The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the 2024 NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Arena on February 3rd. Captain Auston Matthews will represent the Eastern Conference. This is in addition to Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings being named to the Eastern Conference team. DeBrincat has been a welcome addition to the Red Wings’ roster this season, as he has scored 17 goals and added 21 assists in 39 games played in his first season with the team. Any other Red Wings that might make the All-Star team would need to do so via a fan vote.
DeBrincat seemed to understand the honor of being named to an all-star team. “It’s very exciting. Obviously, it’s something you dream of as a kid.” DeBrincat is not the only Red Wing that deserves to represent the winged wheel at Scotiabank Arena on February 3rd. The Farmington Hills native, who was brought into the team to provide scoring, leads the team in points with 38.
Dylan Larkin also deserves a shot at making the all-star team. Larkin has been an all-star on the Red Wings team three times previously. In 33 games played so far this season, Larkin has scored 13 goals and added 19 assists. Larkin has bounced back from a scary hit that he was involved at the hands of Mathieu Joseph of the Ottawa Senators in December. These two players have a history dating back to when Joseph was a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Larkin was taken off of the ice after being unconscious.
The addition of DeBrincat has eased the scoring load put on Larkin’s back in previous seasons. The Red Wings also signed Patrick Kane to a two-year contract on December 7th. At 35-years-old Kane is likely past the point in his career where he is playing on all-star teams, but he has played well so far for the Red Wings. The issue for the Red Wings is that their defensive structure has seemingly fallen off since the addition of Kane. The goaltending for the Red Wings cannot continue to be put into position to make saves to win games for the team.
