Johnny Gaudreau Likely The Only Calgary Flames All-Star
By Luke Ryan
With the NHL All-Star Game just over a month away, it seems like the Calgary Flames will only have the one representative – Johnny Gaudreau.
Currently ranking seventh and trending hot, the Calgary Flames diminutive winger is clearly a favorite among fans across the league.
More from Calgary Flames News
- Updates from Conroy: UFAs, main camp, captaincy, goaltending, prospects
- Flames captaincy updates and candidate rankings
- Camp Notes: Previewing Calgary Flames Prospects at the Young Stars Classic
- Could Flames goalie Dan Vladar be a trade option for the Avalanche?
- Roundup: Lindholm, Backlund, Hanifin Contract Updates
The rankings this season have been skewed by the fans getting behind John Scott of the Arizona Coyotes in droves, but beyond Scott, the company that Gaudreau is being held in is clearly elite.
Ranking second through sixth are the likes of Jaromir Jagr, Patrick Kane, Alex Ovechkin, Tyler Seguin and P.K. Subban.
Esteemed company and representative of the level that the NHL audience views Calgary Flames winger, Johnny Gaudreau to be at.
With voting having been open nearly a month, it’s clear that the pair of hat-tricks in December haven’t harmed Gaudreau’s chances of being the sole Calgary Flames player in attendance.
Unlike last year, which saw Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano accompany then-rookie, Gaudreau at the All-Star Weekend, this year the next highest-ranked Calgary Flames player sits in a lowly 102nd on the voting leaderboard – that player, Gaudreau’s line-mate Sean Monahan.
Beyond that, Mark Giordano, Jiri Hudler and Jonas Hiller round out the Calgary Flames ranked in the top 250. Hiller’s placement in that group is rather curious given that Karri Ramo has usurped him between the pipes for the majority of the year.
With a new format that suits Johnny Gaudreau perfectly, it seems highly likely that the Calgary Flames winger will be one of the shining lights of the weekend. No doubt he’ll be in his element under the new three-on-three rules.
It’s just a shame that fans have used the event as proof that they can sabotage digital voting, whether that be John Scott or the fact that the Calgary Flames number two goaltender is somehow ranked whilst the number one isn’t.
Next: Flames Set New Franchise Home Record
Are you looking forward to All-Star Weekend; at least the Johnny Gaudreau highlights that we can expect? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.