One month and a few days into the season, the buzz has begun for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.
Nominations for the league’s annual All-Star Fan Balloting were announced on Thursday, with four Montreal Canadiens making the cut: goaltender Carey Price, defenceman P.K. Subban and forwards Tomas Plekanec and Michael Cammalleri. Of the quartet, only Cammalleri was among the NHL-chosen nominees last season. The other three made their way on to the ballot thanks to a fervent write-in campaign by fans.
Price is vying for a third appearance at the NHL’s midseason showcase. Last fall, Canadiens faithful pushed him to the top of the leader board for goaltenders in fan balloting, a spot he held until almost the very end when Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury swooped in to earn a starting nod. He made his first All-Star appearance when he was voted in as a starter for the 2009 edition, held in Montreal.
Subban was a last minute addition to the 2011 festivities in Raleigh. With hometown favourite Jeff Skinner earning a promotion from the rookie group to the main roster, the Canadiens freshman got the call. The affable blue-liner endeared himself to the Caniac crowd during the skills competition, swapping jerseys with Skinner in the Breakaway Challenge.
The write-in votes for Subban saw him finish ahead of several notable defencemen on the ballot, including Marc Staal, Zdeno Chara and Mike Green.
For years, Canadiens fans have been well aware of what they have in Plekanec. Yet despite playing in one of hockey’s biggest markets, the Czech centre has always remained somewhat under the radar to many outside the city. Prior to the Canadiens’ game against the Coyotes, he led the team in both assists and scoring.
In 2010, Plekanec finished 10th in the final fan balloting results.
Cammalleri is looking for his first All-Star appearance. The Canadiens sniper finished the highest of all his teammates – write-in or not – in fan votes last season, coming in sixth when all was said done. Ahead of him: Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Evgeni Malkin, Steven Stamkos and Patrick Kane. One spot behind him? Alex Ovechkin.
The 2012 NHL All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, Jan. 29 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.
Comments