This is Not a Typo: Patrick Kane, Corey Crawford Snubbed for NHL All-Star Team


Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Every once in a while, I have to put on my “are you actually kidding me” face when something stupid is said or done. Sometimes it’s a boneheaded play made at the wrong moment, or it can be a comment made by a player, coach or general manager. The face I make is usually accompanied by an audible groan, a few choice words and a shake of the head. I perfected this face during the lockout.

Today’s All-Star Team results brought on another one of those faces. Not only did the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association make a huge mistake in their balloting, they also snubbed quite a few teams. The first team features Sidney Crosby, Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Ovechkin, who also made the second All-Star Team due to a mistake in listing his position on the ballot. Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews made the second team, and he’s the only Blackhawks player on either one.

The big, glaring omissions come in the form of Patrick Kane and Corey Crawford. Kane is a week out from winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He led the Blackhawks and was in the top ten of the league in points. Even though he was snubbed for the Hart Trophy, he was a Lady Byng finalist for his focus on the game and his low penalty minutes. As for Crawford, he’s one of the unsung heroes of the playoffs, successfully battling back from soft goals and bad losses. He and Ray Emery won the Jennings Trophy as the league’s top goaltending duo, but neither one was a nominee for the Vezina Trophy.

Of course, right now Kane and Crawford have something shinier and more important in their possession. It’s safe to say that they don’t care if they’re not on some old All-Star Team list.


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