Milestones +3

8. Written, 3 TPE, Lazy Reaction Content (150 words min.)

The Last Men In are now decided and the rosters are finalized. Who was a good pick? Who got snubbed?

So I was lucky enough to be the last defenseman in for the East and while I'm incredible grateful to make my first ever All Star game, I'm glad to see my teammate Erik Bergmark make it in as the last forward as he truly deserves it. Erik was one of 17 player to have 100 points and was 11th in goals scored with 49. Not only is Erik a great scorer but he also has over 100 hits, really showing that he makes an impact on both sides of the ice. This is Erik's 3rd All Star game appearance and he has earned all 3 of them, he set personal records in every scoring category this season and I am very glad to see the fans agree with me. In the West I'm very happy to see Axel Kirkby and Jimmy Wagner. It has to be really special for Wagner as this was the last season in his long career and is his 1st All Star game.

b. While the East rolled it back with two top defensive pairings - this year that means Philadelphia and Hamilton - the West mixed it up with only Los Angeles having two defensemen present. Everyone else has a new partner. Which side's defense are you more interested in watching?

While I think the most interesting defensive pairing is the West since all of these defense will have limited experience, the East should be a well oiled machine while the West could take a few shifts to get used to each. For me though the East's 3rd pairing is the most interesting to me. I'm on that 3rd pairing in my 1st All Star game and I'll be matched up with John Brown who really came into his own this season and is already considered one of the best defensemen in the league.

a. Two teams, Edmonton and Los Angeles, tie with five total nods each. Both of those teams are in the West. Playoff rivalry aside, do you think it's to the West's advantage or disadvantage to have a relatively large number of players from the same two teams? Does it make the all-star game better or worse when this happens?

In sense it does give the West the advantage as these two teams have battled each other a lot of the years and know each other pretty well. On the other hand there could be a rivalries to get over and might take awhile for these 2 large contingent of players to get over it. It definitely makes things more interesting to watch. But some of these players play together on the national teams.