NHL All-Star Weekend 2012: Team Alfredsson Takes Skills Competition, Team Chara Takes Game

Minor Fixes Could Add Excitement To NHL All-Star Weekend

The NHL All-Star Game isn't broken. It's actually a ton of fun. We just don't realize that on television, and the league can apply a few quick fixes to make sure that changes.

NHL All-Star Game MVP 2012: Marian Gaborik's 3 Goal, 4 Point Night Wins Honor

Marian Gaborik is the 2012 NHL All-Star Game MVP. It helps when you're on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa, of course, but Gaborik's three goals and an assist led all point getters in the game, making him the clear winner of the award. He earned a car and a donation to charity for his efforts.

Gaborik scored his first two goals in the first period against Henrik Lundqvist, his Team Alfredsson foe and New York Rangers teammate. He predicted during Thursday's All-Star Draft that he'd get the better of Lundqvist in the game, and after the first goal, he mocked him with the Artem Anisimov "sniper" celebration.

Gaborik's squad, Team Chara, topped Team Alfredsson by a final score of 12-9 in the game. Six other players wound up with three points in the game, including Alfredsson, the captain of the host Ottawa Senators. Late in the contest, Alfredsson took one long shift to try to grab a hat trick goal, which would have surely clinched the MVP for himself in front of the home crowd. Tim Thomas played spoiler, however, and the award stayed firmly within Gaborik's grasp.

For more on the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, keep an eye on this StoryStream.

NHL All-Star Game 2012 Final Score: Team Chara Beats Team Alfredsson, 12-9

The 2012 NHL All-Star Game was an exciting, close game deep into the third period. Then Team Chara did at game's end what it did at the game's beginning, scoring goals in quick succession to score a 12-9 triumph over Team Alfredsson in Ottawa.

With the game tied at 8-8 with around eight minutes to go in the third period, Team Chara revved up its offense, scoring three goals in 1:24 to take a 11-8 lead that Team Alfredsson could not assail. Team Chara finished with six goals in the third period, and all but Joffrey Lupul's final goal were the first of the day by their respective scorers: Phil Kessel, Jarome Iginla, Marian Hossa, team captain Zdeno Chara, and Corey Perry.

Hossa and Iginla finished with three points on the day, scoring a goal each and assisting on two others. Marian Gaborik, who had a hat trick in the first two periods, wound up with four points, good enough for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game MVP award.

For more on the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, keep an eye on this StoryStream.

NHL All-Star Game 2012: Team Chara, Team Alfredsson Have Rosters That Could Divide Crowd

The 2012 NHL All-Star Game isn't until Sunday in Ottawa, but Thursday night's NHL All-Star Draft established one team as a sentimental favorite for the Ottawa crowd. Stunningly, it isn't the one led by Bruins (and ex-Senators) defenseman Zdeno Chara.

Team Chara's roster has a who's who of potential boo-worthy players for the likely overwhelmingly pro-Senators crowd: there are Joffrey Lupul, Phil Kessel, and Dion Phaneuf, all from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and there are Chara and Boston teammate Tyler Seguin, and there are New York Rangers Marian Gaborik and Dan Girardi. Don't expect this assortment of stars from the Senators' rivals to get many ovations, even with Ottawa rookie Colin Greening making the cut.

On the other hand, Daniel Alfredsson's team's roster should be the crowd's favorite. Team Alfredsson has four Senators — Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek — and a former Senator, Brian Elliott, as one of its three options between the pipes. Add in the red jerseys the roster will don, and it's a lock that Team Alfredsson is getting the lion's share of the love in Ottawa come Sunday.

For more on the 2012 NHL All-Star Draft and the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, keep an eye on this StoryStream.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: Team Alfredsson Clinches Skills Competition With Elimination Shootout Victory

In the final challenge of the 2012 NHL Skills Competition, Team Alfredsson dominated the elimination shootout to walk away with a 21-12 win on Saturday night.

Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price, coming in cold, stoned the first three attempts of the shootout. But the floodgates quickly opened, as Steven Stamkos, Evgeni Malkin, and John Tavares scored on three consecutive attempts. Malkin put an incredible move on Lundqvist, stopping the puck and sliding it right through the wickets. Jason Spezza finished the first round with an incredible move of his own, deking Price out of his pads and sliding it by with a forehand.

The second round was highlighted by a Daniel Alfredsson goal, as he continued to put on a show in front of the hometown fans. The All-Star captain and leader of the Senators beat Tim Thomas over the stick side to bring the crowd alive. Jarome Iginla was the only All-Star to advance for Team Chara, as Brian Elliott stopped three of four attempts.

Team Alfredsson continued to pull away in the third round, as Jason Pominville and Kris Letang beat Jimmy Howard to make it 17-11. Jonathan Quick put on a show in goal for Team Alfredsson, making an incredible save on Joffrey Lupul.

In the final round, Steven Stamkos, the league's leading scorer, put on the move of the shootout with a spin across the front of Carey Price and a low shot for his second straight shootout goal. Henrik Lundqvist would clinch it for Team Alfredsson one shot later, stuffing Kimmo Timonen to seal the victory. With the team victory locked up, Stamkos would be the last man standing to win the individual competition.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: Zdeno Chara Sets A New Record In Hardest Shot Competition

As expected, the hardest shot skills challenge had the crowd buzzing in Ottawa on Saturday night. Daniel Alfredsson led off for his team, and the hometown favorite rifled a 101.1 mph rocket into the back of the net. He really stepped into it, looking to put on a show for the Ottawa fans. Countering for Team Chara, defenseman Dennis Wideman added a 94 plus mph shot. Alfredsson then took his second attempt and just barely eclipsed his first shot at 101.3. Wideman could not match either shot for Team Chara, and the Ottawa Senators' captain took the point for his team.

Dion Phaneuf and Jason Spezza squared off in the second round, looking to match his teammate's power. Spezza buried two shots over 100 mph, and Phaneuf could not manage to break it making the hometown Senators two-for-two.

The final round matched the two of the most powerful stars in the game, Zdeno Chara and Shea Weber. The Nashville Predators' defensemen immediately made it clear that the challenge had taken a step up, hitting 104.9 mph on his first shot. Chara immediately beat it with a 106.2 mph blast that was the fastest shot ever in the competition, beating the record he set last year. After Weber slipped and missed his second, Chara then added a little extra to finish it off with a 108.8 shot that had the crowd buzzing. It was the highlight of the night, as the giant Bruins defenseman set a record unlikely to be broken. Chara then won the final round, adding his fifth straight hardest shot victory in a row.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: Led By Henrik Sedin, Team Alfredsson Adds Two Points With Relay Skills Victory

The skills challenge relay, a new event added for 2012, featured 16 players from each team and highlights a range of skills such as passing, puck control, accuracy, and one-timers.

