Dustin Brown Makes All-Star Team

by RudyKelly on Jan 7, 2009 11:29 AM PST Comment 50 comments

Wingers with more points than Dustin Brown:

Jarome Iginla*

Patrick Kane*

Shane Doan*

Daniel Sedin

Marian Hossa

Rick Nash*

Devin Setoguchi

Ales Hemsky

Patrick Sharp

Brad Boyes

Mike Cammalleri

Corey Perry

Kris Versteeg

Jiri Hudler

Martin Havlat

J.P. Dumont

Ryan Clowe

Todd Bertuzzi

Loui Eriksson

Milan Hejduk*

Johan Franzen

Teemu Selanne

Rene Bourque

Ryan Smyth

Mikael Samuelsson

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Maybe other have more points, but nobody generates power plays for their team like Dustin Brown; he’s leading the pack this year, and led the NHL last year as well.

More fun than a stick to the face!

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 7, 2009 12:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that all-star game is all about drawing penalties. Sometimes I wish those all-star referees would put away their all-star whistles. ;)

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 12:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course not

The All-Star game is all about bone crunching hits and physical play. That’s why Brown was an obvious choice.

by LA Seitz on Jan 7, 2009 1:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I assume the * signifies that the given player was selected to the All-Star team. Right?

by jamestobrien on Jan 7, 2009 12:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

seems to be the case.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 1:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This shit really irritates me. I just KNEW that one of Hossa/Z/Datsyuk would get fucked out of a spot too.

Really, its unfortunate that some teams suck, and some are absolutely stocked with all stars and hall of famers. The Wings happen to have three of the best forwards in the game. One of them gets the shaft, because the NHL wants to include shittier players, from shittier teams. Sorry you suck, but its not our fault.

Christ, next thing you know, they’re gonna start giving out miniature Stanley Cup trophies to all the teams who didn’t make the playoffs, to make everyone feel good about themselves.

by IAmJoe on Jan 7, 2009 1:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it must really suck to have so many All-Stars on your team that they all can’t be represented in the annual game of shimmy. Let me get you a kleenex.

If only Versus would take it upon themselves to show an unfair amount of Detroit games to make up for this crime against humanity. Oh wait, they already do. If only Detroit were given its own novelty game to help compensate for this clear injustice. Oh wait, they just fucking had one. If only Detroit were given a shitload of trophies at the end of the year. Oh wait, that happens annually.

Perhaps you’re complaining on the wrong blog?

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 1:48 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Spot on!

by Mike in OC on Jan 7, 2009 4:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s BoC business right there.

by ievans on Jan 8, 2009 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No offense, man, but shut the fuck up.

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Jan 7, 2009 1:54 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Congress just gave your state a fucking 17.4 billion industrial bailout. And now your coming onto our little blog to piss and moan about Dustin Brown being an All-star???

Winger, puh-leeze!!!!!

Paul Lo Duca is MLB's Pablo Escobar..

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jan 7, 2009 2:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, Rudy made the point. I’m just piling on. Dustin Brown does not deserve to be in the all-star game, for the sake of including every team, when not every team has all-stars. Tkachuk goes in the same boat. Modano wasn’t even the best Center on his team, much less top 4 in the West. It’s silly to shaft legitimately good players, for the sake of giving others a shiny gold star. Especially when you allow the fans to vote for a third of the team, no matter who they’re voting for. This wasn’t as much of an issue in the West, where the picks mostly made sense, but in the East, it will be a lot worse.

by IAmJoe on Jan 7, 2009 1:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It’s silly to shaft legitimately good players, for the sake of giving others a shiny gold star.

I suppose, but really, we’re going to complain about fucking gold stars?

But I guess you’re right. In a calendar year where nearly every conceivable thing has gone Detroit’s way, may as well find some nitpicky meaningless thing to gripe about. Because seriously, who wants to live in a world where Detroit fans can’t complain continuously?

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 2:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Correction

Because seriously, who wants to live in ~~a world where~~ Detroit ~~fans can’t complain continuously~~?

Paul Lo Duca is MLB's Pablo Escobar..

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jan 7, 2009 2:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure, I’m a butthurt Wings fan, and shouldn’t care that players on my team got shafted, cause they get Cup rings and other such goodies. But the same issue applies to other teams too. Sharks fans should be mad that Setoguchi and Marleau got shafted out too. It’s unfortunate from the standpoint of competitive balance that those two teams could stock half of a Western all-star team, but its the truth. If St. Louis doesn’t like the fact that they don’t get an all-star, and SJ + DET get 10, well, maybe they should try running the team in a better manner. Its hard to be sympathetic to underperforming teams, when the deck is stacked in such a way that those teams should be improving.

