View All-Star players' poll results
First-Half MVP: Malkin 23; Giroux 7; Lundqvist 3; Datsyuk 2; Alfredsson 1; Toews 1; Hossa 1. Total: 38
Most Underrated: Timonen 4; Eriksson 3; Hansen 3; Hartnell 2; Benn 1; Nash 1; Pavelski 1; Kunitz 1; Kelly 1; Girardi 1; M. Koivu 1; Enstrom 1; R. O'Reilly 1; Backes 1; Garrisson 1; Filppula 1; Couture 1; Marleau 1; Parise 1; P. Bergeron 1; Anderson 1; None 9. Total: 29
Surprise Team: Ottawa Senators 13; St. Louis Blues 12; Florida Panthers 5; New York Rangers 2; Nashville Predators 2; Toronto Maple Leafs 1; Winnipeg Jets 1; Philadelphia Flyers 1; None 1. Total: 37
Of 38 players polled, an impressive 23 selected Malkin as the League's top player thus far this season. With 60 percent of players polled choosing Malkin, Philadelphia's Claude Giroux came in a distant second with seven votes. New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk received three and two votes respectively. Daniel Alfredsson, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa each earned a single vote.
When it came to choosing the NHL's most underrated player, there was far less consensus among the League's All-Star participants. Philadelphia defenseman Kimmo Timonen narrowly edged the field with four votes, while Dallas forward Loui Eriksson and Vancouver winger Jannik Hansen earned three votes each. Another Flyer, forward Scott Hartnell, got two votes while 17 different players, including Patrice Bergeron, Mikko Koivu, Dan Girardi, and Datsyuk, earned a single vote. The question itself proved so difficult for All-Star participants that nine different players chose not to answer.
Unlike the other two questions, naming the League's most surprising team thus far this season yielded a two-horse race. The All-Star host Ottawa Senators led the poll with 13 votes, narrowly edging the St. Louis Blues, who were selected by 12 players. The Panthers registered on some players' radars with five votes, while the Rangers and Predators were chosen twice. Toronto, Winnipeg, and Philadelphia each garnered a single vote while one player abstained from the question.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.