Cammalleri centers the AHL 2nd AllStar Team

[Albi]

1st AllStar Team

C Jason Spezza - Binghamton
LW Simon Gamache - Milwaukee
RW Chuck Kobasew - Lowell
D Niklas Kromwall - Grand Rapids
D Travis Roche - Chicago
G Ryan Miller - Rochester

2nd AllStar Team
C Michael Cammalleri - Manchester
LW Andy Hilbert - Providence
RW J.P. Vigier - Chicago
D Dan Hamhuis - Milwaukee
D Brian Pothier - Binghamton
G Kari Lehtonen - Chicago

link - ahl official website

I don't want to sound as a homer but I was wondering if Michael should center the 1st line instead of Spezza. I know Jason has more pts (106 to 102), more assists (77-59), and more SHG (3-2) but in the other categories Cammy has the edge.

Goals: 43 for Mike, 29 for Spezza
+/-: +22 for Mike, +11 for Spezza
PPG: 17 for Mike, 10 for Spezza
GWG: 7 for Mike, 4 for Spezza

IMO the goals scored is a stat that should have made the difference in favour of Cammalleri. A 14 goal difference is a huge one, also considering Mike had to play with different linemates most of the season and they're not as good as Spezza's ones.

Just my 2 cent

[ILUVTHISGAME]

YAY!!
Congrats Michael!!

S.

[David A. Rainer]

I don't know. I've got no problem with Spezza centering the 1st team. But Cammy has played from time to time on the wing, correct? Why not put him in one of the wing spots on the 1st team?

But you know what, it doesn't really matter. Cammy has been the premier scoring forward in the AHL this year, bar none.

[ReggieMoto]

Originally Posted by David A. Rainer

But Cammy has played from time to time on the wing, correct?

I don't think he's been on the wing this season. He's pretty much centered the first line all season.

Regarding the choice of Spezza over Cammy, in the pregame interview of Boudreau this evening, Bruce noted that Cammy plays in a division that has 6 of the top 10 goalies, where Spezza doesn't. If you take that into account, he is far and away the top center of the league.

[King Blazer]

A few things to remember about the voting:

The voting is position specific...
Players and media can not vote for players on their own teams...
Players and media don't see a lot of teams other than those in their division...

[Venom_17]

What the heck? Can't they wait for the season to at least end?

I know one thing for sure, I'd take Cammy on my team over Spezza this year in the AHL. From the games I've watched of Bingo, Spezza has been a hot dog. Sure he gets lots of points, but he doesn't involve his teammates nearly enough.

I'm sure the AHL also has political/business reasons for making Spezza the premiere player in the league, first team center, etc. Buy hey who can blame them? That's the nature of the biz.

[Albi]

I'll need some help...

[ReggieMoto]

Originally Posted by Albi

I'll need some help...

I don't think so. While I chimed in with my homer perspective, I think you made the case just fine without any assistance from anyone else.

[GoneFullHolmgren]

Cammalleri or Spezza, you could have made a case for either of them centering that top line. they should be 1 and 1A. No shame in Cammalleri finishing 2nd to Spezza in a all-star team selection. We all know what kind of player Cammalleri is. Now MVP is another story. Cammalleri has carried this team pretty much all season and SHOULD be the league MVP.

[Gardebut30]

its fine to debate this topic, but i think at the end of the day, you guys have a fine player on your hands, hopefully for a long time. a player that 29 other teams would love to have (2nd all-star team or not).