Team Chara led off, with the Capitals' Dennis Wideman rocketing one-timers from the blue line. Jarome Iginla came next, shooting one timers from the top of the circle and then passing it off to Joffrey Lupul, who was forced to take his shots from the bad angle down low. Patrick Kane represented Team Chara in the passing accuracy portion making cross-ice passes into mini-customized nets about a foot wide. Kane was forced to make skip passes over a small rail for the second half of the challenge. Pavel Datsyuk and Gabriel Landeskog ran the weave, with Datsyuk pirouetting around the pylons and Landeskog stick-handling. Marian Hossa rounded out the relay with the accuracy challenge, breaking all four targets and giving Team Chara a total time of 2:45.

Shea Weber led off for Team Alfredsson with one-timers from the blue line. Kris Letang followed with one timers from the top of the circle, burying three of four attempts. Steven Stamkos finished off the one timer portion, struggling to find the back of the net three times from the bad angle. Henrik Sedin was incredible on the passing accuracy portion, quickly finding the back of the mini-nets after Kane was mercy-ruled during the same part of the relay for Team Chara. Sedin's passing was a highlight of the relay.

Milan Michalek and Logan Coutoure ran the weave and James Neal finished off the accuracy shooting portion to give Team Alfredsson the point with a time of 2:25. Sedin's passing work was the difference in the first round.

In group two, Team Chara needed only 10 shots to get nine one-timer goals, as Jordan Eberle's passes were right on the money to Dion Phaneuf, Zdeno Chara, and Jamie Benn. Kimmo Timonen struggled with the passing accuracy, before handing it off to Rapheal Diaz to control the puck through the weave. Evgeni Malkin flew through the stick handling course and then Phil Kesell finished it off breaking all four shot targets for a final time of 2:14.

The left-handed group two for Team Alfredsson took a little longer to complete their one-timers, with John Tavares struggling from the bad angle shot down low. Daniel Sedin could not match the success of the passing accuracy his brother Henrik showed in round one, as Team Alfredsson fell behind halfway through the relay. But Craig Smith, Claude Giroux, and Jason Pominvile would make it up over the final three events to beat Team Chara with a time of 2:08. Smith's quick work through the pylons of the puck control course was particularly impressive.

Team Alfredsson now leads 8-6.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: Jamie Benn Returns This Weekend After Appendectomy, Wins Accuracy Shooting Challenge

The accuracy shooting competition is measured by how quickly a player can break four targets in each corner of the net. The player takes a pass from behind the net and then rifles it at the corners, as the pressure builds with each miss.

Rookie Matt Read took only six shots to break all four targets, as he opened up the competition with a time just north of 14 seconds. Hometown favorite Jason Spezza took 18 seconds to break all four targets, going high first and then rifling low to finish it off. The mercy rule was applied to Tyler Seguin, who took 30 seconds but was unable to break all four targets, giving Spezza the win for Team Alfredsson.

Steven Stamkos, the top goal-scorer in the NHL, struggled to hit the low targets and eventually just skated in to knock off the final one after 44 seconds. Jamie Benn, who is returning after an appendectomy, was impressive slowing down to make sure the puck was flat on the ice, and then breaking all four targets in just over 13 seconds.

Marian Hossa also had one of the more impressive times, busting all four targets in under 18 seconds. Hossa controlled the passes from Phil Kessel and Ryan Suter, and then took his time before ripping his shots.

Read and Benn advanced to the finals, where Read followed up his impressive first round performance by breaking all four targets in 16 seconds. The rookie showed no nerves on the league's big stage in Ottawa. Benn quickly responded, however, hitting four of five shots and adding another point for Team Chara with a time of 10.2 seconds.

After three events, Team Chara and Team Alfredsson are tied with six points each.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: Patrick Kane Wears Superman Cape And Wins Breakaway Challenge

The breakaway challenge is one of the highlights of the NHL's skills competition, as the league's best inject some out-of-the-box creativity and look to put on a show. Brian Elliott and Carey Price were the goalies selected to for the thankless task of stopping some of the NHL's most explosive players.

Ryan Johansen missed the first shot for Team Chara, as he went between the legs but was a little strong with a backhand. Sean Coutourier, another rookie, missed his shot after juggling the puck on his stick. Johansen was strong on his second attempt but Coutourier's second attempt was dazzling as he brought the puck with him, poked it back and spun around to beat Price.

Corey Perry was the first to score a goal, after taking the puck down the ice on his stick, and spinning it around as if he were playing lacrosse. Perry dropped it in front of the crease and flipped a backhand past Elliott. Perry then scored on his final attempt with a mini-goalie stick, which he took out from under his sweater while approaching the net.

Patrick Kane stole the show with his second attempt, as teammate Marian Hossa brought out a Superman cape and Clark Kent glasses. Kane went down to the ice, mimicking Superman flying through the air and beat Elliott with his stick extended across the crease. In his third attempt, Kane tricked Elliott with an exploding puck (h/t/ @BubbaProg)

Throughout the event, the goalies took part in the creativity, as Price defended one shot backwards while "Tebowing" to block the net on another.

The winner was determined by a fan vote by text message, and Kane's superman shot took home the breakaway challenge.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: Fastest Skater Event Won By Team Alfredsson And Carl Hagelin

The first event of the 2012 NHL Skills Competition in Ottawa is in the books. For tonight, rookie Carl Hagelin is the fastest skater among the NHL's best.

The first race, a backwards skate down the length of the ice, was won by Kris Letang of the PIttsburgh Penguins. Letang put some distance between he and Brian Campbell on the first turn to take the win home for Team Alfredsson. In the second race between goalies, the LA Kings Jonathan Quick defeated Jimmy Howard of the Red Wings by a stride to put Team Alfredsson up two points to none.

The rookie race was won by Michigan alum Carl Hagelin, who's had a tremendous season with the first place New York Rangers. Hagelin went hard into the last turn and almost took a spill, but he held on to edge out Colin Greening. In a race between two Americans, Phil Kessel beat out Keith Yandle after the Coyotes' Yandle slipped on the final turn to give Kessel an opening.

The hometown hero Erik Karlsson, a defenseman, blew by veteran Marian Hossa in the final race of the first round. Karlsson took a big lead on the turns to give the Ottawa crowd a thrill.

Hagelin and Greening posted the fastest times for their teams, and the rookies raced again in the final. Hagelin once again beat Greening, as he burst through the final turn to win comfortably. After the first event, Team Alfredsson has a 4-2 lead.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: TV Schedule, Announcers And More

With apologies to the unique NHL All-Star Draft event that was held on Thursday night, one of the most exciting events of the NHL's All-Star Weekend is the annual skills competition on Saturday night.