And sure, the game itself may not matter much. No one is going to care a month afterwards who won the All-Star game. But where it will matter is in contract talks, in general mainstream media recognition for some players, in things like Hall of Fame voting and looking at how good a player was over his career. Players also say “oh well, hitting 100 points isn’t really that important to me right now, I just wanna win” but they also follow it up with “it’ll be a nice thing to look back at, in my career”. The all-star game is in that same vein. It doesn’t necessarily mean much at the time, but when you can look back at your career and say “hey, I made it to all these all-star games”, that’s a cool thing, and it helps validate you in a historical sense.

Especially at a point in time where a lot of the hockey community is working towards understanding the game better from a statistical level, as it relates to accurately judging individual performance, I would think this would make people care more about who earns the recognition. Sites like Mudcrutch, Mirtle, Brodeur is a Fraud, and even here on BoC are doing a lot in the way of sifting through the numbers and stats to challenge assumptions that the mainstream has hoisted onto certain players, and using these stats to find those players who don’t get enough credit, to help bring recognition to those who deserve it. With all these people gaining recognition that they don’t deserve, and others going without, I would think the people who actually do the numbers on such things wouldn’t be as apathetic about the whole thing.

by IAmJoe on Jan 7, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It doesn’t necessarily mean much at the time, but when you can look back at your career and say "hey, I made it to all these all-star games", that’s a cool thing, and it helps validate you in a historical sense.

I guess, but based on the players who didn’t want to go to the last ASG because it was in Atlanta, I don’t want to pretend it’s an honor all of a sudden this year because it’s in Montreal.

Either it’s an honor every goddamn time regardless of host city, or it’s not.

With all these people gaining recognition that they don’t deserve, and others going without, I would think the people who actually do the numbers on such things wouldn’t be as apathetic about the whole thing.

Ah, but with east coast bias being what it is, we are entirely used to people/teams gaining recognition that they don’t deserve, and others (us) going without. It may be that cynicism (plus the belief that the ASG is a huge waste of everyone’s time) that’s carrying the day.

Sharks fans should be mad that Setoguchi and Marleau got shafted out too.

If I’m a Sharks fan, I am 100 times more pissed that Versus has the nerve to show my team only three goddamn times the entire fucking season in its most dominant season ever.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess, but based on the players who didn’t want to go to the last ASG because it was in Atlanta, I don’t want to pretend it’s an honor all of a sudden this year because it’s in Montreal.

Either it’s an honor every goddamn time regardless of host city, or it’s not.

I don’t know that it was an issue of it being in Atlanta versus a “real” hockey city. I think a large part of the “I don’t wanna go” syndrome is the timing of the game. The All-Star game is timed such that it basically gives you one solid break, before you start the big hard push for the playoffs, especially if your team is in a position where they’re going to be in for a tough fight. It’s a long season (too long, imo), and everyone wants to put the success of the team above their individual accomplishment.

Especially when you consider that some of these guys are the ones getting worked hardest by their opponents, they’re probably skating with a lot more soreness and minor little problems than the team would ever admit to. Take that break, get yourself all ready to go for the home stretch, or go to the all-star game? I can see why that would be an issue. I wouldn’t be opposed to making the all-star game happen after the post-season, and you could even work it in with the annual awards ceremony.

Ah, but with east coast bias being what it is, we are entirely used to people/teams gaining recognition that they don’t deserve, and others (us) going without. It may be that cynicism (plus the belief that the ASG is a huge waste of everyone’s time) that’s carrying the day.

Well, I can’t come back to that. Until the last year, I’ve been in the EST-zone, so I can’t really relate, though my family from California tells me about it all the time.

If I’m a Sharks fan, I am 100 times more pissed that Versus has the nerve to show my team only three goddamn times the entire fucking season in its most dominant season ever.

I absolutely agree on the Versus coverage issue. I’ve always thought it was awful too, especially given that Sharks/Ducks games have been some of the very best games I’ve gotten to watch on TV, but such a matchup would never make it onto Versus. One reason why Detroit gets so many games though, in addition to the franchise’s long term success, is that they’re the only EST team in the Western conference, and this allows Versus to use Wings home games to show other Western teams, without putting them into a really late time slot. Why they don’t hardly do early/late game double headers to showcase more teams, especially out West, I’ve never understood, and been disappointed by, as I’ve always liked most of the west coast teams.

by IAmJoe on Jan 7, 2009 4:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This wasn’t as much of an issue in the West, where the picks mostly made sense

ORLY? Granted the East was worse, but the West was pretty funky. Not saying those guys don’t deserve to be at the ASG, but no way in hell a single one of them deserved to be a starter over what else is available in the West.

by schtimpy27 on Jan 7, 2009 3:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Getzlaf is tied for the western conference scoring title. I’d say he “deserves” it (though dammit I hate using words like “deserve” for such a goddamn sham as the ASG).

