He has been named a first-team All-NHL player each of the past two seasons. He is a two-time Norris Trophy runner-up as the league's best defenseman. Yet on Tuesday morning, Capitals defenseman Mike Green learned that he had made the All-Star game for the first time in five full seasons. Green made it along with Caps forward Alex Ovechkin, who earned his fourth trip, one shy of the franchise record.
Hard to believe Green has yet to make it. He's posted back-to-back seasons with more than 70 points and obviously has been rewarded with recognition at the end of the year. One complication was the lack of an All-Star game last season thanks to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Green was a finalist for Team Canada, but ultimately was left off that gold-medal winning roster. He also has taken some heat for his playoff performances in recent years. But with eight goals and 20 assists and the fourth-most ice time in the NHL (26 minutes, 10 seconds per game) it was time for Green to get the All-Star nod.