Alex Pieterangelo, Brayden Schenn selected to the 2018 NHL All Star Game

Despite the way that the Blues are limping into the bye week, it’s hard to deny that some players are having an outstanding season. One of them was Jaden Schwartz, whose probable trip to this season’s All-Star Game in Tampa Bay, Florida was cancelled by a broken ankle. Vladimir Tarasenko too started the year off strong, but with Schwartz’s absence and the team’s frustrations, he’s struggled (for him).

Two players have maintained a high level of play throughout the Blues season up to this halfway point, however: Alex Pietrangelo and Blues newcomer Brayden Schenn. Schenn, a recent arrival to St. Louis this season, has more than replaced Jori Lehtera, who he was traded for by the Philadelphia Flyers. Schenn has 44 points through 46 games played this season for St. Louis (17G, 27 A). He ranks 14th overall in points in the league, and one could imagine that would be higher had Schwartz’s injury not dismantled the Blues’ top line’s chemistry.

Captain Alex Pietrangelo has 30 points in 42 games so far this season. Petro ranks 6th in NHL defensemen in points and 8th in goals, and averages more than 25 minutes of game play a night.

Missing from the All-Star Game roster, sadly, is Colton Parayko. We will have to wait another year before the NHL allows him to challenge Zdeno Chara’s hardest shot record of 108.8 MPH.

The All-Star Weekend is January 26th-28th in Tampa Bay, Florida. Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban will captain the Central Division team for the second year in a row. You can find the full All-Star Game rosters at NHL.com.