NHL "All-Star Game" News Thread

Coaching berths fitting result for Carlyle, Ruff

Evan Grossman | NHL.com Staff Writer
Jan 15, 2007, 12:00 PM EST

There was no voting involved in the decision. Simply, it was based on performance.
Their teams filled nets with pucks instead of boxes with ballots, and as a result of commanding the dominant teams in each conference, Anaheim’s Randy Carlyle and Buffalo’s Lindy Ruff have been named the coaches for this season’s NHL All-Star Game. Both the Sabres and Ducks have been atop their respective conferences since the start of the season and the two clubs have yet to cool off from their sizzling starts.

Carlyle’s Ducks and Ruff’s Sabres have established themselves as the formidable powers in the Western and Eastern Conferences and they are receiving the first of what is expected to be many rewards for their team’s success. The pair has been given the honor to coach the All Stars on Jan. 24 in Dallas. In addition, Carlyle will be joined behind the Western bench by Nashville head coach Barry Trotz, while Atlanta’s Bob Hartley will assist Ruff on the East end.

“I think back when Lindy played and I played, he was in Buffalo, I was in Pittsburgh for the start of my career,” Carlyle said. “We were somewhat rivals in the sense Buffalo was a bus ride. That was the only team we bused to, Pittsburgh. There was lots of camaraderie that went on on-ice. The competitiveness of both sides was at the forefront.

“Lindy Ruff, as a player he was a competitive individual that went out and worked hard, committed to his team night in, night out,” Carlyle said. “Obviously in his coaching aspect of it, he's done a tremendous job in Buffalo. Just look forward to at some point talking about it. We've got a mutual friend that has a strong relationship with him in Mike Foligno. I played with Mike in junior and played a little bit with him in summer hockey. There was always that Buffalo mentality. Being with the Pittsburgh Penguins at the time, it was one of those things we were competitive, but there was an understanding we respected one another.”

While this is Ruff’s second appearance coaching an NHL All-Star squad (he was behind the World bench at the 1999 ASG in Tampa Bay), it will be Carlyle’s first time coaching in the midseason extravaganza. However, it’s not Carlyle’s first rodeo. The former Norris Trophy winner (1980-81) played in four All-Star Games while with both the Penguins and Winnipeg Jets during his illustrious 16-year career.

“I have respect for Randy,” Ruff said. “I thought he was a good competitor. He's a very intense coach. You know, I know of him. We're not friends or anything, but he's certainly done an exceptional job this year with Anaheim.”

Being named an All-Star coach brought back memories for Carlyle, who made his first NHL All-Star appearance in 1981 at the Forum in Los Angles when his Wales Conference team lost to the Campbell Conference, 4-1. Kent Nilsson, Bill Barber, Wayne Babych, John Ogrodnick and Behn Wilson scored goals in that game, which also featured the legendary “Triple Crown Line” of Marcel Dionne, Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor. Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy also registered points in that game.

Playing in that first ASG remains one of Carlyle’s most vivid hockey memories.

“Well, I think looking back, I would have to say playing in the first one, getting the opportunity to play in the very first one, actually in the L.A. Forum,” Carlyle said. “I can't even remember the year it was, it was so long ago. I was a young player that hadn't experienced any of the success stories that do happen in professional sports. It was kind of like an eye-opener to come out to the All-Star Game, specifically participate in it, get to know all the other players in the league. Specifically, in L.A., I can remember meeting Charlene Tilton from Dallas. That was quite an event for a kid from Sudbury.”

FULL STORY

ASG Captains

DALLAS (AP) -Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche and Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers will be the captains in the NHL All-Star game Wednesday night.

Sakic, the West captain, will be playing in his 12th All-Star game and his fourth as a starter. He was the MVP of the 2004 game, which is the last one because of the lockout in 2005 and an Olympics break last year.

Shanahan, the East captain, is an All-Star for the eighth time. At 37, he's the oldest player on either squad.

Sakic made his All-Star debut 17 years ago Sunday.

