Eastern Conference
Head Coach: Lindy Ruff
Starters
Forwards:
Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh
Daniel Briere – Buffalo
Alexander Ovechkin – Washington
Defense:
Brian Campbell – Buffalo
Sheldon Souray – Montreal
Goalie:
Ryan Miller – Buffalo
Reserves:
Forwards:
Martin St. Louis – Tampa Bay
Vincent Lecavalier – Tampa Bay
Jason Blake – New York Islanders
Simon Gagne – Philadelphia
Dany Heatley – Ottawa
Marian Hossa – Atlanta
Brendan Shanahan – New York Rangers
Eric Staal – Carolina
Justin Williams – Carolina
Defense:
Jay Bouwmeester – Florida (WHAT?!)
Zdeno Chara – Boston
Tomas Kaberle – Toronto
Brian Rafalski – New Jersey
Goalies:
Martin Brodeur – New Jersey
Cristobal Huet – Montreal
Western Conference
Head Coach: Randy Carlyle – Anaheim
Starters:
Forwards:
Joe Thornton – San Jose
Jonathan Cheechoo – San Jose (Ridiculous)
Joe Sakic – Colorado
Defense:
Scott Neidermayer – Anaheim
Nicklas Lidstrom – Detroit
Goalie:
Roberto Luongo – Vancouver (pffft)
Reserves:
Forwards:
Bill Guerin – St. Louis
Martin Havlat – Chicago
Patrick Marleau – San Jose
Rick Nash – Columbus
Yanic Perrault – Phoenix
Brian Rolston – Minnesota
Teemu Selanne – Anaheim
Ryan Smith – Edmonton
Henrik Zetterberg – Detroit
Defense:
Phillipe Boucher – Dallas
Dion Phaneuf – Calgary
Kimmo Timonen – Nashville
Lubomir Visnovsky – Los Angeles
Goalies:
Mikka Kiprusoff – Calgary
Marty Turco – Dallas
So those are the full rosters for the 55th NHL All-Star Game and the first All-Star game played since 2004. The 2005 game was swiped due to the lockout and the 2006 NHL season didn’t consist of a game due to the players participation in the Olympics.
Biggest surpises:
Jonathan Cheechoo who very much has no business being on the team much less be a starter! Havlat or Selanne are better choices for that spot but you gotta let the fans vote the starters in. Wise indeed!
Jay Bouwmeester! Geez. Drop Jason Williams and put Oli Jokinen there for the Panthers.
Yanic Perrault making the team is a solid choice despite having similar numbers to those of Cheechoo with the difference being that Perrault has come into Phoenix and taken over their number one center spot after being signed on Oct. 30th at $625,000 with no incentives. All of that despite having the reputation of being the best face-off man in the league (and for having a career best season last year with Nashville) for well over half a decade many teams were skeptical about giving him a chance and now he’s made the All-Star team. But maybe the fact that each team in the league must have a representative at the All-Star Game and the fact that Perrault is the best of a sorry bunch in Phoenix might have something to do with his selection as well? NAH!!
Where’s Chris Drury?
The NHL All-Star Game takes place January 24th…yeah, don’t bother watching.
