Oilers’ Draisaitl voted into All-Star Game
Fans send former Rocket to showcase in San Jose
NEW YORK — Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl was among the last additions for the upcoming NHL all-star game, while Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly was one of a few high-profile players to be left out.
Draisaitl (Pacific), fellow forwards Jeff Skinner (Buffalo Sabres, Atlantic) and Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche, Central), and defenceman Kris Letang (Pittsburgh Penguins, Metropolitan) will join their division-based teams at the Jan. 25-26 event in San Jose, Calif.
The NHL released the final four additions to the all-star weekend on Friday. Each team left a spot open to be filled by a fan vote.
Draisaitl, who finished his junior career with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets before becoming the linemate of Oilers and Pacific captain Connor McDavid, is tied for 10th in NHL scoring with 54 points (23 goals, 31 assists). The German forward beat out Norris Trophy candidate Mark Giordano of Calgary to get the Pacific slot.
“It’s exciting,” Draisaitl said. “The fans played a big role in this, so I have to thank them.”
In what could be seen as an upset given the size of Toronto’s fan base, Skinner beat out Rielly for the last spot on the Atlantic team.
Rielly is second in scoring among defencemen with 46 points (13 goals, 33 assists). The Maple Leafs made a push to get him into the all-star game by releasing a series of videos on social media.
“I appreciate all the votes, all the people at home, and especially my teammates campaigning,” Rielly said Friday, before adding with a grin: “I’m happy that’s over. We don’t have to watch the videos anymore, but I appreciate it nonetheless.”
Skinner, who will be making his second all-star appearance, is having an excellent season in Buffalo with 29 goals and 13 assists in 43 games.
Landeskog, who like Draisaitl will be making his all-star debut, has 27 goals and 24 assists in 44 games, while Letang, who is an all-star for the fifth time, has 10 goals and 27 assists in 41 games.
The NHL said in a release that more than 11.5-million votes were cast over a seven-day period to determine the final four all-star participants.