NHL Stars Make Room for Gretzky : Hockey: Stein makes the Kings’ center a special appointee for the Feb. 6 event, the last All-Star game to be played at Montreal’s Forum.

It wasn’t much of a shock when the starting All-Star lineup from the fan voting was announced last week and there was no Wayne Gretzky joining King teammate Paul Coffey among the six players from the Campbell Conference.

After all, at that point Gretzky hadn’t played a single game and his return from a career-threatening back injury was in doubt until he became pain-free in mid-November.

Then came Tuesday’s additions of the 30 players (15 from each conference) selected by a committee of five NHL general managers. This list included the Kings’ Luc Robitaille and Jari Kurri.

Still, no Gretzky.

There was another addition in the seniors’ category announced on Tuesday by NHL President Gil Stein--defenseman Brad Marsh from Ottawa and defenseman Randy Carlyle from Winnipeg. This category was created two years ago to honor those players with long, distinguished careers. The Kings’ Larry Robinson played in last year’s All-Star game in Philadelphia under those circumstances.

“There was one problem with those fills--no No. 99,” NHL spokesman Gary Meagher said. “That didn’t seem right to Gil and many other people.”

Before a national crisis broke out in Canada, Stein added Gretzky as a Special Presidential Appointee for the Feb. 6 game in Montreal. If that seems unusual, the coach of the Campbell Conference team, Mike Keenan, isn’t even in the NHL anymore, having been fired from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this season.

But Gretzky and the All-Star game are a unique situation.

This will be his 13th consecutive All-Star appearance. Almost every year, at every All-Star gathering, Gretzky issues an informal state-of-the-game address because John Ziegler, the league’s former president, never seemed to do it.

Stein, in transit on Tuesday from Palm Springs to the East Coast, was unavailable for comment. The league office issued a statement from Stein, saying: “The name Gretzky is synonymous with All-Star. The hockey world is fortunate that he is able to participate following his remarkable rehabilitation. We are thrilled and excited again to have the opportunity to watch Wayne’s outstanding skills showcased at All-Star weekend.”

Gretzky could have told the league he didn’t feel like playing. He certainly could have used four days off at home in Los Angeles.

These events, however, are important to him, like a Canada Cup or any other international event. Also the game of hockey is important to him. Because there will be a new Montreal Forum by the 1995-96 season, this will be the last All-Star game at the old, historic building, a fact also not lost on Gretzky.

“The NHL asked me if I would play if I was asked to play,” he said. “I said it was up to them, but I was more than willing to go. I’m honored and thrilled that they asked me. I love playing in Montreal, in that building.”

Said King President Roy Mlakar: “A number (of players) have not wanted to play in the past because they wanted the time off. Wayne’s always put the game ahead of himself for the good of the game. . . . I know how big the game is to him.”

All-Star Selections Teams announced Tuesday for the NHL All-Star game Feb. 6 in Montreal. CAMPBELL CONFERENCE GOALIES: x-Ed Belfour, Chicago; Jon Casey, Minnesota; Mike Vernon, Calgary. DEFENSEMEN: x-Paul Coffey, Kings; x-Chris Chelios, Chicago; Jeff Brown, St. Louis; Steve Chiasson, Detroit; Phil Housley, Winnipeg; Dave Manson, Edmonton; z-Randy Carlyle, Winnipeg. CENTERS: x-Steve Yzerman, Detroit; Brian Bradley, Tampa Bay; Doug Gilmour, Toronto; Mike Modano, Minnesota; Jeremy Roenick, Chicago; y-Wayne Gretzky, Kings. WINGS: x-Brett Hull, St. Louis; x-Pavel Bure, Vancouver; Pat Falloon, San Jose; Jari Kurri, Kings; Gary Roberts, Calgary; Luc Robitaille, Kings; Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg. WALES CONFERENCE GOALIES: x-Patrick Roy, Montreal; Craig Billington, New Jersey; Peter Sidorkiewicz, Ottawa. DEFENSEMEN: x-Ray Bourque, Boston; x-Brian Leetch, New York Rangers; Steve Duchesne, Quebec; Al Iafrate, Washington; Scott Stevens, New Jersey; Zarley Zalapski, Hartford; z-Brad Marsh, Ottawa. CENTERS: x-Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh; Pat LaFontaine, Buffalo; Mark Messier, New York Rangers; Adam Oates, Boston; Joe Sakic, Quebec; Pierre Turgeon, New York Islanders. WINGS: x-Kevin Stevens, Pittsburgh; x-Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh; Peter Bondra, Washington; Alexander Mogilny, Buffalo; Kirk Muller, Montreal; Mark Recchi, Philadelphia. x-starters selected in fan balloting y-special presidential appointee z-senior selection