The actual skills competition will be shown live on the NBC Sports Network in the United States and CBC in Canada beginning at 7pm ET, but the NHL Network and CBC will have pregame shows.

For NBC, Dave Strader will handle the play-by-play with Eddie Olczyk in the booth. Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick will be on the ice for player interviews with Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury and Keith Jones in the studio at Scotiabank Place.

The NHL Network's pregame show begins at 4pm ET and the network will have Kathryn Tappen and Brian Duff, analysts Barry Melrose, Kevin Weekes, Mike Johnson and EJ Hradek and reporter Heidi Androl in Ottawa throughout the weekend's festivities.

CBC's coverage begins at 5pm ET with Hockey Night In Canada Game Day, hosted by P.J. Stock and Andi Petrillo with a pregame show beginning at 6:30pm ET. Ron McLean will host the actual event alongside Kelly Hrudey. Jim Hughson calls the action and Craig Simpson, Glenn Healy, Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman provide updates from ice level.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

2013 NHL All-Star Game Awarded To Columbus Blue Jackets

The NHL announced Saturday that the 2013 All-Star Game will be held in Columbus, hosted by the Blue Jackets.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: Team Captains Select Participants In Skills Competition

NHL All-Star captains Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara selected the two squads on Thursday night. On Friday, the two captains determined who would participate in each of the skills competitions on Saturday night.

Below are descriptions of the events and which All-Stars will be participating for their teams.

Event 1 - Fastest Skater

Five players from each team compete, four All-Star skaters and one rookie. The contest will consist of five preliminary races, with the player posting the fastest time from each team meeting in one final match race. The race format is new this year: one skater from each team is positioned side-by-side on the start line. Both skaters race toward the same end zone, both turn outward, skate to the opposite end zone, turn back and skate past center ice to the finish line. Six team points are available -- one each to the winner of the six individual races.

Participating in the Fastest Skater competition will be:

Team Alfredsson: Kris Letang (backwards), Jonathan Quick (goalie), Carl Hagelin (rookie), Keith Yandle, Erik Karlsson

Team Chara: Brian Campbell (backwards), Jimmy Howard (goalie), Colin Greening (rookie), Phil Kessel, Marian Hossa

Event 2 - Breakaway Challenge

A test of creativity a player can insert into a breakaway, three shooters (one rookie, two All-Stars) and one goaltender from each team will participate. Each skater will attempt three shots -- with no limits. Shooters can start their attempt from anywhere with full access to the offensive zone, including behind the net. NHL penalty shot rules do not apply. Fans in-arena and watching on television in Canada and the United States will be able to vote for their favorite player by texting the number that corresponds to the player of their choice to 81812. The shooter with the highest fan vote will score one point for his team.

Participating in the Breakaway Challenge:

Team Alfredsson: Sean Coutourier (rookie), John Tavares, Logan Coutoure and goaltender Brian Elliott

Team Chara: Ryan Johnson (rookie), Patrick Kane, Corey Perry and goaltender Carey Price

Event 3 - Accuracy Shooting

Four players from each team (one rookie, three All-Stars) will compete, with four additional All-Stars from each team serving as passers. From 25 feet in front of the net, a shooter will take aim at four foam targets attached to the inner side of the goal posts, one target in each corner. The objective is to hit all targets in the fastest time. The player with the fastest time from each team will go head-to-head in the final round for the title of the NHL's most accurate shooter. Five team points are available, one to the winner of each individual match-up

Participating in the Accuracy Shooting:

Team Alfredsson: Matt Read (rookie), Jason Spezza, Steven Stamkos, Daniel Sedin. Passing to that quartet will be Alexander Edler, Dan Girardi, Claude Giroux and Henrik Sedin

Team Chara: Cody Hodgson (rookie), Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Marian Hossa. Passing to that quarter will be Phil Kessel, Ryan Suter, Jordan Eberle and Brian Campbell.

Event 4 - Skills Challenge Relay

A new event in 2011, this event will feature 16 players from each team (two rookies, 14 All-Stars) and showcase a host of skills that include the "one-timer," passing, puck control, stick-handling and accuracy shooting.

In the "one-timer" event, three shooters (with the assistance of one passer) must score three goals over an eight-inch barrier. In the passing event, one passer must complete a pass into each of six nets placed around the rink. In the puck control event, one skater will skate through a series of cones while keeping possession of the puck. In the stickhandling event, one skater will control the puck through a series of obstacles; and in the accuracy shooting event, one player will take aim at four targets.

Two groups from each team will go through the relay -- one from each team in a pair of heats. Each skill must be completed before moving on to the next skill in this timed relay event worth a total of three points. The fastest team in each heat will earn one point and the team with the fastest combined time will earn one bonus point.

Participants in the Skills Challenge Replay:

Team Alfredsson: Group 1: Nick Johnson (one-time passer), Shea Weber, Kris Letang and Steven Stamkos (one-time right-handed shooters), Henrik Sedin (passing accuracy), Milan Michalek (puck control), Logan Coutoure (stick-handling), James Neal (target shooter); Group 2: Alexander Edler (one-time passer), Scott Hartnell, John Tavares and Keith Yandle (one-time left-handed shooters), Daniel Sedin (passing accuracy), Craig Smith (puck control), Claude Giroux (stick-handling)

Team Chara: Group 1: Ryan Suter (one-time passer), Dennis Wideman, Jarome Iginla and Joffrey Lupul (one-time right-handed shooters), Patrick Kane (passing accuracy), Pavel Datsyuk (puck control), Gabriel Landeskog (stick-handling), Marian Gaborik (target shooter); Group 2: Jordan Eberle (one-time passer), Dion Phaneuf, Zdeno Chara and Jamie Benn (one-time left-handed shooters), Kimmo Timonen (passing accuracy), Rapheal Diaz (puck control), Evgeni Malkin (stick-handling)

Event 5 - Hardest Shot

Team Captain Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins has broke and improved on the record (105.9 mph) in two of the last three seasons. Four players from each team (one rookie, three All-Stars) will compete in five head-to-head matchups. One contestant from each team will square off in each round, valued at one point each. The highest recorded shot (by radar in mph) of two attempts will be scored. The player from each team with the hardest single shot will meet in a final match to determine the NHL's hardest shooter. Five team points are available -- one to the winner of each of the four preliminary matchups and one to the winner of the finale.

Participating in the Hardest Shot:

Team Alfredsson: Justin Faulk (rookie), Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Shea Weber

Team Chara: Luke Adam (rookie), Dennis Wideman, Dion Phaneuf and defending champion Zdeno Chara

Event 6 - Elimination Shootout

The skills competition-deciding event, 15 participants from each side (one rookie, 11 All-Stars, three goaltenders), compete in a survivor-style shootout. Shooters who score will move on to the next round in the shootout, with the All-Star goaltenders rotating after every third shooter. The event will continue until one player scores and the other(s) do not in a single round -- last goal wins. Every goal scored will count as one point for the goal-scorer's team.

