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2020 NHL All-Star Game: Top 5 most outrageous snubs

By Dave Stevenson

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 06: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the St. Louis Blues during the third period in Game Five of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 06: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the St. Louis Blues during the third period in Game Five of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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2020 nhl all-star game
Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

The 2020 NHL All-Star Game’s initial rosters have been announced. However, there were some notable omissions. Who got snubbed?

In case you missed it, the NHL has announced the initial rosters for the 2020 NHL All-Star Game. You can find the list, along with the “Last Man In” candidates right here. For the most part, the league did a good job with the rosters. I probably had my bar on the floor though, so keep that in mind.

That said, there were quite a few questionable omissions. People who should have been on the roster were not. Just to clarify, I’m not going to bother mentioning the “Last Man In” candidates. There’s at least a small chance they’ll get in. I’ll be talking about the players who, as of Dec. 31, are not going to be at the All-Star Game. Let’s take a look at the biggest snubs.

Semyon Varlamov

The Metropolitan Division had some weird selections at goalie. Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals isn’t one of the two best goalies in the Metropolitan Division, but I at least get why he’s on the list. Holtby’s one of the most popular players in the league and he plays on a great team. As I’ve mentioned before, we all stink at evaluating goalies, so most people think the latter is a reason Holtby should be on an All-Star. I don’t agree with that, but it is what it is.

However, it was baffling to not see Semyon Varlamov on the list. The two goalies listed? Holtby and Joonas Korpisalo. Neither player was their team’s lone representative, so really, there’s no reason why Varlamov shouldn’t have been mentioned.

Varlamov has the highest save percentage in the division (min. 20 games) at .920%. It’s worth noting he doesn’t play as much as Korpisalo and Holtby, but still, all you can ask from your goalie is that he stop as many pucks as possible. Varlamov does that very well.

To be clear, I think he will make the All-Star Game eventually. Korpisalo is injured and even if he manages to return before the All-Star Game, the Blue Jackets probably won’t want him attending. If and when Korpisalo doesn’t go, Varlamov will probably get the nod.

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