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 3:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

d'oh

I forgot about his lead. Actually, i forgot about him totally. So, yeah, I guess he has actually kind of earned a spot, if you just count numbers.

by schtimpy27 on Jan 7, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If you "just" count numbers?

He also leads all forwards in:

Getting a marginal first year player a 5 year 25 million dollar contract.

by Mike in OC on Jan 7, 2009 4:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you, but I think the West isn’t actually effected that badly, because while some of those players shouldn’t be starting, they should be on the team, meaning they aren’t actually taking a spot they don’t deserve. The only player on the West starters I’d might argue shouldn’t be there at all is probably Toews. On the East, Kovalev and Komisarek are actually taking spots that should really go to someone else, and thats unfortunate.

by IAmJoe on Jan 7, 2009 3:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Giguere is probably iffy as well. As noted elsewhere in these comments, he’s probably not the best goalie on his team right now.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 3:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You're just being a bitch is what you're doing.

I’m sure there are plenty of Red Wings blogs out there for you to go complain on. Leave Dustin Brown alone. Sure, Drew Doughty would’ve been my pick for the Kings, but honestly. This is the All Star Game we’re talking about. Scott Niedermayer made the All Star team last after playing less than ten games. I’m sure his play in those ten games was absolutely extraordinary and better than every single other defenseman in the western conference, right? Why not put Steve Mason on there, he’s been a wall for the Blue Jackets. Point is this. All Star=not that important. You=go away.

by klink3115 on Jan 7, 2009 2:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I would’ve enjoyed the Dreamy Slovenian on the team more, but whatever.

Gross Misconduct with Hockey Joe

by HockeyJoe on Jan 7, 2009 2:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

to add fuel to the fire

is giggy even the best goaltender on his team?……modano was odd…but the way he plays against us..makes sense to me

Yea Im with everyone…detriot gets there cock sucked by the NHL media and have bandwagon fans…maybe there shafted ..so what…eat shit and die

El Spade-o

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 7, 2009 2:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

forgot to add…if the ducks got shafted…i wouldnt give a ratts muthafuckin ass…

El Spade-o

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Jan 7, 2009 2:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

is giggy even the best goaltender on his team?

All-Star Team? Maybe.

Anaheim Ducks? No.

How’s that for controversial! :)

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 2:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

They may have more points

… but I’ve never seen their peeners.

But seriously, they had to pick someone from the Kings, and him being the captain just made it seem like a safe choice. Like Modano in Dallas. Yeah, Loui is probably better, and Richards and Ribeiro have more points, but for the NHL, which doesn’t seem to watch their own games or know the pulse of their own fans, he’s the safe choice.

by schtimpy27 on Jan 7, 2009 3:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

That would be interesting. ASG selections based on how big their peckers are. Babyarm Brown has a head start …

Don't bRuin your life. Make love with a Trojan

by Morbo on Jan 7, 2009 5:46 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Don’t forget about Rudy’s man-cock. He seems a lock.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 6:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m gonna hate myself for asking this, but can you dig up that clip? I don’t want to watch it myself, but you don’t know about some other people…

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier

by Kevin Y on Jan 7, 2009 6:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Link.

You’ll never be the same again.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 6:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t want to watch it myself…

Sure. =)

by schtimpy27 on Jan 7, 2009 6:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, maybe once or twice :)

Maybe three times.

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier

by Kevin Y on Jan 7, 2009 9:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, points aren’t everything, but Brown isn’t necessarily a Selke contender either.
But, the points aren’t coming from anyone and it’s hard to blame the players and not Lombardi and, especially, Murray for that.
It would be funny if Murray was named coach of the west, though.
I could imagine a 2-0 west victory if he can get all the firepower to play more defensively.
I wonder who would be on Murray’s “garbage line” then?

by the eight-O-five on Jan 7, 2009 3:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

If they had to pick someone it should have been Kopitar or Quincey, but who really cares about the all-star game anyway?
There’s bound to be a great EPL game that day.
Play Up, Pompey.
Pompey, Play Up.
Oi, oi, oi…

by the eight-O-five on Jan 7, 2009 3:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I forgot

You used to go by the handle “Cristobal” over at the “Inside The Kings” blog, correct? That’s the only other time I’ve seen EPL discussed on a North American Ice Hockey Blog :-)

Paul Lo Duca is MLB's Pablo Escobar..

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jan 7, 2009 4:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

blueballs – true dat. I was cristobal here but the new server apparently already has a “cristobal” imposter.
Or, I signed up and forgot my password.

Be prepared for the Truth

by the eight-O-five on Jan 7, 2009 4:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

San Jose fans don't give a shit.

They did not vote thier guys in on purpose. They did not even talk about this crap on thier message board, I checked a few days ago.

They have the right idea. Seriously.

with regard to IAMJoe and his beef:

If Towes and Kane use this to get an extra 2 million each at contract time, that’s one more 4 million dollar players they wont see in a Chicago sweater. Will it be worth it to see them skate together on the same line for the first 39 seconds of the 2009 ASG?
I doubt it .

