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Kevin Shattenkirk, Vladimir Tarasenko Selected To All Star Game

The Blues get two representatives this season, though it easily could've been more.

By hildymac
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The Blues' have two representatives in the 2015 All Star game this year: Kevin Shattenkirk and Vladimir Tarasenko. Both are deserving of the honor*.

From the Blues' press release:

he National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and forward Vladimir Tarasenko have been selected to the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. All-Star festivities will begin with the Skills Competition on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. (CST), and culminate with the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. (CST) at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Shattenkirk, 25, will enjoy the first All-Star selection of his career, though during his rookie season, he did participate in the 2011 SuperSkills Competition during All-Star weekend. In addition, he becomes the first Blues defenseman selected for an All-Star Game since Chris Pronger in 2004. This season, Shattenkirk shares the League lead among defensemen with 36 points (seven goals, 29 assists) and a +18 rating, while he paces all players with 23 power play points (four goals, 19 assists). The New Rochelle, New York, native is averaging 23:04 minutes per game this season (second on the Blues), up two minutes from his career average, while he is one of 17 defensemen averaging over three minutes of power play ice time and two minutes of shorthanded ice time per game.

Tarasenko, 23, will also appear in the first All-Star Game of his career. This season, the 6’0, 223-pound forward shares third overall with 22 goals and eighth with 43 total points, while his +21 rating is tied for fourth. In addition, he shares fifth in game-winning goals (4), second in overtime goals (2) and third in game-deciding shootout goals (2), while he is the only player in the League with multiple tallies in each of those categories. The Yaroslavl, Russia, native is one of three players to record two hat tricks this season (Oct. 28 at Dallas, Dec. 16, 2014), while he is the first Blue in franchise history to notch two in one season since Brett Hull in 1996-97.

Both players are making the NHL sit up and take notice, but they're not the only members of the team who would fit in on an All Star team. Jaden Schwartz is also having quite the season, but he's not tearing it up like his teammates are.

Kevin Shattenkirk had this to say about the honor:

Good. Get the Blues on a national stage again. This time since it's not a normal regular season national broadcast, maybe things'll go well (I'll ignore Brian Elliott in 2012, thanks).

*if wearing these jerseys are honorable. Which is debatable.