Devils' Clarkson added to Eastern Conference YoungStars squad

NEW YORK -- Right wing David Clarkson of the New Jersey Devils has been added to the roster of 'NHL YoungStars' invited to the 2008 NHL All-Star Weekend, the National Hockey League announced today. Clarkson replaces Pittsburgh Penguins center Tyler Kennedy on the Eastern Conference YoungStar team.

Comprising the best of the League's stellar rookie class in 2007-08, the eight-player Eastern and Western Conference YoungStar teams will face off in a new three-on-three event as part of the Dodge/NHL SuperSkills competition on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Philips Arena in Atlanta (7 p.m., ET, VERSUS, CBC, RDS). The YoungStars will be shooting against goaltenders named to participate in the NHL All-Star Game the following day.

Clarkson, 23, signed with the Devils as a free agent in August 2005 after four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. The Toronto native spent the 2005-06 season and most of 2006-07 with Devils' affiliates in the American Hockey League. He appeared in seven regular-season and three Stanley Cup playoff games with New Jersey last season and has played in 47 of the Devils' 48 games in 2007-08, posting 13 points (five goals, eight assists).

The 2008 NHL All-Star Weekend in Atlanta will feature live national broadcasts of the Dodge/NHL SuperSkills event on Saturday, Jan. 26 and the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, Jan. 27 on VERSUS in the United States and CBC and RDS in Canada. NASN and other international broadcasters will provide live coverage of both the Dodge/NHL SuperSkills event and the NHL All-Star Game to more than 115 countries and territories in Europe. NHL RADIO on Westwood One will provide exclusive national radio coverage which can be heard on stations around the United States and Canada as well as on XM Satellite Radio's NHL Home Ice and NHL.com.


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Defensemen
Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta Thrashers
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
Mike Lundin, Tampa Bay Lightning
Marc Staal, New York Rangers

Forwards
Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals
David Clarkson, New Jersey Devils
Brandon Dubinsky, New York Rangers
Milan Lucic, Boston Bruins


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Defensemen
Alexander Edler, Vancouver Canucks
Erik Johnson, St. Louis Blues
Jack Johnson, Los Angeles Kings
Matt Niskanen, Dallas Stars

Forwards
Sam Gagner, Edmonton Oilers
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Peter Mueller, Phoenix Coyotes
David Perron, St. Louis Blues