"It's a relaxed environment," he said on a conference call Thursday during which his captaincy was announced. "Guys are having fun, joking around on the ice. I don't think anyone takes it too serious. ... You just talk about your teams, what you've done, see old friends and meet new friends."

The All-Star break begins Sunday. The All-Stars will practice in Dallas on Monday night. The YoungStars game and skills competition will be held Tuesday night.

NHLPA, NHL and NHL All-Stars build with Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity during 2007

NHL.com Jan 19, 2007, 10:54 AM EST
Build is part of a $500,000 hurricane-relief effort in partnership
with Habitat for Humanity International

DALLAS -- As part of the community involvement at the 2007 NHL All-Star Celebration, the National Hockey League (NHL), National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), NHL All-Stars and NHL Alumni will join Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity to frame a house with a family displaced by Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday, Jan. 23, outside the American Airlines Center. This is the fourth house built as part of a $500,000 NHLPA and NHL hurricane-recovery effort with Habitat for Humanity International. The project will engage the NHL, NHLPA, teams, employees, business partners and fans, in a joint community build.

WHAT: The NHLPA, NHL, NHL All-Stars, NHL Alumni, Dallas Stars, and Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity will frame a house in a one day build. The house will be lived in by a hurricane-affected family selected by Habitat for Humanity.

WHO: Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner
Ted Saskin, NHLPA Executive Director
Mike Gartner, NHLPA Director, Hockey Affairs
Jim Lites, Dallas Stars President
NHL All-Stars
NHL YoungStars
NHL Alumni
NHL Mascots
Dallas Habitat for Humanity volunteers

WHERE: American Airlines Center parking lot near North Houston Street and All-Star Way

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 23 (Build begins at 8:30 a.m., press conference/photo op. at 2 p.m.)

FULL STORY

Niedermayer, Zetterberg out of All-Star Game

TSN.ca Staff
1/19/2007 2:47:23 PM

The NHL All-Star Game will be short a couple of stars next week as defenceman Scott Niedermayer of Anaheim and forward Henrik Zetterberg of Detroit will not be going.

Niedermayer was voted on to the Western Conference team by fans but will miss the game due to a stress fracture in his right foot. The Ducks noted in a press release that the injury was discovered after a January 13 game against Colorado. He is not expected to miss any regular season games.

Niedermayer's spot on defence will be filled by Ed Jovanovski of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Zetterberg will be replaced by Anaheim forward Andy McDonald.

Jovanovski, 30, will be making his fourth career All-Star Game appearance. Playing in his 11th NHL first season and first in Phoenix, Jovanovski leads Coyotes defensemen in scoring with 27 points in 42 games.

FULL STORY

Crosby, Ovechkin are stars among stars

Canadian Press
1/21/2007 1:46:39 PM

The NHL all-star game is back after a three-year absence and it returns with fresh new faces.

Of the 42 NHLers headed to Dallas this week, 21 of them are first-time all-stars, including the headliners Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.

"Well, I know people are going to be watching those two play together," said 12th-time all-star Joe Sakic. "You know those two are going to be neck and neck for the next 15 years. They are two of the most exciting players in the game and to get an opportunity to watch them on the same line, it's going to be a lot of fun.

"I think both teams will be keeping a close eye on them."

Crosby and Ovechkin were voted in by the fans so they'll at least start together on a forward line with Daniel Briere.

After that it's up to Eastern Conference all-star head coach Lindy Ruff, and he figures he'll keep the super sophomores together.

"Yeah, I don't see why not," said the Buffalo Sabres head coach. "I think that's the dynamic duo and it would be interesting to see what they can do together.

"They both have everything. Tremendous speed, and they can both score and they can both pass."

The 19-year-old Crosby says his job will be simple.

"Playing with a guy who can shoot like that, you want to get it to him," said the NHL's leading scorer. "I'll be doing my best to feed him the puck and let him rip it."

Western Conference all-star Kimmo Timonen of the Nashville Predators will be among the six defencemen trying to stop the mesmerizing 1-2 punch from the East.

He's up for the challenge.

