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It's the middle of the off season, which means there's nothing at all worthwhile to write about these days. So here's a pointless exercise for you!
I've determined California's all-time NHL All-Star team roster, which features all of the greatest players to come out of California. Note that this is not players that have played for a California team, but players who were born in California. This team includes only players who made it to the NHL, and does not include any prospects who have yet to make the jump (or failed in doing so all together in the past), with the possible exceptions of two of the team's Right Wings who played a negligible number of games (California isn't very deep on the right side, folks).
Forwards
| Left Wing | Center |
Right Wing |
|
David Roberts Blues, Oilers, Canucks Active in NHL 1994-1998 Born in Alameda, 1970 GP: 125, G: 20, A: 33, PTS: 53, +/-: 5, PIM: 85 |
Casey Wellman Capitals, Wild Active in NHL 2010-present Born in Brentwood, 1987 GP: 54, G: 6, A: 10, PTS: 16, +/-: -4, PIM: 4 |
Emerson Etem Ducks Active in NHL 2013-present Born in Long Beach, 1992 GP: 67, G:10, A: 11, PTS: 21, +/-: 10, PIM: 13 |
|
Mike Lampman Capitals, Canucks, Blues Acrive in NHL 1973-1977 Born in Lakewood, 1950 GP: 96, G: 17, A: 20, PTS: 37, +/-: -15, PIM: 34 |
Ryan Hollweg
Rangers, Maple Leafs
Active in NHL 2006-2011 Born in Downey, 1983 GP: 228, G: 5, A: 9, PTS: 14, +/-: -34, PIM: 349 |
Beau Bennett Penguins Active in NHL 2013-present Born in Gardena, 1991 GP: 47, G: 6, A: 15, PTS: 21, +/-: 5, PIM: 6 |
|
Jeremy Stevenson Ducks, Predators, Wild, Stars Active in NHL 1996-2006 Born in San Bernardino, 1974 GP: 207, G: 19, A: 19, PTS: 38, +/-: -6, PIM: 451 |
John Emmons Senators, Lightning, Bruins Active in NHL 2000-2002 Born in San Jose, 1974 GP: 85, G: 2, A: 4, PTS: 6, +/-: -11, PIM: 64 |
Rhett Rakhshani Islanders Active in NHL 2011-2012 Born in Orange, 1988 GP: 7, G: 0, A: 0, PTS: 0, +/-: -1, PIM: 2 |
|
Craig Coxe Canucks, Flames, Blues, Sharks Active in NHL 1985-1992 Born in Chula Vista, 1964 GP: 235, G: 14, A: 31, PTS: 45, +/-: -27, PIM: 713 |
Craig Ferguson Canadiens, Flames, Panthers, The Late Late Show Active in NHL 1994-2000 Born in Castro Valley, 1970 GP: 27, G: 1, A: 1, PTS: 2, +/-: -11, PIM: 6 |
Stephen Tepper Blackhawks Active in NHL 1993 Born in Santa Ana, 1969 GP: 1, G: 0, A: 0, PTS: 0, +/-: 0, PIM: 0 |
Update, 7:36 AM: But what about LW Noah Clarke out of La Vervne?
(That typo should read "get rid of," but I'm dumb.)
Update, 9:44 AM: Okay, actually this one was a real oversight...
So @JerMeansWell wrote this: http://t.co/qUS4kBAxql Guess he wasn't aware that a certain Matthew Nieto is from Long Beach. Please tell him.
— DJE (@dellingson91) July 22, 2014
Insert a clever joke here about California being full of "left wingers." What say you, does Nieto belong in the lineup?
Defense
|
Brooks Orpik Capitals, Penguins Active in NHL 2003-present Born in San Francisco, 1980 GP: 703, G: 13, A: 119, PTS: 132, +/-: 32, PIM 734 |
Lee Norwood Nordiques, Capitals, Blues, Red Wings, Devils, Whalers, Flames Active in NHL 1981-1994 Born in Oakland, 1960 GP: 503, G: 58, A: 153, PTS: 211, +/-: 27, PIM: 1099 |
|
Rik Wilson Blues, Flames, Blackhawks Active in NHL 1982-1988 Born in Long Beach, 1962 GP: 251, G: 25, A: 65, PTS: 90, +/-: -5, PIM: 220 |
Jonathon Blum Wild, Predators Active in NHL 2011-present Born in Long Beach, 1989 GP: 106, G: 7, A: 16, PTS: 23, +/-: -8, PIM: 20 |
|
Matt Hervey Jets, Bruins, Lightning Active in NHL 1989-1993 Born in Whittier, 1968 GP: 35, G: 0, A: 5, PTS: 5, +/-: -9, PIM: 97 |
Chris Ahrens North Stars, Oilers (WHA) Active in NHL 1974-1978 Born in San Bernardino, 1952 GP: 52, G: 0, A: 3, PTS: 3, +/-: -26, PIM: 84 |
Goaltending
|
John Blue
Bruins, Sabres
Active in NHL 1993-1996
Born in Huntington Beach, 1966
GP: 46, W: 16, L: 18, T/O: 7, SV%: 0.89, GAA: 3
|
Let's hope that Johnny Blue never gets injured, because Team California doesn't have a single backup available.
Conclusion
Although homegrown talent is finally starting to develop in the state, California doesn't have a very storied hockey history to look back on. This is not, of course, a surprise to any of us. But one thing is clear: This is a horrible team and it would lose many games.
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