Selanne is an All-Star
As the leading scorer in the Western Conference, Teemu Selanne was an easy selection for the NHL All-Star game as the rosters were filled Saturday for the Jan. 24 event in Dallas.
Entering Saturday night, Selanne was tied for the league lead with 28 goals, and his 57 points ranked eighth. It is the forward’s 10th All-Star selection and first since the 2001-02 season with San Jose.
“It’s a big honor to be selected there,” Selanne said. “You know you have done the right things. It’s not the first one, but, hey, it could be the last one. You never know.”
Selanne, 36, is on pace for his first 100-point season in eight years. He had 40 goals and 50 assists in his comeback from major knee surgery.
“Teemu’s had an outstanding season,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “He’s been a strong teammate. He’s been a strong leader for our group. It’s just fitting that he gets the recognition in this situation.”
The Ducks were shut out of a couple of possible selections because of injuries.
Chris Pronger, who is the second-leading scorer among defensemen, with 40 points, would have been a certainty, but he wouldn’t be able to play because of a broken left foot.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who has a 23-4-5 record and 2.17 goals-against average, was left out because of his groin injury. The NHL typically chooses only those who are available to play.
Second-year center Ryan Getzlaf was selected to play in the league’s YoungStars game on Jan. 23. Getzlaf, 21, had 18 goals and 29 points entering Saturday.
Forwards Dustin Penner and Corey Perry were notable omissions. Penner’s 18 goals rank second among NHL rookies, and Perry, a second-year right wing, had 12 goals and 28 points.
Hurting their case is the game’s format, which is only four skaters a side. Both rosters are limited to 10 skaters and one goaltender.
“They probably could have taken any of us,” Getzlaf said. “But unfortunately it’s a numbers thing. They probably deserved it as much as I did. But I’m still excited about it. I’m ready to go have fun with it.”
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