Participating in the Elimination Shootout:

Team Alfredsson: Carl Hagelin (rookie), Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Claude Giroux, Daniel Alfredsson, James Neal, Milan Michalek, Jason Pominville, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Daniel Sedin and goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist, Brian Elliott and Jonathan Quick.

Team Chara: Colin Greening (rookie), Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin, Corey Perry, Tyler Seguin, Marian Gaborik, Patrick Kane, Jarome Iginla, Jamie Benn, Joffrey Lupul, Kimmo Timonen, Ryan Suter and goaltenders Carey Price, Tim Thomas and Jimmy Howard

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

2012 NHL All-Star Draft Ratings Drop For Roster Selection Telecast

The format for selection of teams for the NHL All-Star team changed in the 2010-11 season, in an attempt to bring the fantasy sports aesthetic into the annual hockey event. Prior to last season, teams for the All-Star Game were divided based on the Conference of the All-Star player's team, as is customary in all other All-Star games for the rest of the major North American sports. Now, however, captains and alternates are voted on by the All-Star selections themselves, after which there is a roster draft by the two captains.

This year, the telecast of the All-Star roster draft was carried by NBC on Thursday, Jan. 26. The telecast originated from Ottowa, ON, the site of the 2012 All-Star Game proper. Captains Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins and Daniel Alfredsson of the "hometown" Ottowa Senators made their team selections, but the audience tuning in was not as large as NBC may have hoped.

According to Stevelepore of Puck the Media, the ratings were down 35% from last year in the United States. Although 1.6 million viewers watched the draft, only 408,000 of those viewers were watching on NBC in the US. This number is down from 624,000 in 2011, although this may have something to do with the fact that last year's draft took place on a Friday.

For full coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, check in with our StoryStream.

Perhaps The One Thing Gary Bettman, Joffrey Lupul Have In Common

NHL All-Star Skills Competition Lineups: Teams Set Rosters For 6 Events

Team Chara and Team Alfredsson are all set for the 2012 NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Check below to see who was drafted by Zdeno Chara and who made Daniel Alfredsson's squad.

Here is a look at all the selections:

TEAM CHARA

Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater

All-Star backwards: Brian Campbell
Goalie: Jimmy Howard
Rookie: Colin Greening
All-Star: Phil Kessel
All-Star: Marian Hossa

All-State NHL Breakaway Challenge

Rookie: Ryan Johansen
All-Star: Patrick Kane
All-Star: Corey Perry
Goalie: Carey Price

Canadian Tire NHL Accuracy Shooting

Rookie: Cody Hodgson
All-Star: Tyler Seguin
All-Star: Jamie Benn
All-Star: Marian Hossa
Passer: Phil Kessel
Passer: Ryan Suter
Passer: Jordan Eberle
Passer: Brian Campbell

G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay

One-timer passer: Ryan Suter
One-timer right-handed: Dennis Wideman
One-timer right-handed: Jarome Iginla
One-timer right-handed: Joffrey Lupul
Passing accuracy: Patrick Kane
Puck control: Pavel Datsyuk
Stick handling: Gabriel Landeskog
Target shooter: Marian Gaborik
One-timer passer: Jordan Eberle
One-timer left-handed: Dion Phaneuf
One-timer left-handed: Zdeno Chara
One-timer left-handed: Jamie Benn
Passing accuracy: Kimmo Timonen
Puck control: Raphael Diaz
Stick handling: Evgeni Malkin
Target shooter: Phil Kessel

* Note: Two rookies must participate per team

Blackberry NHL Hardest Shot

Rookie: Luke Adam
All-Star: Dennis Wideman
All-Star: Dion Phaneuf
All-Star: Zdeno Chara

Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout

Rookie: Colin Greening
All-Star: Pavel Datsyuk
All-Star: Evgeni Malkin
All-Star: Corey Perry
All-Star: Tyler Seguin
All-Star: Marian Gaborik
All-Star: Patrick Kane
All-Star: Jarome Iginla
All-Star: Jamie Benn
All-Star: Joffrey Lupul
All-Star: Kimmo Timonen
All-Star: Ryan Suter
Goalie: Carey Price
Goalie: Tim Thomas
Goalie: Jimmy Howard

TEAM ALFREDSSON

Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater

All-Star backwards: Kris Letang
Goalie: Jonathan Quick
Rookie: Carl Hagelin
All-Star: Keith Yandle
All-Star: Erik Karlsson

All-State Insurance NHL Breakaway Challenge

Rookie: Sean Couturier
All-Star: John Tavares
All-Star: Logan Couture
Goalie: Brian Elliott

Canadian Tire NHL Accuracy Shooting

Rookie: Matt Read
All-Star: Jason Spezza
All-Star: Steven Stamkos
All-Star: Daniel Sedin
Passer: Alex Edler
Passer: Dan Girardi
Passer: Claude Giroux
Passer: Henrik Sedin

G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay

One-timer passer: Nick Johnson
One-timer right-handed: Shea Weber
One-timer right-handed: Kris Letang
One-timer right-handed: Steven Stamkos
Passing accuracy: Henrik Sedin
Puck control: Milan Michalek
Stick handling: Logan Couture
Target shooter: James Neal
One-timer passer: Alex Edler
One-timer left-handed: Keith Yandle
One-timer left-handed: Scott Hartnell
One-timer left-handed: John Tavares
Passing accuracy: Daniel Sedin
Puck control: Craig Smith
Stick handling: Claude Giroux
Target shooter: Jason Pominville

* Note: Two rookies must participate per team

Blackberry NHL Hardest Shot

Rookie: Justin Faulk
All-Star: Daniel Alfredsson
All-Star: Jason Spezza
All-Star: Shea Weber

Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout

Rookie: Carl Hagelin
All-Star: Steven Stamkos
All-Star: John Tavares
All-Star: Jason Spezza
All-Star: Claude Giroux
All-Star: Daniel Alfredsson
All-Star: James Neal
All-Star: Milan Michalek
All-Star: Jason Pominville
All-Star: Kris Letang
All-Star: Erik Karlsson
All-Star: Daniel Sedin
Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist
Goalie: Brian Elliott
Goalie: Jonathan Quick

Get more info on the teams and check out video of the captains making their selections at NHL.com. For full coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, check in with our StoryStream.

NHL Skills Competition 2012: History And Overview

The festivities for the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend officially began on Thursday but the 2012 All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. might be the most entertaining part of the entire weekend, save for the game itself.