"Big time," Timonen said. "Those are two great young players, probably the future of the NHL right there. I'm looking forward to playing against them."

The players are slated to arrive in Dallas on Monday, a day that starts with the NHL's new uniform launch at an afternoon news conference and ends with the players' all-star practices from 7-9 p.m. ET.

The NHL's board of governors meets Tuesday morning, overshadowed at night by the 7:30 p.m. ET YoungStars Game and 8:30 p.m. ET skills competition.

The main event, the 55th NHL all-star game, goes Wednesday, Crosby's first of many to be sure.

Sakic was in Crosby's shoes 17 years ago when he made his first all-star game appearance.

"What I remember the most about my first all-star game wasn't the actual game but the skills competition," said Sakic. "I had to do the shot drill or the target shooting, my heart was pounding about 200 beats a minute. I don't think I hit them all either just to make it worse."

Crosby isn't exactly showing up under the radar like Sakic perhaps did at the 1990 all-star game but the Pittsburgh Penguins centre, relayed Sakic's comment, figures it'll be much the same for him.

"I'll probably be in a state of shock being with so many guys that I grew up watching," said Crosby, who has a six-point lead in the scoring race with 72 points. "But that's the way it is. I think that's the exciting part of it. The main thing is to there and have fun with it and meet a lot of great players and great guys."

Many fans actually prefer the skills competition on the eve. They can look forward to seeing Montreal Canadiens defenceman Sheldon Souray defend the hardest shot title he earned with Adrian Aucoin at the 2004 all-star game in Minnesota.

"First I have to get selected," said Souray. "Then you look at who's there. (Zdeno) Chara wasn't there last time. A guy like (Dion) Phaneuf can really fire the puck. It's always competitive."

Souray says there's no real strategy.

"I'd just do what I did last time _ just go out and shoot as hard as I can," said the Habs star. "It's pretty much an idiot's event. You go out and wire the puck. That's why it's tailor-made for me."

You might be surprised to hear who Souray views as the favourite if he's entered.

"If there's anyone you should put money on in that competition it would be Chara," he said. "I think he has far and away the hardest shot in the league. It'll be interesting to see him fire the puck."

Timonen, meanwhile, is headed to his second all-star game, a much deserved honour for one of the NHL's vastly underrated players.

The native of Kuopio, Finland, won't be alone from the Timonen clan in Dallas. There'll be a trip from overseas.

"I talked to my dad the day I got selected and he said, `Ok, we're coming,"' said Timonen, a tint of pride in his voice. "I said, `Are you guys sure? It's a long way for four days.' He said, `No son, we're coming.' It's a big deal for them and it's a big deal for me, too."

Timonen will also bring his wife and kids, a common sight at the all-star game.

"I'll bring my family and we'll make Dallas our little vacation spot," said superstar goalie Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils.

FULL STORY

The Leary Firefighters Foundation



Douglas Flynn | Special to NHL.com
Jan 21, 2007, 12:43 PM EST

The following is reprinted from the Official 2007 NHL All-Star Game program with permission.

For more information on The Leary Firefighters Foundation, please visit www.learyfirefighters.org

Denis Leary never passes up a chance to take in a hockey game.

Put the best players in the world all in one place at the same time, and you can bet that Leary will find a way to be involved.

The actor/comedian is just as passionate about his charity work. He founded The Leary Firefighters Foundation in 2000, a year after a devastating warehouse fire claimed the lives of six firefighters, including his cousin, in Leary’s hometown of Worcester, Mass.

So it should come as no surprise that Leary and his foundation will be featured prominently when the best and the brightest of the National Hockey League descend on Dallas for the 2007 NHL All-Star Game. Taking advantage of a way to combine his love of hockey and his desire to aid firefighters was an easy decision for the popular star of "Rescue Me," a television drama about New York City firefighters.

“I am thrilled that the NHL asked The Leary Firefighters Foundation to partner with them to help celebrate NHL All-Star Week,” said Leary in a statement. “This is really a dream come true as it combines my two greatest passions: hockey and firefighters. The opportunity to support the Dallas Fire and Rescue and increase awareness of the Foundation’s mission is really a great honor.”

