Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine, tied for the lead among rookies with 21 goals each, were among the 40 players named Tuesday to the four divisional rosters for the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin, who has 19 goals and is the reigning Rocket Richard Memorial Trophy holder, was also named.
The 40 players selected by the NHL join the four captains, who were voted in by fans earlier this month, to take part in the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition is Jan. 28 at Staples Center (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports). The 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game is Jan. 29 (3:30 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports).
Each division is represented by six forwards, three defensemen and two goalies. The divisional teams will compete head-to-head in the Skills Competition on Saturday and then will face off in semifinal games Sunday. The winners of the semifinal games will play for the championship. Each game is played in a 3-on-3 format with two 10-minute halves.
The four coaches for the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend will be Michel Therrien of the Montreal Canadiens (Atlantic), Bruce Boudreau of the Minnesota Wild (Central), John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets (Metropolitan) and Peter DeBoer of the San Jose Sharks (Pacific).
The Pacific Division won the 2016 All-Star Game in Nashville, defeating the Central Division 9-6 in the semifinal and the Atlantic Division 1-0 in the final.
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, who leads the League with 48 points, was selected as captain of the Pacific Division. Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, who is first in the NHL with 26 goals, is the Metropolitan Division captain. P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators, is the Central Division captain but has not played since Dec. 15 because of an upper-body injury. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who is back after missing most of the 2015-16 season because of a knee injury, is the Atlantic Division captain. Price is 20-6-4 with a 2.12 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.
Here are the full rosters:
