The NHL will present its 60th NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, Jan. 25 from the Nationwide Arena, which is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The league announced the participants in the game on Friday, but there were a few notable omissions around the National Hockey League.
Here are the Top 7 snubs for the upcoming All-Star Game, which will be the first of this spectacle to be put on since 2012 due to the lockout (2013) and Sochi Winter Olympic Games (2014):
1) P.K. Subban: The Montreal Canadiens defenseman is probably the most notable snub from the list of All-Stars. Subban paces the Canadiens with 19 assists and has added eight goals to rank tied for second on the team with 29 points thus far this season. Subban also has a plus-10 rating on the campaign.
2) Marc-Andre Fleury: The Pittsburgh Penguins netminder was a surprising omission as he leads the NHL with six shutouts and has had a standout season, ranking tied for third in the league with 21 wins while dropping just seven regulation matches and losing four times via overtime or a shootout. Fleury has a 2.16 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage on the campaign. Fleury could very well find himself in the All-Star Game due to the injury of Detroit Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard opening up a slot.
3) Nicklas Backstrom: The Washington Capitals forward is a big reason behind the teams surge into the playoff picture over the first half of the season. Backstrom has paced Washington with 41 points and 28 assists this season and ranks second on the team with 13 goals while posting a plus-four rating.
4) Joe Pavelski: The San Jose Sharks forward is a notable snub as he ranks fourth in the entire NHL with 21 goals thus far this season. Pavelski paces San Jose in points (37), is fifth on the team in assists (16) and second in plus-minus (plus-10). It is baffling that Pavelski isn't an All-Star.
5) Henrik Lundqvist: The New York Rangers goaltender is a huge part of the team's success as the Blueshirts have won 12 of their last 13 games. Lundqvist is 20-8-3 thus far this season with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. The Rangers netminder is 11-1-0 in his last 12 starts with one shutout, a 1.57 GAA and a .939 save percentage. Lundqvist is also second in the NHL with five shutouts. "The King" was a royal snub by the NHL.
6) Nikita Kucherov: The Tampa Bay Lightning right wing is having a breakout season in his second NHL campaign. Kucherov is tied with All-Star teammate Tyler Johnson with a plus-26 rating -- good enough for first in the NHL. Kucherov is also tied for second on the Lightning in goals (17) and is second on the club in assists (24) and points (41).
7) Jaromir Jagr: The New Jersey Devils forward and NHL veteran may not be putting up flashy numbers this season with just nine goals thus far, but at age 43 the age-less wonder has led his club with 16 assists and 25 points. Though his numbers aren't flashy -- evidenced by a minus-10 plus-minus rating -- there may not be many more opportunities for Jagr to make the All-Star Game.
The NHL presents the All-Star Game live on Jan. 25 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, but a lot of notable stars will not be in attendance.
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