The most obvious choice from Calgary to go to the festivities is MacKenzie Weegar, but Blake Coleman and Jacob Markstrom have provided strong cases to be lauded
Blake Coleman: All-star.
As much as Coleman has been a huge part of the Calgary Flames hopes for a playoff berth, those words do not easily roll off the tongue.
However, as the NHL readies to announce the first batch of all stars on Thursday — one from each team — Coleman is a deserving choice to represent the Flames as a reward.
From the start of the season, no forward has been as consistent as Calgary’s leading goal scorer and point producer, who is on-pace to obliterate his career bests for a season having netted 14 goals and 27 points in 37 games, a mark that includes four short-handed tallies.
Oh yeah, Coleman boasts a plus-14 rating, far and away the best mark on the club, while facing top opposition every game. Flawed statistic or not, it is indicative how effective he has been at both ends of the ice.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely the 32-year-old will receive the nod to be part of the festivities in Toronto Feb. 1-3. It is easy to build a lengthy list of forwards likely to be chosen ahead of Coleman — who is tied for 80th in the points race.
Even so, the Flames will have one representative, so the question remains: Who gets the call?
Realistically, there are two potential choices on a Flames team that lacks flash and offensive touch: defenceman MacKenzie Weegar and goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
Weegar, who has eight goals and 22 points, has stepped up in a big way in his second season in Calgary. His next goal will mark a career high and is also en route to netting his personal best for points in a season.
His eight goals is tied for sixth in the league, along with Cale Makar and Roman Josi, a couple of goals behind the 10 potted so far by Quinn Hughes and Rasmus Dahlin.
As for Markstrom, the raw numbers may not say it, but he is also deserving. His 2.65 goals-against average and .907 save percentage (which have been improved immensely since the first month of the season) do not scream out star, but Markstrom’s play has been a story in Calgary since the campaign began.
In the six games since he returned from a broken finger, Markstrom has posted a 4-2-0 record while surrounding 11 goals and posting a .936 save percentage.
His goals-saved-above-expected is 11th in the league at 8.4, according to moneypuck.com.
After the original 32 players are named, a fan vote will add another dozen.