NHL names remainder of All-Star Game roster

The Vancouver Canucks, who started the day with the best record in the Western Conference, also lead in another category -- most players added to the All-Star festivities.

Four members of the Canucks were among the 36 veterans and 12 rookies announced by the NHL for participation in All-Star Weekend, headlined by the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, to be played Jan. 29 in Ottawa.

Players from all 30 teams will be represented in Ottawa, with four members of the Canucks added to the pool of players Thursday -- forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin, defenseman Alexander Edler and forward Cody Hodgson, who was one of the dozen rookies selected to participate along with the veterans in the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition, to be held Jan. 28.

The host Ottawa Senators will have the largest representation at All-Star Weekend, with five players selected -- forwards Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Milan Michalek, and defenseman Erik Karlsson, who were voted in by the fans, and forward Colin Greening, added to the rookie pool.

Henrik Lundqvist

Goalie - NYR

RECORD: 19-7-4
GAA: 1.85 | SVP: 0.939

The Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers had three players selected -- goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, defenseman Dan Girardi and forward Marian Gaborik. The defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins had two players named -- forward Tyler Seguin and defenseman Zdeno Chara. Bruins goalie Tim Thomas also will be at the game after being voted in by the fans.

The players added Thursday join the six players elected to the game by fan balloting -- Thomas; defensemen Dion Phaneuf of the Maple Leafs and Karlsson of the Senators; and the three Ottawa forwards.

Added to the roster Thursday were five goaltenders, among them the Red Wings' Jimmy Howard, who leads the League in wins, and the Blues' Brian Elliott, who is second in the League in goals-against average and save percentage.

Among the nine defensemen added were the Panthers' Brian Campbell and the Jets' Dustin Byfuglien, who last were teammates in 2010 to help the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup. Also added from that championship Blackhawks team were current Hawks forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa.

The game also represents a homecoming for Hossa, who was taken by the Senators with the 12th pick of the 1997 Entry Draft, and he spent his first seven NHL seasons in Ottawa.

"It's a huge thing for the fans and media," said Hossa. "It's also a fun game to play in, lots of goals and seeing lots of friends on the ice. There will be some guys I know in Ottawa and it's going to be nice to see them."

For Campbell, his fourth All-Star appearance is a reward for a bounce-back season after performing under his standards the last two seasons with the Blackhawks. He also has Ottawa roots -- he played his junior hockey with the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League.

"I'm excited to go," he said. "I felt like I had a fairly good first half and can't wait to represent the Panthers. … The first (All-Star Game) was really special. This one probably is the best for myself. I feel like I've put a lot of work in. I feel like I've been written off a little bit sometimes by some people. This one probably means the most to me out of all of them. I love where I'm playing right now, I love the situation. It's very rewarding with all the work that I've put into it to be able to go."

Also going to Ottawa will be the Predators' top defense pair of Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. Joining them will be teammate forward Craig Smith, from the rookie pool.

The League's top nine scorers all will have a place in Ottawa -- the Sedins, the Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, the Flyers' Claude Giroux, the Lightning's Steven Stamkos, Hossa, the Penguins' Evgeni Malkin and Spezza.

Claude Giroux

Right Wing - PHI

GOALS: 18 | ASST: 30 | PTS: 48
SOG: 103 | +/-: 5

Making the team is especially rewarding for Giroux, who moved to Ottawa with his family as a teen and now will play in his second straight All-Star Game.

"My family and friends have been talking about it, that hopefully I make the team," Giroux told NHL.com a few days before the announcement was made. "And if I do it would be pretty cool to live that experience with them."

Other forwards added to the roster include Flames captain Jarome Iginla, who last week became the 42nd player in NHL history with 500 goals; Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who will play in his fifth All-Star Game; and the Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk, who was named to his third All-Star Game.

"It's a great show," said Ovechkin. "It's going to again be in Canada and everybody knows Canada is crazy about hockey and everybody is going to be excited over there. It's going to be nice."

Fifteen of the veterans selected for the game will be making their first All-Star appearances, among them Wild captain Mikko Koivu.

"It's a very big honor," said Koivu. "That's a good word to describe it. Big honor to represent the Minnesota Wild, too, for me."

Another first-timer is Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman, who got the word from Washington General Manager George McPhee. Wideman, who has been traded three times in his seven NHL seasons, said in his experience, calls from the GM usually are a bad thing.

"When he called me I was like, 'Oh man, where am I going now?'" Wideman said. "It was good. I was pretty excited -- a little caught off guard, but excited about it. … It's something that at some point in your career you'd like to do and I'm lucky enough this year to get the opportunity."

On the other side are Iginla, Alfredsson and Chara, who each will be playing in their sixth All-Star Game, the most among the 42 veterans picked.

"It feels good to be selected," said Iginla. "I plan to be there. I look forward to it. I've been very fortunate and it's been a fun year in some ways."

Iginla said the thought of skipping the game for extra rest was not an option.

"At times, you say, 'Oh if you could take a break,' but looking back, one day I’m going to be done, I’ll have lots of time to travel," he said. "They're neat experiences and I'll be able to take my family. The kids are getting bigger and know a little more what's going on and we'll have some fun. I've never taken them before."

After captains and alternate captains are named, the rosters will be picked at the 2012 NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft, to be held Jan. 26.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK

* Below are the additional 36 All-Stars and 12 Rookies:
 
36 Additional All-Stars
 
Forwards
 
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Tyler Seguin, Boston Bruins
Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
Joffrey Lupul, Toronto Maple Leafs
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
 
Defensemen
 
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers
Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Dan Girardi, New York Rangers
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
Keith Yandle, Phoenix Coyotes
Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks
Dennis Wideman, Washington Capitals
Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets
 
Goaltenders
 
Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues
 
12 Rookies
 
Luke Adam, Buffalo Sabres
Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
Craig Smith, Nashville Predators
Adam Henrique, New Jersey Devils
Adam Larsson, New Jersey Devils
Colin Greening, Ottawa Senators
Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
Matt Read, Philadelphia Flyers
Cody Hodgson, Vancouver Canucks