All that said, I am much more “into” this ASG crap because of the voting farse this season. Watching Detroit fans get all bitchy because they only get 2 allstars is entertainment I just don’t get around here very much. I REALLY wish San Jose fans would wake up and get pissed about it.

by Mike in OC on Jan 7, 2009 4:51 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

If Towes and Kane use this to get an extra 2 million each at contract time, that’s one more 4 million dollar players they wont see in a Chicago sweater.

Your numbers might be a bit high, but you’re hitting my issue with the drawbacks to this stupid “honor”.

Of course, it’s not that big a deal this go-round for the Ducks, because
a) Getzlaf’s in the first a five-year deal
b) Giguere’s in the second of a four-year deal
c) Scott Niedermayer’s in the last of a four-year deal, but he’s crazy enough that I’m not sure an extra ASG starting position will change his demands (whatever they turn out to be) next summer.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 7, 2009 5:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think all fans should boycott the voting.
Let’s hunt down Gary Bettman that day instead.
Tar and Feathers.

Be prepared for the Truth

by the eight-O-five on Jan 7, 2009 5:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

If you’ve awoken from that boring spell that was cast last night in Anaheim, the Kings are pairing up Anze and Fro again, but no DB on the wing. Its Simmonds

http://worldhockeydaily.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/time-for-a-quick-fix/

Be prepared for the Truth

by the eight-O-five on Jan 7, 2009 6:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I’m giddy about it. A Moller-Handzus-Brown line also makes my naughty parts tingle, and a O’Sullivan-Stoll-Purcell line is dreamy. A Ivanans-Boyle-Zeiler line… well, that line still sucks.

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Jan 7, 2009 6:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

tingling naughty parts...

Not the B in the IBZ, we can’t say that sucks yet after 5 minutes.
Against Philly Boyle had over 6 minutes, against Ducks over 5.
I’m going to predict he gets over 3 next game and play it safe.
That 4th line sure did get the energy pumping last night, don’t you think?
That’s there job…

Be prepared for the Truth

by the eight-O-five on Jan 7, 2009 6:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Not sure if this has been brought up, but why did Brown get a coach’s selection to the All-Star Game? Well, while not an official rule that I know of, they try to get at least one player from every team to represent. It’s like in MLB, where it is a rule.

Brown is probably the best mix of great, physical play and actual offensive talent, so it’s not entirely a surprise.

By the way, Brown’s going to Montreal for the game. Then, he’s coming back to LA for a game with the Blackhawks. Then, he’s going back to Montreal for a game with the Canadiens. That’s some crazy shit.

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier

by Kevin Y on Jan 7, 2009 6:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

By the way, Brown’s going to Montreal for the game. Then, he’s coming back to LA for a game with the Blackhawks. Then, he’s going back to Montreal for a game with the Canadiens. That’s some crazy shit.

Seriously? That sucks from a jet-lag perspective. I wonder if it wouldn’t be a better idea to leave him in Montreal and skip one game – just to have him more effective because his body clock is better adjusted. Probably rules against it, though.

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Jan 8, 2009 2:47 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if it wouldn’t be a better idea to leave him in Montreal and skip one game

When I first looked at the schedule back in August or something, I thought about this exact same thing. But unfortunately, the Kings actually beat the Blackhawks earlier in the season. I fear they may actually need him in this game for any hope of winning.

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier

by Kevin Y on Jan 8, 2009 8:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m still miffed Rory didn’t get in.

And, oh yeah, the ASG is a joke anyway. Who cares who gets in? Do people really watch it with any element of excitement? If Brown levels someone that would get me more interested then seeing a half-hearted collective effort and a truck given away at the end.

by Yankee Canuck on Jan 8, 2009 8:20 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I’m still miffed Rory didn’t get in

Yeah, that was awesome. Didn’t he actually have more votes than anybody else, but the NHL forbid him from participating? But maybe us Kings fans actually should’ve voted in Matt Greene as a write-in.

And, oh yeah, the ASG is a joke anyway. Who cares who gets in? Do people really watch it with any element of excitement?

Well, I’m missing the all-important BCS National Championship Game tonight to go to the somewhat-irrelevant Kings/Ducks game, so I’m probably the wrong person to answer this question. But no, not a single person cares about the game. You know why? Because Gary Bettman was smart not to pull a Bud Selig and make the game actually mean something.

If Brown levels someone that would get me more interested then seeing a half-hearted collective effort and a truck given away at the end

Unfortunately, the NHL frowns upon checking in All-Star games. Since the only player our Kings have in the ASG’s worth is checking other guys, there’s really no reason for us to pay any attention to our own guy.

Fuck you, Denis Gauthier

by Kevin Y on Jan 8, 2009 8:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs