by CHRIS JOHNSTON, CP , The Canadian Press

Starters

Ryan Getzlaf, forward, Anaheim. A gritty player with the scoring touch to match, Getzlaf is the only Western starter we agree with the fans on. He's in the midst of a career year.

Joe Thornton, forward, San Jose. The master playmaker leads the soaring Sharks and is within reach of another 100-point season. A perennial all-star who should be back again.

Jarome Iginla, forward, Calgary. The Flames captain finds himself in a familiar place _ among the league's scoring leaders. He's on pace for more than 35 goals and almost 100 points.

Dan Boyle, defence, San Jose. Amazingly, the 32-year-old has never appeared in an all-star game. That should change quickly because Boyle's off-season arrival from Tampa is one of the reasons San Jose is off to such a strong start.

Shea Weber, defence, Nashville. A booming shot has helped Weber score 12 goals, tying him for the lead among defencemen heading into Tuesday's game. He's also a physical player that coach Barry Trotz has called among the best in the league.

Evgeni Nabokov, goalie, San Jose. An early Vezina Trophy candidate, Nabokov has been a rock during the first half of the season. Highlights include a personal 10-game winning streak between late October and early December.

Reserves

Daniel Sedin, forward, Vancouver. The Sedin who shoots, Daniel's 19 goals are five more than anyone else has on his team. The arrival of Mats Sundin should only help boost his production.

Pavel Datsyuk, forward, Detroit. One of the most consistent point-getters since the NHL lockout. Looks like he'll have 85 points or more again this season ... ho-hum.

Patrick Kane, forward, Chicago. There's been no sophomore jinx here. The reigning rookie of the year leads the upstart Blackhawks in scoring.

Shane Doan, forward, Phoenix. Quietly putting together another solid campaign in the desert. The first 80-point season of his career is within reach.

Patrick Marleau, forward, San Jose. It's officially a bounce-back year for the former two-time all-star. The Sharks captain is only seven points from matching his total from last season _ and he's going to get a lot more than that.

Devin Setoguchi, forward, San Jose. Currently putting up a point a game in his first full NHL season. The native of Taber, Alta., has been another key member of the teal and black.

Rick Nash, forward, Columbus. He's been a goal-scorer since entering the league as a teenager, but one stat stands out above the others this year _ Nash is a plus-9. Coach Ken Hitchcock is helping make him a two-way player.

Patrick Sharp, forward, Chicago. After taking some time to make an impact in the NHL, he's emerging as a sniper. Expect him to top 40 goals this season.

Loui Eriksson, forward, Dallas. The pick might surprise you, but it's hard to ignore Eriksson's 20 goals. The Swede has been one of the few bright spots in Big D.

Duncan Keith, defence, Chicago. Not as flashy as teammate Brian Campbell, but a solid contributor just the same. Keith's plus-20 rating is one of the best in the NHL.

Scott Niedermayer, defence, Anaheim. A mid-season return slowed him down last year, but he's back up to normal pace now. Leads the league in takeaways and moves the puck well.

Sheldon Souray, defence, Edmonton . This is what the Oilers had in mind when they signed the hometown boy two summers ago. Souray logs big minutes and is among the team leaders in points.

Nicklas Lidstrom, defence, Detroit. His scoring pace is a bit off its normal standard, but Lidstrom is still among the best in the game. The veteran blue-liner belongs in the league's showcase event.

Niklas Backstrom, goalie, Minnesota. Even though many fans probably confuse him with his namesake in Washington, this Backstrom is making a name for himself. His stats are solid on a Wild team that has struggled at times.

Steve Mason, goalie, Columbus. After starting the year in the American Hockey League, the 20-year-old rookie has helped revive playoff hopes in Columbus. His five shutouts are especially impressive.

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