We are just two weeks away from the 2020 NHL All-Star weekend and although the primary roster was announced weeks ago, there was one little piece of unfinished business to attend to. The naming of the four "last men in" for each of the four divisions.
Fans had an opportunity to vote on the players from each division that they would most like to see at the upcomig All-Star weekend on January 24th and 25th in St. Louis.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the NHL has tallied the votes and have announced the four "last men in" on Saturday.
From the Atlantic Division, fans have selected Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner.
Despite missing 11 games this season, Marner has managed to register 42 points in just 34 games. His 31 assists are good for 5th overall in the NHL. Simply put, Mitch deserved to be at the All-Star game, and thanks to fan voting, he will make his first career NHL All-Star Game appearance.
From the Metropolitan Division, fans have banded together to vote in Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie.
Oshie is about as steady as they come. While his 18 goals and 33 points in 45 games may not exactly jump off the page, his penchant for scoring big time goals and his excellent puck handling skills and finishing ability make him as worthy a candidate as any to show off his skills in St Louis.
From the Central Division, St. Louis Blues fans pushed hard with their votes and have gotten their wish, as the hometeam favourite David Perron has drawn into the picture on January 24th and 25th at home!
This one was a no-brainer. With the All-Star Game taking place in St. Louis, the Missouri population just were not going to allow anyone else in the Central to be voted in over Perron, but that's not the only reason why he finds himself as one of the four "last men in".
Perron has 45 points through 45 games this season and has fully embraced the pressure to produce since Vladimir Tarasenko was lost due to injury. Playing more minutes in a much larger role does not always translate to success on the ice. The onus is on the player to step up and produce and Perron has absolutely fulfilled his role on the team and then some.
In the Pacific Division, the fans have elected to send promising young blueliner Quinn Hughes to St. Louis to represent the Vancouver Canucks and showcase some of his incredible skills that have many wondering if Hughes isn't making a strong case for himself in the Calder Trophy discussion.
With 31 points in 44 games, head coach Travis Green has relied heavily on the 20-year-old and Hughes has not disappointed. Given the fact that the elder Hughes brother is on pace for a historic season by a Canucks rookie defenseman, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't believe that Quinn is deserving of this wonderful opportunity to show hockey fans around the world what he can do in the skills competition and the 3-on-3 tournament.
If you want some advice? Don't blink. Watch this kid closely. He's a real beauty.
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