in goals (no where near the top ten in points) and that’s a good reason have 4 out of 5 Sens start?….ridiculous.
You didn’t say the guy had to be top 10 points. You said “scores” whatever the hell that was supposed to mean is then open to interpretation.
Regardless, I can’t believe people are getting bent out of shape. This isn’t even a “game”. Its an event for the fans and Ottawa. Of course the big stars are still going to be there people. Take a chill pill. There’s more important things in the world to get upset with for crying out loud.
Sounds like it’s real important to you. Just saying it’s kind of joke (which it is).
Even the Sens Army do not believe that these guys are All Stars. These are simply the most popular Senators amongst the Ottawa fans. Stamkos doesn’t make the team but Alfie does.
Stamkos will make the team, he just didn’t make the *starting lineup*.
Glad to see the LEAFS lost out….AGAIN. The game will be that much better. Really though, Reimer leading over Thomas, what a joke. He is not any where near Thomas when it comes to talent. Oh well the Leaf fans will cry boo-hoo and the whole world will stop running for a second or two. Then life will go on.
This isn’t “making the team” – this is the starting six. Of course Toews, the Sedins, Stamkos, etc. will be in the game. Heck, the four Senators may not even be on the same team if they use the “two captains picking” format again (though I could see them rigging it for that).
But really, why shouldn’t the hosting team have their high-end players on the team? It’s an all-STAR game. The term star partially denotes fame, and in this case the voting shows that fame, even if it’s mainly from the host city, is with these players.
Besides, nothing was stopping any other person in the world from voting. Ottawa’s population isn’t that big, relatively.
All you haters are acting like we voted it Konopka, Butler, Kuba and Daugavins. The four voted in deserve to be there. I bet you the reaction would have been completely different if Kessel had maintained his 1st overall status. The Leafs fans would be pointing out how great the system is and how much better their fans are because they voted in their golden boy in their main rival’s rink. Obviously that’s not the case, seems like the Leafs fans can hold a lead about as well as their team can.
Leafs fans are absolutely pathetic. Enjoy another season with no playoffs.
At least you Sens Fans know your players, voting Spezza as one of the best give away forwards in the league.
….and once again Laff “fans” show why they are the Laffing-stock of Canada.
Sens, and their fans won; Laffs lost, as usual.
Look at the standings and keep quiet.
For every goal or point Spezza gets, he gives away two goals on give aways in the neutral zone… Good pick Sens fans..
Couldnt have chosen a better candidate…
Enjoy your All Star Game… I’ll be watcfhing the WWE .. at
least we know that is fake… so much for Sens fans living in a dream world..
Leaf Nation ha ha ha that’s a good one; we should call it Leaf failed State! Go cry somewhere else to someone who cares. Another season, another year the Leafs will be on the outside looking in. I can’t wait for the game 20 years and the best is yet to come!