One player per division will be selected by the fan vote, which runs through Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET. Though fans are deciding who will ultimately go to Las Vegas, NHL.com writers are having their say, with 12 writers, three per division, tasked with picking the Last Man In for their division.
Not surprisingly, there were no unanimous picks among the panel. Forwards Nazem Kadri (Colorado Avalanche) of the Central Division and Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks) of the Pacific Division each received two votes.
Fans can vote at NHL.com/lastmenin, NHL.com/vote or on a mobile interactive ballot on the NHL app. Fans will be permitted to select as few as one player and a maximum of four players per ballot. No fan will be permitted to cast more than 10 ballots during a 24-hour period.
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers: The 26-year-old has scored 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 23 games and leads the Panthers in goals despite missing 13 games because of injury. The forward is second on the Panthers in average points-per-game (1.17) behind forward Jonathan Huberdeau (1.31) who was named to the Atlantic Division team Thursday. Barkov’s offensive consistency is reflected in the fact he’s scored at least one point in 19 of his 23 games. Has scored nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past six games. — Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings: The 19-year-old has made hockey fun in Detroit again, scoring 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 38 games to lead all NHL rookies. He’s teamed with defenseman Moritz Seider to showcase where the Red Wings are headed. But Raymond isn’t just a part of the future of the Red Wings, he’s part of the future of the NHL, something that should be celebrated at All-Star Weekend. It would give him a chance to make a splash on the national stage, much like Red Wings captain and 2022 All-Star Dylan Larkin did in 2016, when he made the All-Star Game, also as a 19-year-old rookie. — Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning: The 31-year-old center is the sixth-leading scorer in the NHL with 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) in 38 games. He has 911 points (457 goals, 454 assists) and is second in Lightning history behind Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis (953). He became the Lightning’s all-time game-winning goals leader last month with 65, surpassing St. Louis (64). Stamkos has been relatively healthy this season and a major contributor as Tampa Bay pursues its third consecutive Stanley Cup championship. — William Douglas, staff writer
Metropolitan Division
Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils: The 23-year-old forward leads the Devils in goals (10), points (32), even-strength points (27) and game-winning goals (four) in 34 games. The Devils have controlled 53.9 percent of all shots attempted when Bratt has been on the ice and he’s in the process of having his best NHL season. His NHL career high was 35 points as a rookie in 2017-18. New Jersey center Jack Hughes, who is also going to the All-Star Game, said Bratt is not only one of the team’s most highly skilled players but has been driving the Devils for most of the season. –– Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins: The 27-year-old forward has been on a two-month hot streak, scoring 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 19 games since Nov. 13. He has six multipoint games, including a hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 4, in that streak. During the Penguins’ NHL-best 10-game winning streak from Dec. 4 to Jan. 6, he led Pittsburgh with eight goals despite missing five of the 10 games with an upper-body injury. Guentzel has been a key offensive catalyst and leads the Penguins with 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 30 games. — Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor
Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals: Shedding the inconsistency that has plagued him since helping the Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018, Kuznetsov has put it all together and is playing perhaps the most complete game of his career. With Nicklas Backstrom (hip) and T.J. Oshie (lower body) sidelined for much of the first half of the season, Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin have carried much of the load offensively for Washington. Kuznetsov’s 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 34 games are second on the Capitals behind Ovechkin’s 52 points in 37 games and the 29-year-old center ranks third on Washington in averaging 21:47 in ice time. Being selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the second time in his career (2016) would be a just reward. — Tom Gulitti, staff writer
Central Division
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators: The 31-year-old defenseman leads the Predators and is second in the NHL among defensemen with 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 36 games. Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman has scored 39 points in 39 games. Josi also leads the Predators in power-play points (20). Josi has been a steady and strong presence for the Predators for years and deserves an appearance at the 2022 All-Star Game. — Tracey Myers, staff writer
Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche: The 31-year-old center leads the Avalanche with 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) in 30 games, and is fourth in the NHL. He’s been inconsistent in the past but scored at least one point in 25 of 30 games this season, including a 13-game point streak he brings into Friday. – Tim Campbell, staff writer
Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche: Let’s not overthink this. How do you not vote for the player who is fourth in the NHL in scoring? Each of the three players ahead of Kadri in the scoring race has won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL scoring champion, not to mention the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player. Their names are Leon Draisaitl (53 points), Connor McDavid (53) and Alex Ovechkin (52), and each is going to Vegas, of course. If you look at points per game, Kadri is second in the League at 1.60, barely behind McDavid (1.61). Kadri has put himself in elite company this season. — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Pacific Division
J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks: The 28-year-old forward leads the Canucks with 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 36 games and has been their most valuable and consistent player before and after the coaching change from Travis Green to Bruce Boudreau. The Canucks are 8-2-1 since Boudreau arrived, with Miller scoring better than a point per game (13 points) in those 11 games. Miller has also played more center this season than he did in his previous two with Vancouver, elevating his game while separated from center Elias Pettersson. — Pete Jensen, senior fantasy editor
Troy Terry, Anaheim Ducks: The 24-year-old forward is having a breakout season. He leads Anaheim with 22 goals and 36 points in 38 games. He is sixth in the NHL in goals. Terry had points in 16 straight games from Oct. 18-Nov. 18, helping the Ducks to a strong start (19-13-7) that has led them into second place in the Pacific Division. Terry scored 15 goals and 48 points in 129 games prior to this season. His production has been one of the biggest reasons the Ducks have been one of the NHL’s success stories this season. — Dan Rosen, senior writer
Troy Terry, Anaheim Ducks: In addition to what Dan said, there are other reasons Terry deserves to be voted to the All-Star Team. He’s made the most of his 90 shots, scoring 22 goals. His 24.4 shooting percentage ranks second among players with at least 10 goals behind Marcus Foligno of the Minnesota Wild (29.2). Terry has done it all; he has scored 10 power-play points, five game-winning goals and two overtime goals. His 36 points are more than the Ducks’ point leader had last season (33; Max Comtois) and he is on pace to be Anaheim’s first player to score at least 50 points since the 2017-18 season when forwards Rickard Rakell (69) and Ryan Getzlaf (61) did it. Terry is a big reason why the Ducks are primed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018. — David Satriano, staff writer
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
