As the NHL nears its mid-season sabbatical known as All-Star Weekend, the usual grumblings about All-Star snubs have reared their ugly (yet mostly warranted) heads. If the league based its All-Star rosters purely on performance this season and not on subjective fan voting (I’m talking to you, Montreal Canadiens fans), here’s what the lineups would have looked like:

Eastern Conference:

Evegeni Malkin, Center – The Penguins star rightly deserves his place in the starting lineup. Although he is defensively lacking at times, Malkin leads the NHL in points by a wide margin and has emerged as a bona fide star along with teammate Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh. Geno, as he is known by his fellow Pens, is big, fast, and has a wicked shot. He may not speak the best English, but Malkin is sure to delight fans all over who speak the language of hockey.

Alexander Ovechkin, Wing – That Ovechkin was not elected to the starting lineup speaks to the power of the Pittsburgh and Montreal voting blocs. The Great Eight is the best all-around player in the league, and though he might not win the points title this season, he still scores at a prodigious rate. There have been numerous games where Ovechkin has just decided the Caps are not going to lose and puts the team on his broad shoulders. Perhaps the best example of this was when he scored two goals to lead the Capitals to a comeback victory against New York after the Rangers took a 4-0 lead. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau was openly angry about his star’s snub, and he’s not the only person in the league who feels that way. It seems that the only one who does not care is Ovechkin himself, who continues to play each game with such abandon that the glory of an All-Star contest is just another date on the calendar.

Phil Kessel, Wing – The Bruins’ 22-year-old sniper has been spectacular in what amounts to a breakout season. Three years after he beat testicular cancer, Kessel is among the league leaders in goals. He recorded an extremely impressive streak of 18 straight games with at least one point already in the season, and he is a major part of Boston’s rejuvenated squad. Sadly, Kessel was recently diagnosed with mono and could miss a month. When he returns, don’t expect road crowds to forget the fact that he was out with the “kissing disease.”

Andrei Markov, Defense – Markov was elected to his first All-Star game last year and has kept up his elite level of play this season. He ranks second in the NHL in points by a defenseman, and has been a stalwart on Montreal’s blue line all season. Also, since the All-Star game is being held in Montreal to celebrate the Habs’ 100th anniversary, it is fitting that they should have one representative on this team.

Dennis Wideman, Defense – Boston’s meteoric rise to the top of the Eastern Conference this season has gone hand-in-hand with the improvement of this blue liner. Wideman has the best plus/minus ratio of any defenseman with a plus 26, and his offensive playmaking ability is evidenced by his 21 assists. Add those numbers to a big frame that can bang around in the corners, and it is easy to see why Wideman is an All-Star caliber defenseman.

Tim Thomas, Goalie – Thomas, the winning netminder in last year’s All-Star game, is an obvious choice for this position. He is sixth in the league in wins despite splitting starts with Manny Fernandez, and ranks first overall in save percentage. That Carey Price is starting over him in the actual game is a travesty and makes you wonder about Habs fans frequent claims that they are the smartest fans in the league.

Western Conference:

Ryan Getzlaf, Center – The Duck’s leading man rebounded from a mediocre 2007-08 season to rank fourth in the league in points. He is scoring at a pace greater than last year’s and has tallied 12 points in his last nine contests. With the Ducks having a relatively down season so far, Getzlaf has been the one truly bright spot in Anaheim with his all-around dominance on the offensive side of the puck.

Patrick Kane, Wing – Last year’s Rookie of the Year is a joy to watch. Seeing Kane maneuver his 5’10”, 170 pound frame around and between defenders always brings cheers from the crowd, as do his precise passing and his superb vision on the ice. Oh, he also leads his team in points, which is pretty good as well. He is one of the main reasons that the Blackhawks franchise is experiencing a renaissance in Chicago.

Pavel Datsyuk, Center – The Red Wings’ top forward showed a national audience what he is capable of with his brilliant goal in the Winter Classic. Red Wings’ fans, on the other hand, see this brilliance every game. Datsyuk is silky smooth with and without the puck: He is among the top five in the league in points, and is widely regarded as the best defensive forward in the league. Throw in a set of hands that may be the softest in the NHL, and you’ve got one of the most complete packages on ice.

Dan Boyle, Defenseman – Boyle was the San Jose Sharks’ biggest off-season acquisition, and this season he has consistently proven why. He is the best offensive-minded defenseman in the game. On Saturday night, for instance, he provided a goal and an assist in the Sharks’ big win over the Red Wings. Boyle has thrived on a Sharks team that is the best in the Western Conference and has also quelled any doubts about being weak on the defensive side of the puck.

Dion Phaneuf, Defenseman – Phaneuf is the exact opposite of Dan Boyle in that he is a solid, defensive-minded defenseman in the mold of Scott Stevens. The Flames’ fiery French-Canadian is known and feared for being among the biggest hitters in the game, and can change the course of a team’s play with his body checks. However, Phaneuf can also handle the puck, and has 29 points to show for it this season so far. His intensity would be welcome in the All-Star game, which sometimes features players skating at half speed.

Steve Mason, Goalie – Mason is the frontrunner for both the Calder and Vezina trophies at this point in the season. He has posted six shutouts already, including three in a row during one incredible stretch. His play in net has allowed the Columbus Blue Jackets to stay in playoff contention so far. Oh, and did I mention he is just 20? Yeah, that’s sure to make NU seniors feel good about their current achievements in life this far.