How many Bruins players are worthy of suiting up for the All-Star team in Raleigh, N.C.?
While there won’t be an Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference games this year, fans are simply asked to vote for the best players, who will then be sorted out in a fantasy-type draft by team captains.
Below are the players who are on the ballot, with the inclusion of a couple B’s players who might make good write-in candidates.
Patrice Bergeron
Bergeron is on the ballot as a leader on and off the ice for the B’s. His offensive numbers aren’t flashy (8-16-24), but he’s known as a two-way center who plays full speed on both ends of the ice. It’s how he earned a spot on Team Canada last winter.
David Krejci
The 24-year-old centerman is in a bit of a rut, scoring just three goals in his last 13 games. Still, he’s as crafty as anyone with the puck on his stick, and the idea of him sharing the ice with the game’s best players is one that might earn him some votes.
Zdeno Chara
The 6-foot-9 defenseman is a rock for the Bruins, logging 25-30 minutes of ice time every single night. He’s 33 years old, but there’s still nobody in the game who can match his slap shot.
Tim Thomas
What can you really say about Thomas? He entered the season as a backup, but he quickly changed that scenario. He holds healthy league leads in goals-against average (1.80) and save percentage (.945), and his five shutouts are still tied for best in the NHL.
Milan Lucic
Though he’s not on the ballot, Lucic has displayed a refined scoring touch that he’s never shown before. Still just 22 years old, Lucic leads the Bruins in goals (16) and points (27). Plus, if you don’t vote for him, he can knock you out.
Nathan Horton
He seems to have lost his ability to find the back of the net (zero goals and just one assist in his last nine games), but he was scoring with reckless abandon earlier in the year. When he finds a soft spot in the offensive end, he knows how to finish — as evidenced by his 11 goals. His plus-14 rating is best among B’s forwards.
Voting ends at midnight, so head over to NHL.com to cast your ballot.
How many Bruins should make the All-Star team?online surveys
