When it was announced earlier this week that the NHL would announce each team representative for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, Rangers fans figured their representative would be an easy choice.
It turns out that they were wrong. The NHL announced today that the Rangers representative for this year’s All-Star Game in Toronto is goaltender Igor Shesterkin. For Shesterkin, 28, it is the second straight year that he will be playing in the All-Star Game.
While Igor has certainly piled up a lot of wins this season (16), none of his other numbers stand out when it comes to being one of the top goaltenders in the league midway through the season. As of this writing (Thursday night, January 4th), Shesterkin has a 2.75 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage, which are certainly not All-Star game-worthy numbers.
With all of that said, there is a reason why Shesterkin was selected and not the team’s most obvious choice, Artemi Panarin. Panarin, 32, announced the following via the Rangers official Twitter account:
“Hi, Rangers Fans! Sadly, I can’t go to the All-Star Game this year – my wife and I are expecting our second baby and I can’t wait for the big moment. Thank you for your love and support. Please vote for my teammates.”
Panarin currently leads the Rangers in goals (24), assists (29), points (53), and shots (151). Here is where Panarin ranks in terms of the league leaders:
- Goals: Tied for fourth with (24)
- Assists: Tied for 13th (28)
- Points: Tied for third (53)
- Power Play Points: Third (23)
- Shots: Tied for seventh (151)
Panarin has been by far and away his team’s most valuable player this season. He produces every night, he creates offense for his linemates every night, he sometimes gets double-shifted by Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette, he plays a 200-foot game, and he is the team’s most consistent player this season.
So, instead of using the fan vote to get Panarin into the All-Star Game, Ranger fans can vote for the likes of Mika Zibanejad (38 points), Vincent Trocheck (36 points), Chris Kreider (35 points), Adam Fox (24 points), Alexis Lafreniere (23 points), and Jacob Trouba (16 points). Out of all of those players, it would appear that Zibanejad is the most deserving.
Hopefully, both Rangers fans and hockey fans alike will do the right thing and vote for him to be in the All-Star game via the fan vote, which has already started and goes through January 11th.
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