5 players worthy of All-Star write-ins

The NHL All-Star Game will take to Los Angeles in January.

Leading up to the celebration, fans can vote for who they want to see in the game.

Then there's the write-in option, the same tool that led to the theatrics of John Scott at last year's All-Star Game in Nashville. But what about taking it in a different direction this year, and using the "name your all-star" option as a chance to recognize the underrated and underappreciated?

Here are five candidates to consider when heading to the ballot box:

Alex Galchenyuk

Each team is granted four players on the ballot, and the Montreal Canadiens options are frontloaded with the likes of Carey Price, Shea Weber, Brendan Gallagher, and captain Max Pacioretty.

That leaves little room for Alex Galchenyuk, the Canadiens center who is finally playing in the middle of the ice after years on the wing, and the results are certainly paying off. The 22-year-old is scoring at a near point-per-game clip, with 22 points in 23 games. Only eight players have more points than Galchenyuk this season. It's time to punch his ticket to All-Star weekend.

Cam Atkinson

The Columbus Blue Jackets are surging, and at 13-5-4, the team has one of the league's top records at the quarter pole.

Part of that success is due to forward Cam Atkinson, who has scored 21 points in 22 games and is on pace to shatter his previous career high of 53 points. He won't get the fanfare with fellow Blue Jackets forwards Brandon Saad and captain Nick Foligno already on the ballot, but Atkinson is surely worthy of an invite to the NHL's weekend showcase.

Michael Grabner

When you sit among the NHL's best scorers, you deserve All-Star consideration. That's the case with New York Rangers forward Michael Grabner, who has 12 tallies on the year. Just five players have scored more goals than Grabner this season, three of which are only a single tally ahead.

And besides, the skills competition that couples the All-Star game needs another speedster to give last year's fastest skater, Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, a run for his money, who set the bar at 13.17 seconds.

Kevin Shattenkirk

St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk knows what's on the line, and is wasting no time in a contract year. A pending unrestricted free agent, Shattenkirk is off to a torrid pace, already with 21 points in 24 games. Should that production keep up, he'll skate past his previous season-best of 45 points.

Often overlooked on a crowded St. Louis blue line that includes the likes of Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester, and Colton Parayko, an All-Star invite would no doubt put the spotlight on a deserving player in Shattenkirk.

Jimmy Howard

The Detroit Red Wings netminder was an easy target in the off-season, but Jimmy Howard has had the last laugh this season.

After losing his starter's role last season to young netminder Petr Mrazek, the veteran keeper has come back with a vengeance. Exhibit A - his astonishing .940 save percentage. Only Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk and Montreal's Carey Price have sported better numbers this season. Howard has taken back the net in Detroit, allowing just 19 goals in 12 games.