By Kara Yorio

updated 7:57 p.m. ET Feb. 5, 2004

The All-Star break is considered by many to be a key milepost along the rugged road to the Stanley Cup. Some observations and prognostications as the marker approaches:

Most disrespected player (best player ignored by the league)
Avalanche right winger Milan Hejduk is surrounded by bigger names on a team that has huge talents. He might not have a name everyone recognizes, but he has the talent.

So why didn't last season's Rocket Richard Trophy (most goals) winner get invited to the All-Star Game? Understandably, the NHL doesn't want the game dominated by players from one or two teams, but if a team has a lot of the best and most popular players, then so be it. Hejduk is a great player. Too bad the league decided not to let him show off his skills during its supposed showcase. It's a tough trick, keeping a great talent a secret.

Giggy, Take Two (goaltender ready to break through in the playoffs — but not necessarily doomed to be a one-spring wonder).
Flyers goalie Robert Esche can play. Everybody wants to blame the Flyers' troubles on goaltending and blame GM Bob Clarke for not getting a No. 1 goalie. In seasons past, Clarke deserved the criticism, but this year he doesn't. He can't get anybody better than Esche can be.

Olaf Kolzig is not better. Neither is Tommy Salo nor Manny Fernandez. This spring, Esche will surprise the people who haven't been paying attention, just as Jean-Sebastien Giguere did last spring.

Most missed
Devils right winger Jamie Langenbrunner scored key goals last season for the Stanley Cup champions, and they miss him desperately during his prolonged absence because of knee surgery and pneumonia. Langenbrunner is one of the most underrated players in the league — a guy who is strong on both sides of the puck and rises to the occasion time and again.

The Flyers slumped, but the Devils were unable to pass them in the standings because they didn't have Langenbrunner.

Almost famous (players whose scrapbooks are about to triple in size)
Sharks center Patrick Marleau and Coyotes right winger Shane Doan lead their respective teams — one at the top of the Pacific Division and another trying to beat the odds and make the playoffs — and are deservedly getting noticed outside of their home arenas.

Honest and lonely
Rangers center Bobby Holik gets kudos for saying, "Fundamentally, we are the worst team in the National Hockey League." His teammates and coach didn't appreciate the assessment, but to his credit, Holik doesn't care and didn't retract his statement. He only hoped the players and management would see the truth and do something to fix it.

Soon to be a disappointment
The Blues are setting themselves up for a first-round playoff defeat — and that's assuming this talented group doesn't get passed by the likes of the Predators, Kings and Stars. Either way, it doesn't bode well for the Blues.

Comeback to watch
The ugly skate cut to the forearm of the Islanders' Alexei Yashin can't help but affect his stick-handling and scorer's touch, can it? Yashin should return before the regular season ends to answer that question.

Bandwagon to jump on
This is a no-brainer. Root for the talented underdog Thrashers, who have the story that hurts the heart, flashy skills that amaze the eyes and celebrations that show passion and personality. The Thrashers have teams to topple to get a spot in the playoffs, but don't count them out. This was a fun team to watch when it lost; now take a look, and enjoy the ride, wherever it ends up.
 

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