NHL Will Try New Format for All-Stars

Fan balloting has opened for this season’s NHL All-Star Game, the league announced Wednesday.

A total of 102 players are listed on the ballots for the NHL All-Star International Showdown in Vancouver on Jan. 18.

Rather than the usual conference-versus-conference format, this season’s event will feature top NHL players from North America against the rest of the world.

The league has included on the ballots names such as Paul Kariya, Sergei Fedorov and Petr Nedved even though they have yet to play this season because they are restricted free agents who are unsigned.

Fans are asked to vote for six starters for each team. If a player is not listed on the ballot, a space is provided for write-in votes.

All-star ballots are being distributed at NHL arenas and various restaurants and department stores around the world. Votes can also be cast on the league’s Internet web site: www.nhl.com.

The top two forwards and defensemen, and the top center and goaltender from each club receiving the most votes will comprise the starting lineups for the all-star game.

At least two players from each of the 26 teams are represented on the ballot, including a league-high seven from three -- the Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche and Phoenix Coyotes.

Eight countries are represented on the World All-Stars ballot -- the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and Ukraine.