The Skills Competition will see Team Chara battle Team Alfredsson as Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara will draft fellow All-Stars to compete in six events, some individual and some team-related, in a showcase of the many facets of hockey beyond just skating and scoring.

First up is the Fastest Skater competition, in which five players from each team race in a series of heats to determine the fastest. The winner of each heat and the overall winner is awarded a point for their team. Michael Grabner won the competition last year with a speed of 14.238 seconds.

In the Breakway Challenge, three shooters and one goalie from each team participate. Each player attempts three shots as they try to score a goal in the most impressive way possible, drawing votes from judges. Player with the most votes gets a point for their team. Alex Ovechkin has won this event all three years of its existence. Since he's not participating in All-Star Weekend, we'll have a new winner this year.

For Accuracy Shooting, four foam targets are set at the four corners of the goal. Two players pass the puck to the shooter and the shooter who tries to the four targets in the least amount of time. The two fastest from each team go head-to-head for the title. Daniel Sedin hit all four targets in 8.9 seconds to claim the prize last year, the first in which time determined the winner. Ray Bourque claimed eight accuracy titles, either outright or shared.

In the Skills Challenge Relay, four separate relays consist of the following: one timers, passing, puck control relay, stick handling, and shooting accuracy. The team that finishes in the fastest time is the winner. Team Staal took this one last year.

The Hardest Shot measures exactly what it sounds like. The hockey player who shoots the puck the hardest, as measured by MPH, and advances to the championship will win it for his team. Captain Zdeno Chara has won this event four years running. He's got a ways to go if he wants to match Al McInnis, who won it seven times.

Finally, the Elimination Shootout asks hockey players to do what they do best. Score a goal against the goaltender and move on. You have one shot and each goal is worth a point. This is the fourth year of this event and Corey Perry was your winner last year.

Check out the rest of the Skills Competition history here and get ready to watch the pucks fly.

For full coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, check in with our StoryStream.

VIDEO: Somebody Yelled 'Wade Belak' From Crowd During NHL All-Star Draft

NHL All-Star Draft 2012: Team Chara Roster Will Get Booed All Weekend Long

They wear blue. They have Zdeno Chara, the ex-Senator but current member of the rival Boston Bruins. They have Joffrey Lupul, hated foe from the Toronto Maple Leafs. And if that wasn't enough to ensure that Team Chara would be the bad guys at the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in Ottawa, they added two more Leafs, Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, to their ranks as well.

Team Chara will try to win the Skills Competition on Saturday evening and the All-Star Game on Sunday, but they certainly won't have the Scotiabank Place crowd behind them as they make the attempt. Here's a look at the full Team Chara roster:

TEAM CHARA

Forwards: Joffrey Lupul, Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, Corey Perry, Phil Kessel, Patrick Kane, Jarome Iginla, Marian Gaborik, Jordan Eberle, Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn

Defensemen: Zdeno Chara, Kimmo Timonen, Ryan Suter, Dan Girardi, Dion Phaneuf, Dennis Wideman

Goalies: Tim Thomas, Carey Price, Jimmy Howard

Rookies: Gabriel Landeskog, Luke Adam, Colin Greening, Cody Hodgson, Ryan Johansen, Raphael Diaz

NHL All-Star Draft 2012: Team Alfredsson Roster Clearly The Hometown Favorite

There's no doubt about which club the hometown fans in Ottawa will be rooting for this weekend. Led by Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, Team Alfredsson will wear the red and white of the home team and will have quite a bit of local flavor amongst their ranks.

Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek will all play for the team. Former Senators goaltender Brian Elliott will also play for Team Alfredsson. The only Senator not on the "good" side is rookie Colin Greening. Here's a full look at Team Alfredsson:

TEAM ALFREDSSON

Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Claude Giroux, Steven Stamkos, Daniel Sedin, Milan Michalek, Henrik Sedin, James Neal, John Tavares, Scott Hartnell, Jason Pominville, Logan Couture

Defensemen: Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Shea Weber, Dan Girardi, Keith Yandle, Alex Edler

Goalies: Henrik Lundqvist, Jonathan Quick, Brian Elliott

Rookies: Sean Couturier, Justin Faulk, Carl Hagelin, Nick Johnson, Matt Read, Craig Smith

NHL All-Star Draft 2012: Complete Results Of Thursday's Event

Team Alfredsson and Team Chara have been selected at the 2012 NHL All-Star Draft. Pavel Datsyuk was taken with the No. 1 overall pick, while Erik Karlsson was selected first by teammate Daniel Alfredsson with the No. 2 overall pick. The final defenseman selected was Alex Edler with the No. 30 overall pick to Team Alfredsson, while Jimmy Howard was the final goaltender selected, No. 19 overall to Team Chara.

Here are the full results of Thursday's draft:

1. Pavel Datsyuk, F, Detroit Red Wings (Chara)

2. Erik Karlsson, D, Ottawa Senators (Alfredsson)

3. Tim Thomas, G, Boston Bruins (Chara)

4. Jason Spezza, F, Ottawa Senators (Alfredsson)

5. Evgeni Malkin, F, Pittsburgh Penguins (Chara)

6. Jonathan Quick, G, Los Angeles Kings (Alfredsson)

7. Marian Hossa, F, Chicago Blackhawks (Chara)

8. Claude Giroux, F, Philadelphia Flyers (Alfredsson)

9. Kimmo Timonen, D, Philadelphia Flyers (Chara)

10. Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh Penguins (Alfredsson)

11. Corey Perry, F, Anaheim Ducks (Chara)

12. Steven Stamkos, F, Tampa Bay Lightning (Alfredsson)

13. Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens (Chara)

14. Brian Elliott, G, St. Louis Blues (Alfredsson)

15. Phil Kessel, F, Toronto Maple Leafs (Chara)

16. Shea Weber, D, Nashville Predators (Alfredsson)

17. Ryan Suter, D, Nashville Predators (Chara)

18. Daniel Sedin, F, Vancouver Canucks (Alfredsson)

19. Jimmy Howard, G, Detroit Red Wings (Chara)

20. Dan Girardi, D, New York Rangers (Alfredsson)

21. Brian Campbell, D, Florida Panthers (Chara)

22. Keith Yandle, D, Phoenix Coyotes (Alfredsson)

23. Patrick Kane, F, Chicago Blackhawks (Chara)

24. Milan Michalek, F, Ottawa Senators (Alfredsson)

25. Dion Phaneuf, D, Toronto Maple Leafs (Chara)

26. Henrik Sedin, F, Vancouver Canucks (Alfredsson)

27. Jarome Iginla, F, Calgary Flames (Chara)

28. James Neal, F, Pittsburgh Penguins (Alfredsson)

29. Dennis Wideman, D, Washington Capitals (Chara)

30. Alex Edler, D, Vancouver Canucks (Alfredsson)

31. Marian Gaborik, F, New York Rangers (Chara)

32. John Tavares, F, New York Islanders (Alfredsson)

33. Jordan Eberle, F, Edmonton Oilers (Chara)

34. Scott Hartnell, F, Philadelphia Flyers (Alfredsson)

35. Tyler Seguin, F, Boston Bruins (Chara)

36. Jason Pominville, F, Buffalo Sabres (Alfredsson)

37. Jamie Benn, F, Dallas Stars (Chara)

38. Logan Couture, F, San Jose Sharks (Alfredsson)

2012 NHL All-Star Draft: Logan Couture Selected With Final Pick

Logan Couture is your Mr. Irrelevant in the 2012 NHL All-Star Draft. It came down to the second-year San Jose Shark and his division rival, Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars at the end. Team Chara opted to go with Benn, leaving Couture on stage all alone for the 38th and final pick.