Leary’s foundation, like the NHL, has constantly been expanding and reaching into new markets. It began as an effort to assist the Worcester department after that devastating 1999 fire, and soon spread to helping the Boston Fire Department as well. After the tragedy of 9/11 ravaged the NYFD, the foundation’s scope was extended to help New York firefighters rebuild their proud department. And now similar efforts are under way to assist the New Orleans department in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Leary Foundation isn’t a typical charity organization though. Just as Leary has often defied convention in his standup act and acting roles, his foundation has its own unique and direct method of helping those in need.

“The thing that’s interesting about the foundation is that it operates differently than a lot of other foundations,” said Elissa Rogovin, a public relations spokesperson for the foundation. “Fire departments will write in and tell us what they need. It’s very specific and goal-oriented. And within six months to a year the fire departments get what they requested.”

Some of the specific requests the foundation has been able to fulfill include a $250,000 fire boat donated to the Boston Fire Department in August and 15 search and rescue boats donated to New Orleans, where three fire houses damaged by Katrina are also being rebuilt with help from Leary’s organization. In the Big Apple, the foundation’s annual Bash for New York’s Bravest raised $900,000 this year, and overall the charity has raised close to $7 million since it started.

“It is an honor for the Foundation to be able to give firefighters across the country the life-saving equipment that they need,” said Leary. “When we are able to have a positive impact on the lives of firefighters, give them the tools that they need to serve and protect, and help to ensure that they return home to their families each night, we know that we have accomplished our mission.”

The foundation’s approach differs somewhat from many other charities. So too does Leary’s role in helping run it. He’s not just a figurehead lending his celebrity status to a worthy cause; he’s an active participant in the foundation’s work.

FULL STORY

NHL 2006-2007 Young All-Star Rosters



EASTERN CONFERENCE

2006-07 Player Statistics as of 1/12/2007
Goaltender - Age - Games Played - Wins - Losses - Over Time - Team
Kari Lehtonen - 23 - 38 - 19 - 11 - 7 - Atlanta Thrashers

2006-07 Player Statistics as of 1/12/2007
Defensemen - Age - Games Played - Goals - Assists - Points - Team
Mike Green - 21 - 42 - 2 - 6 - 8 - Washington Capitals *
Andrej Meszaros - 21 - 46 - 4 - 19 - 23 - Ottawa Senators
Ryan Whitney - 23 - 42 - 7 - 19 - 26 - Pittsburgh Penguins

2006-07 Player Statistics as of 1/12/2007
Forwards - Age - Games Played - Goals - Assists - Points - Team
Patrick Eaves - 22 - 46 - 9 - 13 - 22 - Ottawa Senators *
Phil Kessel - 19 - 29 - 5 - 4 - 9 - Boston Bruins *
Evgeni Malkin - 20 - 38 - 20 - 21 - 41 - Pittsburgh Penguins *
Zach Parise - 22 - 44 - 17 - 17 - 34 - New Jersey Devils
Jordan Staal - 18 - 41 - 12 - 3 - 15 - Pittsburgh Penguins *
Alex Steen - 22 - 45 - 9 - 10 - 19 - Toronto Maple Leafs
Thomas Vanek - 22 - 44 - 23 - 23 - 46 - Buffalo Sabres

* rookie

WESTERN CONFERENCE

2006-07 Player Statistics as of 1/12/2007
Goaltender - Age - Games Played - Wins - Losses - Over Time - Team
Peter Budaj - 24 - 24 - 12 - 9 - 2 - Colorado Avalanche

2006-07 Player Statistics as of 1/12/2007
Defensemen - Age - Games Played - Goals - Assists - Points - Team
Matt Carle - 22 - 39 - 3 - 18 - 21 - San Jose Sharks *
Brent Seabrook - 21 - 42 - 2 - 9 - 11 - Chicago Blackhawks
Ladislav Smid - 20 - 40 - 0 - 4 - 4 - Edmonton Oilers *
Shea Weber - 21 - 44 - 7 - 16 - 23 - Nashville Predators

