Eberle, Letang, Johnson join All-Star roster

NEW YORK -- Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang have been added to the 2012 NHL All-Star roster, and Minnesota Wild forward Nick Johnson will join the group of Rookies participating in the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills CompetitionTM in Ottawa, the National Hockey League announced today.

Eberle and Letang replace injured Wild forward Mikko Koivu and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien on the All-Star roster while Johnson replaces injured Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins among Rookie selections.

Eberle leads the Oilers in goals (17), assists (27) and points (44) in 44 games. The 21-year-old native of Regina, Sask., recorded points in 12 of 13 games between Nov. 28 and Dec. 29, tallying 9-7--16 in that span. The Oilers' first-round pick (22nd overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft, Eberle will be making his NHL All-Star Game debut.

Letang has earned his fourth invitation to NHL All-Star Weekend. He played in the NHL YoungStars Game at Atlanta in 2008 during his first full NHL season, skated for the NHL Sophomores against the Rookies in the 2009 YoungStars game at Montreal and made his NHL All-Star Game debut in 2011 at Raleigh. The 24-year-old Montreal native has recorded 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) and played an average of 26:13 in 25 games this season.

Playing in his first season with the Wild, Johnson has recorded 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 44 games. The 26-year-old Calgary native was claimed off waivers in September from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had selected him in the third round, 67th overall, of the 2004 NHL Draft. Johnson went on to play four years at Dartmouth University and the majority of three pro seasons with the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

The 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft TM will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26 to divide the All-Stars and Rookies into two teams -- Team Alfredsson, led by captain Daniel Alfredsson of the All-Star host Ottawa Senators and his assistant captain Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers; and Team Chara, featuring captain Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins and his assistant captain Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The draft will be televised live on TSN and RDS in Canada and NBC Sports Network in the United States at 8 p.m. ET from the Hilton Lac Leamy in Gatineau-Ottawa, Quebec.

Below are the All-Stars/Rookies available for selection by Team Alfredsson and Team Chara in the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft TM:

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
Jordan Eberle, Edmonton Oilers
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
Milan Michalek, Ottawa Senators
Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Defensemen

Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers
Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Dan Girardi, New York Rangers
Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
Keith Yandle, Phoenix Coyotes
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs
Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks
Dennis Wideman, Washington Capitals

Goaltenders

Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues

Rookies

Luke Adam, Buffalo Sabres
Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets
Nick Johnson, Minnesota Wild
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

Selected but unable to participate:

Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets (All-Stars)
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild (All-Stars)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers (Rookies)