Oh, but he did win a pretty ugly car as a consolation prize: a 2013 Honda Crosstour.

Phil Kessel, last year's Mr. Irrelevant, was taken No. 15 overall by Team Chara. Kessel was taken by teammate Joffrey Lupul, and the other Toronto Maple Leaf, Dion Phaneuf, joined them with the No. 25 overall pick. It's safe to say that the hometown Ottawa crowd will be rooting against them just as hard as they're rooting for Team Alfredsson this weekend.

Team Alfredsson is very Ottawa heavy. Aside from rookie Colin Greening, who was placed on Team Chara, all the Senators at the All-Star Game will wear the home colors of red and white. Alfredsson and his assistant captain, Henrik Lundqvist, selected Erik Karlsson with the No. 2 overall pick, Jason Spezza with the No. 4 pick and Milan Michalek with the No. 24 pick. Former Sens goalie Brian Elliott also joined Team Alfredsson with the No. 14 pick.

The final goaltender taken in the draft, at No. 19 in the order by default, was Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings. He'll play for Team Chara. The final defenseman taken, also by default thanks to the rules, was Alex Edler of the Vancouver Canucks.

Edler was on the board with another defenseman, Dennis Wideman of the Washington Capitals, as the draft entered the 15th round. All defensemen had to be gone by then, so it was just a matter of which would go last. It almost seemed like a rule that Chara, a Boston Bruin, would refuse to take a Canuck, and perhaps that's why he opted for Wideman over Edler. Both Sedin twins went to Team Alfredsson as well, but rookie Cody Hodgson will play for the blue and silver of Team Chara.

The rookies were split into two groups prior to the event. During a commercial break in the program, Sean Couturier of the Philadelphia Flyers and Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche flipped a puck to determine which group would be assigned to which team. Couturier won the flip and opted to go with Team Alfredsson. They're the home team, after all.

NHL All-Star Draft 2012: Through 20 Picks, Team Alfredsson Getting All The Cheers

It's safe to say we know which team the Ottawa crowd will be cheering for. Not only does Team Alfredsson have Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson at the helm, but with their first two picks, both the captain and his assistant, Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, opted for some home cooking.

Going No. 3 overall was Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson, quite the deserving pick. Jason Spezza, also of the Sens, went No. 4 overall, despite probably not being the fourth best player on the board. It's pretty obvious the strategy there, though. Brian Elliott, the former Senators goalie, also joined Team Alfredsson with the No. 14 pick.

The only Senator still on the board through the first 20 picks of the draft is forward Milan Michalek, and we'd have to assume that Zdeno Chara and Joffrey Lupul of Team Chara will be nice enough to leave him on the board for the opposition.

Then again, Chara and Lupul apparently have a penchant for splitting up teammates. Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers was taken by Team Alfredsson with the No. 8 overall pick, and just following, Lupul stepped up and picked teammate Kimmo Timonen. It happened again with Predators defensemen Shea Weber, who went to Team Alfredsson with the No. 16 pick, and Ryan Suter, his defensive partner who went to Team Chara at No. 17.

With Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul both on the roster, the boos are, well... off the charts.

NHL All-Star Draft 2012: Pavel Datsyuk Selected First Overall; Erik Karlsson Picked 2nd By Team Alfredsson

Daniel Alfredsson passed off the honor of making the first selection in the 2012 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft, and with that pick, Team Zdeno Chara selected Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings.

Chara explained the pick to TSN, saying that if Nicklas Lidstrom were there instead he would have been the first pick, but that he knows the way Datsyuk plays the game and that he's extremely deserving of the first pick. Nobody in the very pro-Ottawa crowd minded the pick, because it allowed Alfredsson to pick his teammate and countryman.

Erik Karlsson, the NHL's leading point scorer among defensemen, admitted that he lobbied Alfredsson's kids for the first pick, because they clearly have the most pull in that household. It worked, and

Does that bother Jason Spezza or Milan Michalek? Alfredsson said no, but Karlsson said "Spezza's pissed back there. His black eye is getting even blacker."

Spezza was picked fourth overall with Team Alfredsson's second pick.

Will Zdeno Chara Pick Tim Thomas At NHL's All-Star Draft?

Why The NHL All-Star Draft Is The Best Part Of All-Star Weekend

The NHL's unique All-Star Draft is Thursday night in Ottawa, and it's the best part of All-Star Weekend. That's probably because it's not dull as rocks.

NHL All-Star Draft 2012: Rules, TV Schedule And More

On Thursday night, All-Star captains Daniel Alfredsson of the host team Ottawa Senators and Zdena Chara of the Boston Bruins will choose the teams that will compete in the the 2012 NHL All-Star game.

NBC Sports Network will carry the event live at 8pm ET, with a pre-show starting at 7:30pm ET.

Alfredsson and Chara will choose between 38 All-Stars, which each team needing to select three goalies each with their first ten picks and six defensemen with their first 15 picks. Assisting Alfredsson will be New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Chara will be assisted by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul.

"Going into last year's game, the draft was the story, and coming out of it, the draft was the story," NBC analyst Ed Olczyk said via the USA Today . "It superseded the game, the skills and everything else. Anytime you can spice it up like that, it's a real positive."

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

Alex Ovechkin To Skip 2012 NHL All-Star Game

Alex Ovechkin won't be going to Ottawa. The Washington Capitals captain will skip the weekend's NHL All-Star Game following his suspension from the next three regular season games. The suspension, handed down Monday evening, will run through the All-Star Break.

Caps general manager George McPhee shared the news with the media assembled in Washington, saying that Ovechkin "isn't comfortable" going to the game as a suspended player.

The refusal to attend the game may in fact be a protest of the three-game suspension, which Ovechkin and the Capitals organization, including owner Ted Leonsis, did not agree with. But if it indeed is a protest, Ovechkin won't say as much.

