Vegas Golden Knights: Common sense prevails! Pacioretty is an All-Star!

Vegas Golden Knights fans got their wish today after Max Pacioretty was announced as an All-Star.

Since the rosters for the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis were announced, there has been much debate about those left off, including Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty.

Pacioretty was included on the “Last Men-In” ballot which allows fans to vote for one player from all four divisions, with the results of that ballot being announced today.

However, it was announced today that Pacioretty will be heading to St. Louis after replacing Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg on the Pacific Division roster, with Silfverberg excused from the event due to the imminent birth of his child.

It is a huge win for Pacioretty who, perhaps surprisingly, has never attended an All-Star Game before, while common sense has also prevailed when it comes to sending the right man to St. Louis.

Because, and as we mentioned in a piece on Thursday, it would have been a travesty for Pacioretty not to have been named an All-Star.

He’s on pace for a career-year and the veteran is arguably playing the best hockey of his illustrious career, which is quite some statement considering some of the seasons Pacioretty enjoyed with the Montreal Canadiens.

Through 47 games Pacioretty has recorded 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) including 14 points on the power play, to go along with a plus/minus rating of +9.

In addition, Pacioretty has a Point Shares of 5.7, his shooting percentage is 10.1, he has a CF% of 56.9 and a oZS% of 56.3 in 18:01 minutes of total average ice time.

And, given that Pacioretty’s stats are superior to those he was competing with on the Pacific Division “Last Men In” ballot, coupled with the fact that he was right in the mix with those already going to the All-Star Game, it would have been wrong for the forward not to be involved at the festivities.

What has also been impressive about Pacioretty about this year too is the fact that he has really developed into a leader on this team, both on and off the ice.

He leads by example on the ice with and without the puck and that leadership will be vital come the postseason.

But, for now, all Vegas Golden Knights fans can now look forward to seeing Pacioretty strut his stuff at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game in St. Louis.

It will be pretty cool to see the 31-year-old take in his first All-Star Game, and I have a sneaky suspicion that he will thrive in the Hardest Shot challenge during the Skills Competition.

And it will also be a lot of fun to see Pacioretty potentially play alongside the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl three-on-three during the main event.

Pacioretty will be the lone Vegas Golden Knights representative in St. Louis with Marc-Andre Fleury having pulled out, although Gerard Gallant will be behind the bench for the Pacific Division.

Of course, Max Pacioretty and the Golden Knights have some big games to contend with before the festivities get underway in St. Louis from Jan. 24-25.