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Vladimir Tarasenko Selected for 2017 NHL All-Star Game

By Patrick Karraker

Jan 2, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) looks on in the game against the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2016 Winter Classic ice hockey game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) looks on in the game against the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2016 Winter Classic ice hockey game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Vladimir Tarasenko is headed to the NHL All-Star Game for the third straight season.

The NHL announced the complete rosters for its 2017 All-Star Game on Tuesday morning, and in a very unsurprising turn of events, St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko was named to the Central Division’s roster. He’s the only Blues representative on a Central Division squad that features four Chicago Blackhawks, two members of the Minnesota Wild, and one representative each from the Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, and Blues.

It will be Tarasenko’s third straight appearance in the game (and the third of a possible three that he could have been named to, as the game was cancelled in 2013 due to the lockout and in 2014 due to the Olympics).

The league requires every team in the league to be represented in the game, but it’s not as if Tarasenko didn’t deserve the honor based on merit. Through 40 games, he has 20 goals and 23 assists. Those 43 points are good enough to rank him fourth in the league (sixth in the league at 1.08 points per game).

Next: Blues' Playoff Win Over Blackhawks Was Best STL Sports Moment of 2016

While Tarasenko hasn’t had as many highlight-reel goals as he had over the past two seasons, he has been a better all-around playmaker in 2016-17 than he’s ever been before. In a season where extra offense has been needed without David Backes or Troy Brouwer on the team, Tarasenko has stepped up and become arguably the Blues’ best passer. He leads the team with 23 assists, and he’s actually probably had more memorable assists this year than he has goals.

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