There's no indication that he'll be fined for refusing to attend the game.In 2009, Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk were fined for staying home to rest, but Lidstrom and Teemu Selanne are doing so this year and haven't been fined.

Ovechkin's replacement has not be named, but conventional wisdom (and common sense) suggests it will be Pittsburgh Penguins forward James Neal.

For more on Ovechkin's three-game suspension, visit Capitals blog Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC. You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream.

Scott Hartnell Named NHL All-Star, Replaces Jonathan Toews

Scott Hartnell of the Philadelphia Flyers isn't a pretty player. He scores ugly goals, falls down on his skates more than any NHLer should, and during the playoffs, looks more animal than human.

But his remarkable year on the Flyers' top line, no doubt helped by budding superstar Claude Giroux and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, has turned him into one of the faces of the league, as evidenced by his All-Star selection on Tuesday morning. The NHL named Hartnell to the All-Star Game as a replacement for Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who will miss the festivities in Ottawa with a broken wrist.

Hartnell is 19th in the NHL in points, and he leads the potent Flyers with 25 goals. He leads the entire league with 13 power play goals.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream. For more on Hartnell and the Flyers, check in with Flyers blog Broad Street Hockey and SB Nation Philly.

Jonathan Toews To Miss 2012 NHL All-Star Game, According To Report

Jonathan Toews will not be at the NHL's All-Star Weekend in Ottawa, according to TSN. The Chicago Blackhawks forward left Saturday's game against the Nashville Predators with a hand injury, originally suffered against the Florida Panthers on Friday night, and he's been ruled out of Tuesday's game.

The Blackhawks haven't officially said that he'll be lifted from the All-Star Game, but it's certainly not looking like he'll be attending the festivities.

Replacements haven't been named as of yet, but McKenzie suggests either Scott Hartnell or James Neal, and those seem like safe bets. Neal and Hartnell have been on fire lately and frankly, both players deserve to go for the career-best first halves they've each had. And if both Toews and Alex Ovechkin wind up staying home, perhaps both players will get a nod.

You can find everything you need to know on the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our StoryStream. For more on Toews and the Blackhawks, check in with Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey and SB Nation Chicago.

Alex Ovechkin Could Skip NHL All-Star Game Following Suspension

NHL All-Star Game 2012: Full Schedule Of Weekend Events, From Draft Night To Game Night

The officially unofficial midpoint of the NHL season is quickly approaching, and while it's hard to believe the All-Star Game is already here, preparations in Ottawa are all but complete. The festivities for the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend officially begin on Thursday. Here's a full schedule, all times Eastern.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26

2:30 to 3 p.m.: NHL Trophy Procession, Rideau Canal

This event is actually in jeopardy, as officials have temporarily closed the Rideau Canal Skateway due to poor ice conditions. It's been warm and rainy in Ottawa, and that's not good for ice. You can't skate on water, so the NHL's plans to show off the Stanley Cup and many of its friends in a parade down the canal is up in the air at this point. If it does happen, it'll be done on the Skateway between Waverly Street and the Ottawa Convention Center.

8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.: NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft, Theatre du Casino du Lac-Leamy

It's not really a "fantasy" draft, since the players are real and the teams will actually play a game and everything, but the NHL's second-annual All-Star player draft will take place on Thursday night. It's at a casino, so maybe all the players will be drunk again. You can find it on NBC Sports Network, TSN and RDS.

The NHL Fan Fair at the Ottawa Convention Center will open at 3 p.m. and close at 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27

7 p.m.: Night Skate, Rideau Canal

Also in jeopardy due to the weather conditions, there's a battery company sponsoring a Night Skate on the Canal. You have to register to participate, and it's $20 for adults, but all proceeds go to the Sens Foundation.

8 p.m.: NHL All-Star Concert

The world's only satellite radio company is sponsoring a concert. Canadian bands will perform Canadian music and it'll be on satellite radio, if you have it. Otherwise, you're out of luck.

The NHL Fan Fair will open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28

7 p.m. to 9 p.m: NHL All-Star Skills Competition, Scotiabank Place

The 2012 All-Star Skills Competition will see Team Chara battle Team Alfredsson in what's probably the better of the two on-ice events at All-Star Weekend. We can agree on that, right? You can watch on NBC Sports Network, CBC and RDS.

The NHL Fan Fair will open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

4 p.m.: NHL All-Star Game, Scotiabank Place

It all concludes with the game on Sunday night, supposedly the climax of All-Star Weekend, but in reality, sort of an afterthought. Still, the game can be seen on NBC Sports Network, CBC and RDS, and at the very least, it's better than the NFL's Pro Bowl.

For full coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, check in with our StoryStream. For full coverage from the Ottawa perspective, check in with Senators blog Silver Seven.

Kris Letang, Jordan Eberle, Nick Johnson Named 2012 NHL All-Star Game Replacements

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle were added to the 2012 NHL All-Star roster on Monday (via NHL.com). Minnesota Wild forward Nick Johnson was also added to the group of rookies who will be competing in the All-Star Skills Competition.

Eberle, who leads the Oilers in goals (17) and assists (27), will replace injured Wild forward Mikko Koivu. Eberle picked up a good chunk of those points during a stretch in which he scored a goal or registered an assist in 12 of 13 games from Nov. 28-Dec. 29. This will be the former first-round pick's first All-Star appearance.

Letang, who has scored five goals and registered 18 assists, will replace injured Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. This will be the fourth time Letang has been invited to participate in All-Star Game festivities and the second straight year he'll be on the All-Star Game roster.

Johnson replaces injured Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Johnson has six goals and 10 assists in 44 games so far this year.

NHL All-Star Captains 2012: Zdeno Chara, Daniel Alfredsson To Choose Teams In Ottawa

The 2012 NHL All-Star Game already has a bit of Ottawa flavor, thanks to Senators fans voting in half the team and everything. But as will be the case in every foreseeable All-Star Game, the team captains will have ties to the city as well.

Just as was the case in 2011 with Carolina's Eric Staal, one team will be led by the captain of the home team. This year, that's Daniel Alfredsson of the Senators.But unlike 2011, in which opposing captain Nicklas Lidstrom had no ties to the host city, Zdeno Chara will lead the other team this year. Chara played four seasons with Ottawa before moving on to the Boston Bruins in 2007.

Chara and Alfredsson will be joined by several alternate captains, still to be determined, and those alternates will help the captains select the teams during the All-Star Draft on Thursday, January 26. Team Chara and Team Alfredsson will go head-to-head during the All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday the 28th and of course, the All-Star Game at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 29th.

For full coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, check in with our StoryStream.

NHL All-Star Snubs: Wait, No Nicklas Lidstrom Or Teemu Selanne?

