Kings’ Drew Doughty, Erik Ersberg get to hang out with the big kids
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It’s not quite as good as being selected for the All-Star Game, but Kings defenseman Drew Doughty and goaltender Erik Ersberg were chosen to play in the YoungStars game during All-Star weekend in Montreal.
It’s really not a game -- it’s three-on-three and in the past has been played on running time, sandwiched among all the skill contests the night before the main event. But it’s a recognition of excellence, and that doesn’t always happen for players who are based west of the Hudson River.
The NHL’s press release says the selections were made by the NHL’s hockey operations department and the NHL Players’ Assn., in consultation with general managers. They might have had to consider Jonathan Quick if the rookie goalie had been with the Kings longer than a few weeks, but Columbus goalie Steve Mason has put up some incredible numbers: before Friday’s games he led the NHL in goal-against average (1.82) and save percentage (.934) and was tied for the lead in shutouts with five.
The game will match rookies against second-year players -- a first for that format -- and affords an opportunity for some highlight-film moves and a lot of fun.
Along with Doughty, the rookie team will have Mason, who was the NHL’s rookie of the month each of the past two months; defenseman Luke Schenn, who was chosen fifth overall by Toronto (three spots after the Kings picked Doughty); and forwards Blake Wheeler of the Boston Bruins, Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks, James Neal of the Dallas Stars, Michael Frolik of the Florida Panthers, Mikkel Boedker of the Phoenix Coyotes, Patrik Berglund of the St. Louis Blues, and 2008 No. 1 overall pick Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The sophomores team, besides Ersberg, will be comprised of defensemen Marc Staal of the New York Rangers and Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins and forwards Bryan Little of the Atlanta Thrashers, Milan Lucic of the Boston Bruins, Andrew Cogliano of the Edmonton Oilers, Brandon Dubinsky of the New York Rangers, Devin Setoguchi of the San Jose Sharks, Mason Raymond of the Vancouver Canucks, and Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals.
The Ducks didn’t get anyone in the YoungStars game but they have three All-Star starters: goaltender Jean Sebastien-Giguere, defenseman Scott Niedermayer and center Ryan Getzlaf. Kings right wing Dustin Brown was a supplementary All-Star pick.
-- Helene Elliott