Players in the NHL often go through a long, evolving career of playing professional hockey. They can hop from team to team, maybe get sent down to the minors for a stint or two, or even spend a little time playing overseas. As a matter of fact, consistency can be a hard thing to come by in a league that changes as much as the NHL.
Because of this, when the NHL All-Star Game comes around it is hard to predict how some of the player’s careers will really turn out. While you can expect the usual suspects to be suiting up, and there are certain generational talents that are sure to be partaking in the festivities for years to come, there are some wild cards that have a hot first-half and then are sometimes never able to replicate it again.
Here is a list of 10 current NHLers (in other words, good enough to stay in the league) that have played in at least one All-Star Game, but have essentially middle-out with the rest of their career.
Alex Edler
Alex Edler, a 91st overall draft pick, has never really been the flashiest player. He’s essentially been a solid defender with a little offensive flair that has enjoyed two 40+ point campaigns for the Vancouver Canucks. In recent years, Edler has somewhat fallen out of favour in Canucks Nation and has been subject to trade speculation over the past two seasons. People often forget that during his career year, a 49-point campaign in 2011-12, Edler was selected to represent the Canucks at the All-Star Game.
Dustin Brown
Dustin Brown was a talented player in juniors, but once he got to the NHL his role shifted more towards the grinder role. He was captain of the Los Angeles Kings for a number of years, but was eventually stripped of that title in favour of the more talented Anze Kopitar. While he is enjoying a 35 point campaign so far this season, Brown’s offensive contributions come with a relatively low ceiling – despite that, Brown was an All-Star way back in 2009.
Scott Hartnell
Scott Hartnell is a solid forward who has filled his role as a 2nd – 3rd liner for the Predators, Flyers, and Blue Jackets. The left winger’s career has certainly slowed down as he has only amassed a total of 11 points over 33 games played, but earlier in his career he managed to reach the 60-point plateau a few times. He was selected in 2012 to represent the Flyers.
Milan Michalek
Milan Michalek seems like he was playing in the NHL a lifetime ago, but it was actually only two season ago when he played his final game for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is still technically considered an active unrestricted free agent, which is a depressing turn for the 2012 All-Star.
Marc Staal
Marc Staal, one of four Staal brothers to play in the NHL at some point, has been a serviceable defenceman for the Rangers over the past decade. As an important member of the Rangers impressive defence corps over the last five years or so, it may surprise some people that the blueliner – who’s never hit the 30 point mark – was able to make the offensive-show that is the All-Star Game. The 2011 All-Star will now watch his borther Eric once again in the 2018 edition.
Joffrey Lupul
The never-ending saga of Joffrey Lupul wasn’t the way it always was. For a number of years Lupul was a productive winger that enjoyed time as a member of the Ducks and the Leafs, earning him a spot on the 2012 Eastern All-Star team. Lupul has been sitting on the Leafs’ long-term injury reserve since February of 2016.
Thomas Vanek
Vanek’s 2009 All-Star appearance may be a little less surprising than the others if you’ve been watching the NHL for a while. Vanek was a solid scorer way-back-when as a member of the Buffalo Sabres. Since that time, Vanek has middled-out and hopped from team to team, spending at least a little time with the Islanders, Canadiens, Wild, Red Wings, Panthers, and Canucks.
Zemgus Girgensons
The most recent believe-it-or-not candidate is Zemgus Girgensons, who participated in the games just three years ago. The young Latvian enjoyed success as a rookie, and was voted in via the fan vote. Since his rookie campaign, the centre has not done much to believe that he will be making it back to All-Star weekend any time soon.
Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott is one of the more unpredictable goalies in the league, although lately that trait has been for all the wrong reasons. The former St. Louis Blues’ netminder had the honour of participating in not one, but two All-Star Games (2012, 2015). Since his latest appearance, Elliott has found himself in a tandem-goalie situation with Jake Allen of the Blues, Chad Johnson of the Flames, and now Michael Neuvirth of his current team, the Flyers.
Jimmy Howard
Speaking of goalie tandems, Jimmy Howard knows all about them. He has been in a three-year long tandem with Petr Mrazek for rights to the Red Wings’ crease. The goaltender has really become a bit of a liability, with inconsistency seeming to swoop in every time the veteran starts to get hot. Back in 2012, however, Howard played his way into the honour of participating in the NHL’s best-of-the-best spectacle.
