Unlike last season, when the inaugural Team CTN was a lightning rod for controversy in several installments of the Penalty Box, this year’s CTN All-Star Team was generally well-received by the CTN community.
That means either CTN has gotten smarter – highly unlikely – or the team was a no-brainer this season. CTN would like to think that his team of All-Stars could have handled the Eastern All-Stars in a one-off setting on Monday at Philips Arena.
Regardless of the outcome, though, the game would have been hopefully been as competitive and entertaining as Sunday’s real game was. CTN does know this, though, the fans would still be talking about the show Atlanta rockers Mastodon would have on after the game’s completion. CTN can assure you that.
Now, let’s move on to the actual letters from the CTN community. As always, you can join the conversation -- about any hockey topic you desire -- by dropping CTN a line at [email protected]. Please remember to include your name and your hometown if you hope to log some time in the Penalty Box.
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Hi CTN,
Congratulations for your mid-term report cards. I really enjoyed reading them and I think all of your points were well taken. We don’t have to discuss a simple minus or plus here, do we? I also liked your Team CTN, but would like to bring a few names in discussion for your lineup. As back-up goalie, I would prefer going with Martin Gerber. OK, no good GAA and save percentage, but 22 wins at the half of the season says something. For defense, Niklas Kronwall along with Mike Green. Forwards ... hmm... difficult. You picked four great lines, really the best who were left; but I would like to see Rod Brind´Amour going with two different wing men. Nothing wrong with Parise and Cleary, but I would pick a Boston double here and bring Marco Sturm and Chuck Kobasew to go along with Rod. Both are, in my point of view, a bit underrated. Both are good two-way players, solid in power-play situations and very, very dangerous shorthanded. Your want more? Both are fast as sharks and would be the perfect matchup with Rod. Both are hanging around for quiet a while now, enjoying pretty good years and could end up with career-high years in goals, assists and points. Good enough for Team CTN?
Greetings from across the pond
-- Thomas, Munich, Germany
Mostly fine points by you, Thomas. I have to say though that I couldn’t disagree with you more about your inclusion of Gerber as one of the goalies. Twenty-two wins do nothing for CTN. Hell, CTN only played goal until he was 16 and could probably still earn a double-digit win total playing behind Ottawa’s loaded lineup. No, for CTN, it is all about GAA and, more importantly, save percentage. The percentage of shots you stop is the truest test of a goalie’s worth. It is the closest thing to an absolute number for a goalie. CTN stands by his picks of Pascal Leclaire and Mike Smith. Plus, CTN would also select Dan Ellis, Cristobal Huet, Marty Biron, Ilja Bryzgalov, J.S. Giguere, Mathieu Garon, Josh Hartding, Nicklas Backstrom and Ryan Miller before Gerber this season. As for the other suggestions, they were all sound. Detroit’s Kronvall can play on a CTN-picked team any time. CTN also thinks Kobasew is a solid choice up front. Marco Sturm is just the type of player that CTN associates with, so his inclusion would not be offensive in the least. Although, CTN thinks your advocacy of the Sturm kid is a little jingoistic, not that there is anything wrong with that. CTN, however, remains committed to Parise and Cleary on Brind’Amour’s flanks.
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I agree with almost everything (from Team CTN), but you missed one guy. But, that’s OK, so did the all-star voters. No. 13 in Columbus, Nikolai Zherdev. Say what you like about the terrible year he had last season -- on or off the ice -- but he’s a totally different player this season. The best on the team -- and yes, I say that knowing that Pazzy is having an incredible year, and that Nasher is an all star -- and ought to be getting more notice than he is.
-- Matthew Wagner
Zherdev |
Matt, you are absolutely right in your assertion that Nikolai Zherdev has been overlooked this year. The Blue Jackets are not hovering on the fringes of the Western Conference playoff race right now if not for the consistently good play of the obscenely talented Russian forward. But CTN is not completely won over yet. Yes, Zherdev will almost certainly set a new career high in goals and points, but he has not been consistent over the long haul. He had a solid rookie year, took huge steps back last season and now seems to be finding his way again. If you look at CTN’s collection of forwards, there are very few younger players and even fewer players enjoying a breakout year. CTN values consistency and clutch play above all else and Zherdev has yet to show either to the level that CTN demands.
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Howdy CTN,First things first, I predict the West will win the All-Star Game again this year. That means your CTN All Stars will play the best in the West, which leads me to my gripe: how could you totally snub the Avs for your selections? I mean the whole Colorado team deserves some sort of award. Losing your three best offensive weapons and still managing to stay in the playoff picture, that's impressive. Let's see the Penguins lose Malkin and Staal for a few weeks and watch how they make out. But aside from that, the only Av selected to the All-Star team can't play. Was he replaced by another Av? No! So I figured my good buddy CTN would make up for that, but boy was I disappointed. I will admit there are few players left to choose from, but there are still a couple of gems. Peter Budaj, J-M Liles and Wojtek Wolski come to mind. All of them fit the mold -- Wolski especially. He's a hard-nosed workhouse who takes a hit, gets up and scores some goals. Mark my words CTN, when the West comes bearing down on you, you'll wish you had some mile-high power. Other than that, your team looks pretty solid.
-- Tyler Moyes, Cambridge Ont.
Jose Theodore is playing like an All-Star for Colorado. Watch Theodore make some great saves! |
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