Young stars get vote
RISING STARS MATTHEWS, LAINE AMONG PLAYERS NAMED TO NHL ALL-STAR ROSTERS
Some may be surprised by his swift shot to stardom, but 19-year-old Auston Matthews is most certainly not. The Maple Leafs centre added all-star honours to a rookie NHL season which has already included a historic four-goal NHL debut and 20 goals in less than 40 games. Matthews became the youngest Leaf to earn an all-star nod since Wendel Clark made it 31 years ago.
He’s currently on track to break not only Clark’s team record for goals by a Leafs rookie (34), but also Peter Ihnacak’s team rookie mark for points (66).
None of this seems to have surprised the Arizona product and first overall pick of the 2016 draft.
“Honestly not really,” said Matthews on a conference call from Florida where he and some teammates were relaxing during the team’s bye week. “I know what I’m capable of.”
Matthews was joined on the all-star squad by Winnipeg Jets’ sensation Patrik Laine, the current rookie scoring leader (37 points). He and Matthews are tied with 21 goals apiece, storming toward rookie seasons of historic proportions. Fewer than 20 rookies in NHL history have scored 40 goals, a mark both are trending towards with nearly half the year in the books.
Matthews said he was excited to meet Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and the rest of the allstar crew in Los Angeles, which also includes the NHL’s leading scorer Connor McDavid, a first-time all-star, along with mainstays like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, P.K. Subban and Alex Ovechkin.
Laine is questionable to participate after he suffering a concussion recently against Buffalo. If he can’t go, Winnipeg forwards Mark Scheifele or Nikolaj Ehlers, who share the Jets’ scoring lead with Laine, are possible replacements.
Second in rookie scoring with 35 points, Matthews joins a team captained by Montreal No. 1 Carey Price as well as Canadiens top defenceman Shea Weber and Ottawa rearguard Erik Karlsson.
The Pacific Division roster, captained by McDavid, includes Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau and Vancouver forward Bo Horvat.
The all-star weekend will be held Jan. 28-29 in Los Angeles. Jeff Carter and reigning Norris trophy winner Drew Doughty are due to represent the hometown Kings.
The game format will again be a 3-on-3 tournament featuring an 11-man team from each of the NHL’s four divisions. The players will also compete in a skills competition on Saturday, Jan. 28.