3 Golden Knights Deserving of All-Star Game Nods

Logan Thompson has already packed his bags for this year's NHL All-Star Weekend, which will take place in Sunrise, Florida, on Feb 3rd and Feb 4th. But the Vegas Golden Knights fanbase now has an opportunity to add to the Pacific Division's roster.

This year, the National Hockey League has switched up how it is handling All-Star voting. The first 32 players, which includes Thompson, have already been announced by NHL fans and now have a say in who the final three players per division will be. 

NHL fans can vote for any player on both the NHL's official website and by Tweeting the player's name and adding #NHLAllStarVote.

The final three players needed for each division are two forwards and a goaltender. So Golden Knights fans can only vote for two skaters and Adin Hill at the current moment if they want to vote for purely VGK players. There are several eligible players on the team's roster, and here is who with think is deserving.

Chandler Stephenson

Chandler Stephenson continues to be one of the most underrated players in the NHL. His first NHL All-Star appearance would only help shed light on just how good of a player he is. The forward has 40 points in 42 games played this season, for Pete's sake. That's more than Johnny Gaudreau, Kevin Hayes, Nick Suzuki, and Clayton Keller, who have all been named to the ASG already.

Ideal Skills Competition: Fastest Skater

As one of the fastest players in the league, Stephenson has to fittingly race against guys like Connor McDavid and Cale Makar. Bruce Cassidy even addressed how much of a treat it would be to see Stephenson at the All-Star Game.

"He should go to the All-Star game and race with McDavid and those guys, I'm telling ya. He can cover ice," said Cassidy. 

Jack Eichel

Now that he is back and healthy, Jack Eichel likely wants nothing more than to get back into a rhythm of playing hockey. Perhaps sending him to Sunrise to get some ice, albeit in a much more laid-back environment, will help his game. Eichel has made the All-Star game thrice with the Buffalo Sabres, but never with the Golden Knights. Getting him to the ASG would give him league-wide recognition, basically saying, "he's back."

Ideal Skills Competition: Shooting Accuracy

Eichel's shot is both deadly and accurate, so seeing him participate in the classic target-shooting competition would be a treat.

Mark Stone

Mark Stone made his first NHL-All-Star appearance last year in Las Vegas. After coming off back surgery, Stone has had an incredible season with the VGK and has played in every game. He has 39 points in 42 games and has carried the VGK on his recovered back amidst injuries.

Ideal Skills Competiton: Shootout Challange

Stone participated in the Bellagio Fountain Faceoff Challenge last season, a special event that was exclusive to Vegas. We still don't know what special Florida events are in place for this year's All-Star game, so for now, the best fit for Stone would be a shootout challenge. 

Stone has come a long way since f***ing scoring in a shootout against the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. And now that Logan Thompson will be there with him, surely his shootout numbers will go up.

Bruce Cassidy

Not a player, but it is all but confirmed that head coach Bruce Cassidy will be going to the 2023 All-Star game. The NHL's All-Star coaches are determined by which teams are leading the four divisions by Jan. 11th. Mathematically, the Golden Knights are confirmed to be in first place in the division by this point, which means Cassidy will be the Pacific Division head coach. 

Anyone Else?

Given that anyone can be voted in by NHL fans, there are countless possibilities on who could be added to the All-Star Game for the Golden Knights. In terms of enjoying the weekend and goofing off, Logan Thompson has an idea of who the best teammates would be to have on the trip.

"Maybe get Paul Cotter or Phil Kessel to the game; I think those would be two fun guys to hang out with for a weekend," said Thompson.

Kessel has tons of experience in NHL All-Star Games, being the last pick in the 2011 All-Star Draft, and being traded in the 2015 All-Star Draft.

Given that he is a rookie, Cotter has never been to an ASG but is prepared if his name is voted in.

"That has been my dream since I was five. I have had the same shootout move planned out for 20 years now," said Cotter.

As for who to vote for in other divisions, former Golden Knights Alex Tuch, Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Reaves, and Nick Suzuki are all options.

Current Rosters

Metro: Sidney Crosby (PIT), Johnny Gaudreau (CBJ), Kevin Hayes (PHI), Jack Hughes (NJD), Brock Nelson (NYI), Alex Ovechkin (WSH), Andre Svechnikov (CAR), Igor Shesterkin (NYR), VACANT 1, VACANT 2, VACANT G.

Atlantic: Nikita Kucherov (TBL), Dylan Larkin (DET), Mitch Marner (TOR), Nick Suzuki (MTL), Tage Thompson (BUF), Brady Tkachuk (OTT), Matthew Tkachuk (FLA), Linus Ullmark (BOS), VACANT, VACANT, VACANT G.

Central: Kirill Kaprizov (MIN), Clayton Keller (ARZ), Jason Robertson (DAL), Vladamir Tarasenko (STL), Seth Jones (CHI), Cale Makar (COL), Josh Morrissey (WPG), Juuse Saros (NSH), VACANT 1, VACANT 2, VACANT G.

Pacific: Matty Beniers (SEA), Kevin Fiala (LAK), Nazem Kadri (CGY), Connor McDavid (EDM), Elias Pettersson (VAN), Troy Terry (ANA), Erik Karlsson (SJS), Logan Thompson (VGK), VACANT 1, VACANT 2, VACANT G.