When you think about an All-Star weekend, you would think that someone like Brad Marchand would be there. A player that leads the Boston Bruins in points, is tied for seventh in the league in points, tied for ninth in the league in goals and is arguably the best left winger in the game.
You would sadly be mistaken because apparently, those credentials aren’t good enough in the eyes of the NHL’s Hockey Operations Department, who selected the All-Stars this season.
Marchand was not selected to the 2022 All-Star Weekend for the Atlantic Division and not only that, is not the Bruins’ representative in the Last Man In voting.
Patrice Bergeron was selected for the Bruins. It will be the captain’s third All-Star Game. Charlie McAvoy is the Bruin who can be voted is as the Last Man In for the Atlantic Division.
There is no reason Brad Marchand shouldn’t be an All-Star
It’s a snub. Plain and simple. Marchand should be in Vegas for the 2022 All-Star Weekend.
Bruce Cassidy was surprised even that Marchand wasn’t selected. Usually it’s not something you see a coach acknowledge, but even he said something on the matter.
"“I am. I really am. You know, I’m happy for Bergy. Obviously as I said before, I think that those three will always been in contention every year. With the format the way it is I don’t know if all three would ever play in a game together, unfortunately, because you’re limited with how many teams are in the National Hockey League now and the format. But yeah, and if it becomes a popularity contest, you know, that there’s people out there that really appreciate Brad’s game and there’s some that don’t. So, I’m willing to bet if the players picked that he’d up right there.”"
We’re talking about a guy that should be getting consideration for the Hart Trophy. It’s not like this is a sudden rise from Marchand, he’s been doing this consistently all season long. Could it be the suspensions and the general disdain others have for him around the league? Maybe.
The main reason why he’s not is the rule that each team has to have a player selected to All-Star Weekend. So players like Ottawa’s Drake Batherson and Montreal’s Nick Suzuki are selected because they have to have a Senator and a Canadien in.
Also, because the format is 3 on 3, there are less players selected. Teams consist of just 11 players, which includes two goaltenders. So that’s nine skaters that need to be selected from eight teams in one division.
The rules in place immediately handicap some teams with multiple players worthy of an All-Star selection, Instead of getting the best players, they have to get representation from all 32 teams, so a team like the Bruins where you can make the argument that they should have three or four All-Stars might only get one.
It’s crappy, but I get it. Someone is going to always get screwed. But then how is it that the voters looked at this Bruins team and determined Marchand wasn’t the clear-cut All-Star of the group?
No offense to Bergeron, who is an excellent player and well deserving of an All-Star nod. But Marchand has 12 more points than Bergeron in four less games played. That’s a pretty significant amount!
Even if we have to play by the dumb rules that every player gets an All-Star, fine, but how of you justify putting Bergeron ahead of Marchand? Marchand leads the Bruins in the following categories: points, goals, assists, power play assists, power play points and shorthanded goals. That’s not All-Star material?
He’s the most deserving out of this Boston group. And again, nothing against Bergeron, or David Pastrnak or McAvoy, but Marchand has the numbers to back it up.
He’s not the only snub around the league. Because of the dumb format, tons of players get screwed.
Bruins fans will certainly make the case that Marchand is the biggest snub but how about Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers, who leads the league in save percentage and is fourth in goals against average, yet he’s not selected. Or perhaps the biggest snub this season, Nazem Kadri of the Colorado Avalanche, who is fourth in the league in points, yet has to be voted in with the Last man in voting.
With the 3 on 3 format and having all 32 teams send at least one player, it’s taking away how honorable it is to be selected as an All-Star. Most players likely won’t care, Marchand certainly will be one of those that shrugs it off and doesn’t make a big deal of it, but being named an All-Star does mean something.
At least it’s supposed to. And there is no reasonable reason why a player that is producing the way Marchand is isn’t an All-Star.