2012 NHL All-Star Game Roster: Complete List, Team-By-Team

As you'd expect, thanks to the virtue of the Ottawa Senators hosting the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, their fans were fervent with the voting. They elected four Senators to the game via democracy, and they'll have the most representatives at the league's annual celebration, held in Canada's Capital city from January 27 to 29.

How many representatives will your team have? Here's a team-by-team breakdown, with rookies in italics:

Ottawa Senators (5): Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek, Erik Karlsson, Colin Greening

Vancouver Canucks (4): Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Alexander Edler, Cody Hodgson

Philadelphia Flyers (4): Claude Giroux, Kimmo Timonen, Sean Couturier, Matt Read

Toronto Maple Leafs (3): Dion Phaneuf, Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul

Boston Bruins (3): Tim Thomas, Tyler Seguin, Zdeno Chara

New York Rangers (3): Marian Gaborik, Dan Girardi, Henrik Lundqvist

Nashville Predators (3): Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Craig Smith

Chicago Blackhawks (3): Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews

Detroit Red Wings (2): Pavel Datsyuk, Jimmy Howard

Washington Capitals (2): Alex Ovechkin, Dennis Wideman

Buffalo Sabres (2): Jason Pominville, Luke Adam

New Jersey Devils (2): Adam Henrique, Adam Larsson

Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn

Calgary Flames: Jarome Iginla

Minnesota Wild: Mikko Koivu

Pittsburgh Penguins: Evgeni Malkin

San Jose Sharks: Logan Couture

Anaheim Ducks: Corey Perry

Tampa Bay Lightning: Steven Stamkos

New York Islanders: John Tavares

Winnipeg Jets: Dustin Byfuglien

Florida Panthers: Brian Campbell

Phoenix Coyotes: Keith Yandle

St. Louis Blues: Brian Elliott

Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price

Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Quick

Carolina Hurricanes: Justin Faulk

Columbus Blue Jackets: Ryan Johansen

Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog

Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Each team is represented, even if just by one rookie. Only 12 rookies were named to the team, so there were likely some snubs there as youngsters on teams with multiple All-Stars made way for rookies on teams that needed representation at the game.

For full coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, check in with our StoryStream.

NHL All-Star Roster 2012: League Fills Out Team With 36 Vets, 12 Rookies

The NHL All-Star rosters for the 2012 game in Ottawa have been announced, with the league naming 36 veterans to the team. Those 36 will join the six players voted in by the fans last week. A full list of players, including the fan vote winners:

Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek, Jamie Benn, Pavel Datsyuk, Marian Gaborik, Claude Giroux, Marian Hossa, Jarome Iginla, Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Mikko Koivu, Joffrey Lupul, Evgeni Malkin, Logan Couture, Alex Ovechkin, Jason Pominville, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Tyler Seguin, Corey Perry, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares and Jonathan Toews.

Defensemen: Erik Karlsson, Dion Phaneuf, Dustin Byfuglien, Brian Campbell, Zdeno Chara, Alexander Edler, Dan Girardi, Shea Weber, Keith Yandle, Dennis Wideman, Ryan Suter and Kimmo Timonen.

Goaltenders: Tim Thomas, Brian Elliott, Jimmy Howard, Henrik Lundqvist, Carey Price and Jonathan Quick.

The league also named 12 rookies to join the festivities. They'll play in the game and at the Skills Competition on January 28 and 29th at Scotiabank Place. The full list of kids:

Luke Adam, Sean Couturier, Justin Faulk, Colin Greening, Adam Henrique, Cody Hodgson, Ryan Johansen, Gabriel Landeskog, Adam Larsson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Craig Smith and Matt Read.

For full coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, check in with our StoryStream.

NHL All-Star Voting System Isn't Broken: In Fact, It Makes Total Sense

The NHL has been torn apart for its All-Star voting process, which rewards fans who stuff the ballot box for undeserving players. But really, the system is a nice balance between honoring true All-Stars and letting the host team have their fun.

Todd McLellan Named 2012 NHL All-Star Game Coach

Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien was guaranteed a spot as one of the NHL All-Star game coaches by virtue of winning the Stanley Cup, and he now knows who will oppose him on the other bench. The All-Star game no longer features the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference, so the coaching setup is a bit odd. One team will be presided over by Julien and his assistants. The other will have ... two head coaches. Yeah, we know. It's weird.

John Tortorella wrapped up one of those spots over the weekend, as his New York Rangers had the East's best record by the end of Monday's set of games. San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan clinched the other spot on Monday, and he will join Tortorella on the bench. Because the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Florida Panthers on Monday, his team has the best record in the West in terms of points percentage.

NHL All-Star Game 2012: John Tortorella, Claude Julien To Coach; Other Spots Determined Monday

There's no such thing as an Eastern Conference or a Western Conference at the NHL's All-Star Weekend anymore, but the coaches of each All-Star team are still based on the conferences.

By virtue of holding the East's top record -- in terms of points percentage -- by the end of Monday's action, New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella will be behind one bench at the game later this month in Ottawa. He actually clinched that job with his teams win on Friday.

Claude Julien will coach the other team, joined by his Boston Bruins assistant coaches. The Bruins coaching staff won the honor by hoisting the Stanley Cup last season.

The other coach will be determined on Monday night, when the Vancouver Canucks hit the ice in South Florida. With a Vancouver win, head coach Alain Vigneault will join Tortorella in coaching a team in Ottawa. Should the Canucks lose, either in regulation or overtime, the job will go to San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan.

NHL All-Star Voting Complete: Ottawa Senators Dominate Ballot Box

Four Ottawa Senators placed among the top six vote receivers for the NHL All-Star Game. Defenseman Erik Karlsson received the most votes.

NHL All-Star Voting Seems To Be An Eastern Conference-Only Affair

NHL All-Star Ballot Shouldn't Even Include Names

Today in the Morning Skate, we look at the outdated system that dictates who makes it on the NHL All-Star Ballot. We also wonder out loud about an Eric Lindros documentary and why Scott Arniel still has a job.

It's Official: Ottawa Lands 2012 NHL All-Star Game

Okay, so this isn't really breaking news. It's been public knowledge for at least a few weeks now, but the pomp and circumstance is taking place at a downtown Ottawa hotel today.

The 2012 NHL All-Star Game is heading to the Nation's Capital. (No, not Washington.) The game will take place on the weekend of January 28th.

Ottawa and the Senators have hosted their fair share of big hockey events over the last several years, including the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, the 2008 NHL Draft and the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships.

The game will be played at Scotiabank Place, which is practically in the middle of nowhere outside the city in Kanata, Ontario. They really should just play the game on the Rideau Canal, but nevertheless.

via justinmenard.ca

For more, be sure to check out Silver Seven.