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    Puck Daddy

    James Neal, Carl Hagelin, Raphael Diaz added to All-Star Weekend; Adam Larsson out due to injury

    By Greg Wyshynski | Puck Daddy – Wed, Jan 25, 2012 11:37 AM EST

    137116086James Neal leads the Pittsburgh Penguins with 27 goals, putting him second in the National Hockey League (tied with Jonathan Toews) behind Steven Stamkos. But until Wednesday morning, James Neal was not an NHL All-Star.

    For all the controversy Alex Ovechkin caused by pulling out of the midseason classic, it had a positive consequence: Neal taking his roster spot and joining teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang in Ottawa this week.

    From the Pens:

    The National Hockey League announced this morning that Pittsburgh Penguins forward James Neal has been added to the roster for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, which will be played this coming Sunday, Jan. 29, at 4 p.m. at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. Neal joins teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang to give the Penguins three representatives in Ottawa.

    Neal, 24, will be making his All-Star Game debut on Sunday. This will be his second time participating in All-Star Weekend, as he appeared in the 2009 YoungStars Game in Montreal.

    According to the Post-Gazette, Neal was nearly the replacement for Toews, but the Philadelphia Flyers' Scott Hartnell — well deserving — was chosen instead based on seniority. Somewhere, Patrik Elias and Kris Versteeg raise their glasses as two of the last residents of snub-ville.

    In other NHL All-Star Game news, the League confirmed an Alftonbladet report that New Jersey Devils defenseman Adam Larsson is out of the rookie all-star class. The paper reported it's due to a wrist injury. Defenseman Raphael Diaz of the Montreal Canadiens will take his slot in the skills competition.

    Also, Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers has been added to the rookie pool as well. The NHL is expected to announce this afternoon which player he's replacing. In what we're sure is a completely unrelated story, the Devils' rookie All-Star Adam Henrique has been battling a sore groin.

     

    44 comments

    • Nate
      Nate  •  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
      I wonder if there has ever been a player tied for 2nd in the league in goals NOT invited to the all-star game. Neal is outstanding this year, why would he not be there until now??
      • rskindred
        rskindred 3 months ago
        Awesome point
      • Chris V
        Chris V 3 months ago
        im a rangers fan, hate the pens, and couldnt possibly agree with u more. im im Neal im putting the letters #$%$ on the back of my jersey for the game!!
    • LJ
      LJ  •  3 months ago
      Carl Hagelin...fastest skater...new record?
      • SimpleManiac
        SimpleManiac 3 months ago
        Who is faster, him or Gaborik?
      • Anthony
        Anthony 3 months ago
        Gaborik isn't nearly as fast
      • Chris V
        Chris V 3 months ago
        Gabby is blazing fast, Hagelin is even faster if u can believe that. If he EVER develops a scoring touch he is going to be a very very wealthy individual.
    • K M
      K M  •  3 months ago
      Hartnell and Neal should both have been selected from the get-go. I'm glad both players eventually wound up in the game, because they both deserve it
      • michael m
        michael m 3 months ago
        hartnell is a pos and perfect to play for filthadelphia!
    • unonothing
      unonothing  •  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
      Neal deserved it from the start.
    • Mark
      Mark  •  Washington, District of Columbia  •  3 months ago
      sweet, an actual all-star that deserves it based on his output on the ice!
    • Moe Wanchuk
      Moe Wanchuk  •  3 months ago
      Neal deserves it more than OV this year anyway. Consistency.
    • Robert
      Robert  •  3 months ago
      It's real nice to see that Neal got what he deserves.
    • awyeahbruinsyeah
      awyeahbruinsyeah  •  3 months ago
      my question is how was neal not already on the team and selected ahead of hartnell? and bergeron should be in for hartnell
    • Dave W
      Dave W  •  3 months ago
      Awesome, Hagelin has been great for us this season. Definitely deserves the recognition.
    • FleetingGame2000
      FleetingGame2000  •  Annandale, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      This works out great for the league, 2 Devils replaced by a Ranger and a Canadien.
      • Doh
        Doh 3 months ago
        Making it two teams that are no longer represented this weekend.
      • FleetingGame2000
        FleetingGame2000 3 months ago
        Well, having two rookies passing pucks in a skills competition wasn't really representation anyway. But hey, the league gets to load up on original 6 players so they are happy.
      • Doh
        Doh 3 months ago
        If they were trying to load up on O6 players wouldn't they have used Bergeron instead of Eberle, Neal or Hartnell?
    • Shane
      Shane  •  Seattle, Washington  •  3 months ago
      Hagelin should of already been on the rookie team, but this will be fun to see him skate. Gotta be in the fastest skater comp, can't wait for it!
    • FLeA
      FLeA  •  3 months ago
      neal deserves it more than ovey anyways
    • DC
      DC  •  3 months ago
      Can't say Neal doesn't deserve it. He's been having a great season even though Penguins have been dropping like flies around him.
    • Michael G
      Michael G  •  Ann Arbor, Michigan  •  3 months ago
      Woohoo Hagelin! Go blue!
    • bird
      bird  •  Moncton, Canada  •  3 months ago
      He said he would work his butt off because he wasn't selected. He did and here he is. Good for him.
    • BAZINGA
      BAZINGA  •  3 months ago
      Nuk Nuk Nuk. OV a no show - send a Penguin in his place. Bravo NHL, bravo!
    • Poopdaddy
      Poopdaddy  •  3 months ago
      Hagelin is a pretty good player.
    • Ryan
      Ryan  •  3 months ago
      let the original 6 comments startttttt NOW -
      as far as i'm concerned, the league involving more big market reps is smart and good for the league. its a meaningless wkend of lighthearted fun.
      • Doh
        Doh 3 months ago
        There are what...
        3 Bruins
        3 Leafs
        2 Redwings
        2 Canadiens
        4 Rangers
        2 Blackhawks

        16 O6 players out of 54 players. That is 29.6% of roster spots for 20% of teams. Hardly unreasonable, especially when you consider that the top-3 teams in the NHL are among those 6.
    • Dutch
      Dutch  •  3 months ago
      Neal a deserving choice. Seems the replacements have more interest to go play than some of these guys that have been there before.
    • N/A
      N/A  •  3 months ago
      Neal is having a career year! Ovenchicken not so much
     Post a comment

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