Chirps from Center Ice

Today is the first day to vote for the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic. Voting goes from now thru January 9, 2011.

The format used to be a Team Canada vs. Planet USA, but the AHL shook things up this year and went with a more conventional East vs. West setup.

You can vote here. I have already voted and wanted to share with you who I voted for and why.

The one thing I did not like was you were only able to vote for an Eastern Forward, Defenseman and Goaltender and a Western Forward, Defenseman and Goaltender. I assume you can vote multiple times, so have at it.

That said, I am sharing who I voted for on a First Team / Second Team format. Here goes:

Eastern Conference First Team

Forward: Dustin Jeffrey, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. In my opinion not only the best player in the league but the most complete player in the league. Thru 24 games is 13-17-30 and is tied for a share of the league lead in scoring. If he gets selected, it would be his second All-Star Classic, having been the lone WBS Penguin elected last year.

Defenseman: Lawrence Nycholat, Hershey Bears. Logical choice here. A quick look at the Defenseman leaders in the AHL will find Nycholat at the top of points 3-17-20 (thru December 7), second in power play assists (9) and second in +/- (+12). With Hershey hosting this year, a virtual lock to be present and accounted for.

Goaltender: Cedrick Desjardins, Norfolk Admirals. Thru December 7, 10-4-1-1 with a 0.901 SV% and a 2.56 GAA. You may think I am crazy, but stay with me. Norfolk is the highest scoring team in the league, so you can cough up three goals and still win 4-3, 5-3, 6-4 or 5-2. Desjardins came over from the Hamilton Bulldogs last year and was an All-Star for the ‘Dogs last year also. He is a huge reason why the Admirals are second in the East Division.

Eastern Conference Second Team

Forward: Andrew Gordon, Hershey Bears. Isn’t even the best forward on his team as far as the depth charts are concerned, recently Mathieu Perreault was recalled to parent Washington and quickly scored two goals in his debut. At 15-15-30 thru December 7 he shares the league lead in scoring with Wilkes-Barre’s Dustin Jeffrey. Dangerous on the power play too. He leads the league in power play goals with nine. Second place is a tie between a lot of guys with six.

Defenseman: Robert Bortuzzo, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. Second year defenseman who is budding into a full time NHL star. Thru 24 games for the Penguins, boasts a +11 on the team and is 2-9-11. Paired with Brian Strait and on most nights are the best defensive unit on the ice on both sides of the puck.

Goaltender: Brad Thiessen, Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins. Could probably pencil Brad or John Curry for this. They both deserve it. Would not surprise me if both made it. Thiessen’s stats look better at this point, Thru 13 games played, is 11-2 with a 0.922 SV% and a 2.07 GAA. Would probably be the starting goaltender for the Penguins if the playoffs started today.

You’re in luck. I thought about breaking this up into a two day, East one day West the next, thing but with Toronto in town already I figured it wouldn’t justify doubles stacking posts for one day so onto the Western Conference:

Western Conference First Team

Forward: Max Pacioretty, Hamilton Bulldogs. November’s Player of the Month and well deserved. Is 14-14-28 and tied for third in the league in scoring. Pacioretty’s “Dogs are tops in the North Division thanks to his work. Hasn’t earned a call-up yet to Montreal but you got to believe he is dangerously close.

Defenseman: Garrett Stafford, San Antonio Rampage. I want him running point on my power play, and there are a lot of teams in the league who wish the same. Saw a two game stint with parent Phoenix earlier this year and has 11 assists on the power play. Big reason the Rampage are relevant in the West Division this year. Nearly every time I tune into a Rampage contest on AHL Live, I hear his name called at some point.

Goaltender: Mark Dekanich, Milwaukee Admirals. With the @dexshow in goal, Milwaukee is 10-3-3-3, without the “Dex Show” in goal, are 3-5-1-0. He has earned a call-up to parent Nashville. Milwaukee is currently (thru December 7) slotted 4th in the competitive West Division this year, six points out of the top spot. Imagine if Dekanich played all the games where they would be?

Western Conference Second Team

Forward: Jason Krog, Chicago Wolves. Probably one of the most lethal scoring threats in the league. If All-Star games are exhibitions, this is tailored to Krog’s abilities. at 6-21-27 is right there at the top of the league in scoring. The Wolves have started out slow but are starting to pick things up in large part to the production of Krog.

Defenseman: Nathan Oystrick, Peoria Rivermen. Did some call-up time with St. Louis. Has the surging Rivermen second thru December 7. In 19 games played is 6-10-16 and among the defenseman leaders.

Goaltender: Jake Allen, Peoria Rivermen. Allen is a rookie turning heads. The goaltending duties at the start of the year were Ben Bishop’s. Allen basically stole the duties away from the veteran Bishop and has not looked back. Is 9-2-0-4 with only 17 goals against in 11 games played. Your AHL Goaltender of the Month for November. I think he will be in Hershey come January.

So there you have it. We’ll have to see come January who among this list actually made the teams.