According to a league release, the NHL has named the first eight selections to the four divisional All-Star teams for the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in Sunrise, Florida.
The league names one player to represent each team at the game, a rule in standing since the league switched to a divisional format for its mid-season talent showcase. A public fan vote will decide the three remaining players per division next week.
Each division’s leader in points percentage after gameplay concludes on January 11 will determine coaches for these teams. The Boston Bruins have already clinched the best such number in the Atlantic at that time, meaning Jim Montgomery will be behind the bench for the star-studded Atlantic Division, arguably the league’s best contingent of talent.
The initial rosters for each division are as follows:
Atlantic Division
Boston: G Linus Ullmark (1st appearance)
Buffalo: C Tage Thompson (1st appearance)
Detroit: C Dylan Larkin (3rd appearance)
Florida: RW Matthew Tkachuk (2nd appearance)
Montreal: C Nick Suzuki (2nd appearance)
Ottawa: LW Brady Tkachuk (3rd appearance)
Tampa Bay: RW Nikita Kucherov (4th appearance)
Toronto: RW Mitch Marner (2nd appearance)
Metropolitan Division
Carolina: LW Andrei Svechnikov (1st appearance)
Columbus: LW Johnny Gaudreau (7th appearance)
New Jersey: C Jack Hughes (2nd appearance)
NY Islanders: C Brock Nelson (1st appearance)
NY Rangers: G Igor Shesterkin (1st appearance)
Philadelphia: C Kevin Hayes (1st appearance)
Pittsburgh: C Sidney Crosby (5th appearance)
Washington: LW Alex Ovechkin (8th appearance)
Central Division
Arizona: LW Clayton Keller (3rd appearance)
Chicago: RD Seth Jones (4th appearance)
Colorado: RD Cale Makar (2nd appearance)
Dallas: LW Jason Robertson (1st appearance)
Minnesota: LW Kirill Kaprizov (2nd appearance)
Nashville: G Juuse Saros (2nd appearance)
St. Louis: RW Vladimir Tarasenko (injured) (4th appearance)
Winnipeg: LD Josh Morrissey (1st appearance)
Pacific Division
Anaheim: RW Troy Terry (2nd appearance)
Calgary: C Nazem Kadri (2nd appearance)
Edmonton: C Connor McDavid (6th appearance)
Los Angeles: LW Kevin Fiala (1st appearance)
San Jose: RD Erik Karlsson (7th appearance)
Seattle: C Matthew Beniers (1st appearance)
Vancouver: C Elias Pettersson (3rd appearance)
Vegas: G Logan Thompson (1st appearance)
The most important note on these rosters is obviously that of Tarasenko’s status. The 31-year-old is on injured reserve with a hand injury, and likely won’t be able to suit up. His replacement will be named shortly.
More to come…
Travis Konecny should have been the Flyers pick.
Kevin Hayes is a very questionable pick by the NHL as Philly’s representative for the All-Star game as Hayes was recently a healthy scratch.
Hayes?…..The NHL realizes the Torts factor! LOL
Torts being a jagoff doesn’t change that Hayes has been great.
Whether it should have been Konecny, I dunno, but Hart seems to have turned it around and could have been their rep if not for Sheshterkin.
Pretty good picks. Not many arguments to be made
Not one defenseman? Am I missing something?
From the East that it
It’s an All-Star game. Defense is optional.
Seth Jones? 11 points & a -26 makes you an All-Star? I know Chicago has to be represented, but choose Kane or Toews as a going away present. Kane’s a -24, but at least has 27 points and would be fun in the the skills competition. Seth Jones has been awful this season. Jake McCabe has been better than Jones
Good catch. You’re right
That was my first thought as well.
LOL Hayes over TK? Hayes deserves some love, but TK got robbed.
Was hoping they’d pick Chad Ruhwedel over Sid.
A few days off would be a much better use of time than the pointless weekend of boring almost hockey.
Hey Josh, The Metro and the Atlantic divisions are flipped/mislabeled in the article.
Us— “@Josh, Knock, Knock!”
@Josh— “Who’s there?”
Us— “@bucsfan and me.”
@Josh— “Oh, crap, don’t tell me I swapped the Atlantic and Metro division headings.”
Us— “You got it!”