SURPRISE!!! SANGUINETTI IN, ANISIMOV OUT . . . 

From the “You’ve-Got-To-Be-Kidding-Me” department Bobby Sanguinetti has been named to the PlanetUSA team while Artem Anisimov was not.

Before we write another word, we want to clarify two things:

1) We admire Bobby Sanguinetti both as a hockey player and more importantly as a person.

2) Bobby is a supremely talented young defenseman who absolutely has a long and prosperous NHL career in front of him. We would also add that he is having a fine rookie campaign.

Now, all that being said, Artem Anisimov has clearly been the team’s MVP and has FAR superior numbers to Sanguinetti. Here’s their lines:

#    Player                    Pos GP  G  A   PTS   +/- PIM PPG PPA SH SHA GW FG IG OT UA EN SOG SOA SOGW SO%      Pt/G    PIM/G    Shots    Sh%

42 Artem Anisimov      C    37  16  21   37    1    38    7     8      2   0      2    3   0    1   1    0    2     5       1       0.400    1.00     1.03       90         0.178

21 Bobby Sanguinetti  D    37    3  20   23  -12    20   2    12     0   0      2    0   1   0    0    0    0     1       0       0.000    0.62     0.54       68         0.044

Both are terrific players and well deserving of recognition. However, given how strong Anisimov has been he deserves to be named to this team more than Sanguinetti does. 

You want to make a good argument. Here’s the numbers for the other Centers that were chosen:

Name                  GP       G      A     PTS     +/-     PIM

Keith Aucoin      35       14     35     49       20      32 (Well deserving)

Jeff Taffe           31      16     25     45       13      29 (Well deserving)

Petri Kontiola     36       9      24     33       1       10  (Okay…)    

Ryan Potulny      34       17    14     31       -2      24  (?)

Nathan Gerbe     24       15    11     26        2      25  (Are you kidding me?)

Nikita Filatov      23        7     10     17        6      10  (This has got to be  a joke…)

Someone is going to have to explain to us how a player with the third best numbers doesn’t make it into the Top 6…

Here’s the official release from the Wolf Pack:

WOLF PACK’S SANGUINETTI HEADED TO AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC

* * * *

Rookie Blueliner Named to Planet USA Team for January 25-26 Event

The American Hockey League announced today that Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti has been named to the Planet USA squad for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications, upcoming January 25-26 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. A rookie out of the Ontario Hockey League and a first-round selection by the parent New York Rangers in the 2006 NHL Draft (21^st overall), Sanguinetti is the leading-scoring defender on the Wolf Pack squad, and ranks third on the team in assists and tied for third in points, with 3-20-23 in 37 games. The Trenton, NJ native also stands tied for third in the AHL in rookie assists, tied for fourth in the league in assists among defensemen and sixth in points among AHL blueliners. Prior to turning pro this year with the Wolf Pack, the 6-3, 190-pound Sanguinetti spent four seasons in the OHL, registering career totals of 70 goals, 142 assists and 212 points in 263 games with Owen Sound and Brampton. The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications will consist of the 2009 AHL All-Star Skills Competition Sunday, January 25 (4:00 start) and the 2009 AHL All-Star Game on Monday, January 26 (7:00 faceoff).

Here’s the Official  release from the AHL:

2009 PlanetUSA AHL All-Star team announced

The American Hockey League announced today the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star team roster for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications, to be played later this month at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

The team comprises 24 players – 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders – born outside of Canada; the Canadian team was announced on Tuesday (release). AHL fans determined the starting lineups via on-line balloting at theahl.com, while a committee of AHL coaches selected the remainder of the rosters. All 29 AHL teams are represented by at least one All-Star.

Among the members of the PlanetUSA team are 19 first-time AHL All-Stars, including rookies Nikita Filatov of the Syracuse Crunch, Bobby Sanguinetti of the Hartford Wolf Pack, Jonas Junland of the Peoria Rivermen, Yannick Weber of the Hamilton Bulldogs, Mattias Karlsson of the Binghamton Senators, Jeff Frazee of the Lowell Devils and Nathan Gerbe and Tim Kennedy of the Portland Pirates. Hershey Bears forward Keith Aucoin has been selected to his fourth consecutive AHL All-Star Classic, and PlanetUSA captain Rory Fitzpatrick of the Rochester Americans will be making his third All-Star appearance and his first since 1998.

Because the Chicago Wolves won the Calder Cup championship in 2008, their current staff of head coach Don Granato and assistants Jason Christie and Wendell Young will serve as the coaches for the PlanetUSA team. John Anderson was promoted to the Atlanta Thrashers after guiding the Wolves to the title last spring.
The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing in the 2009 AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, January 25 (4:00 p.m. ET), and the 2009 AHL All-Star Game on Monday, January 26 (7:00 p.m. ET). The event will be televised nationally in the United States and Canada.

2009 PlanetUSA AHL All-Star Team

Head Coach: Don Granato, Chicago
Assistant Coach: Jason Christie, Chicago
Assistant Coach: Wendell Young, Chicago
Athletic Trainer: Kevin Kacer, Chicago
Equipment Manager: Craig Kogut, Chicago