2006-07 Player Statistics as of 1/12/2007
Forwards - Age - Games Played - Goals - Assists - Points - Team
Ryan Getzlaf - 21 - 46 - 18 - 11 - 29 - Anaheim Ducks
Jussi Jokinen - 23 - 45 - 9 - 13 - 22 - Dallas Stars
Anze Kopitar - 19 - 45 - 12 - 27 - 39 - Los Angeles Kings *
Alexander Radulov - 20 - 31 - 11 - 9 - 20 - Nashville Predators *
Lee Stempniak - 23 - 43 - 13 - 13 - 26 - St. Louis Blues
Wojtek Wolski - 20 - 42 - 15 - 16 - 31 - Colorado Avalanche *

* rookie

NHL.com to feature comprehensive streaming coverage of 2007

NEW YORK -- In conjunction with the NHL Network in Canada and NHL RADIO, NHL.COM will offer hockey fans live streaming video and audio coverage of the 2007 All-Star Celebration events from the festivities in Dallas. Additionally, NHL.COM staff will capture behind-the-scenes footage of player interviews as well as events taking place around Dallas.

STREAMING BROADCAST SCHEDULE:

Monday, January 22, 2007
4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET - All-Star Special (video)
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET - Mid-Season Recap (video)
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET - NHL Salute to a Generation of Stars (video)

Tuesday, January 23, 2007
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET - NHL LIVE Radio Show (audio)
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET - All-Star Entertainment (video)
7:30 p.m. ET - NHL YoungStars Game, presented by Upper Deck and Dodge/Nitro SuperSkills (audio)

Wednesday, January 24, 2007
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET - NHL LIVE Radio Show (audio)
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET - All-Star Pre-Game
8 p.m. ET - 2007 NHL All-Star Game (audio)

NHL On The Fly: All-Star Special - Dan Pollard and Gary Green go behind-the-scenes with live, exclusive interviews from this year's All-Stars from the Eastern and Western conferences.

NHL Network Presents: NHL Salute to a Generation of Stars - Academy Award-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. hosts the 2.5-hour program honouring 11 hockey legends, including Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, Ray Bourque, and the recently retired Joe Nieuwendyk and Brett Hull. Each former NHLer will be joined by a current NHL All-Star, showcasing two generations of hockey players. Gooding will be at centre ice alongside TSN's Pierre McGuire, Pollard, Green, Florida Panthers commentator Dave Strader and NY Rangers analyst Joe Micheletti, as they conduct on-ice interviews with the players. The celebration also features practice sessions with the current All-Stars. The live telecast will take place at American Airlines Center in front of thousands of hockey fans.

NHL Network Presents: All-Star Entertainment - Pollard, Green and Micheletti go black-tie conducting candid interviews with the All-Stars and YoungStars live from the red carpet, as the players arrive at American Airlines Center.

NHL On The Fly: All-Star Pre-Game - Pollard, Green and Micheletti conduct live, exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the players as they prepare for the All-Star Game.

NHL On The Fly: Mid-Season Recap - Host Todd Lewis and former NHLers Bill Berg and Bob McGill review the NHL at the halfway point of the 2006/07 season, recapping the highs and lows thus far and forecasting what to expect for the second half.

The 2007 NHL All-Star Celebration, hosted by the American Airlines Center in Dallas, will feature live national broadcasts of the NHL YoungStars Game presented by Upper Deck and Dodge Nitro/NHL SuperSkills event on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and the NHL All-Star Game on Wednesday, Jan. 24 on VERSUS in the United States and CBC and RDS in Canada starting at 8 p.m., ET. NASN, the NHL's exclusive broadcast partner in Europe, will provide live to more than 25 countries and territories in Europe. NHL RADIO on Westwood One will provide exclusive, national radio coverage in the United States and Canada, while Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio each will provide radio play-by-play coverage.