Gainer's 2012 NHL All-Star Encyclopedia

Now that it's officially NHL All-Star weekend in Ottawa, here are some quick updates of what's been happening in the league this week.

This afternoon, the city of Columbus got exciting news with the announcement from Commissioner Gary Bettman that the Blue Jackets will be the host of the 2013 NHL All-Star Game at Nationwide Arena next January!

This is pretty cool because, well, this blog is headquartered in that city!  We are also both from Ohio so it's a pretty cool thing to happen!

It will mark the first time the city and team has hosted this event.  The Blue Jackets previously hosted the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.  With the new arena deal seemingly in place as well as a new hotel across the street finishing up, Columbus became an instant front runner for this event.  We all know the team is bad but if you were thinking about not renewing your tickets, you might want to rethink it as I'm sure you'll get some kind of priority!

Tomorrow is the official All-Star game beginning at 4pm on NBC Sports Network.  I am going to pick Team Chara 8-7 solely based on the fact that Evgeni Malkin is on the team.  That is all.

On Thursday, we had the 2nd Annual Fantasy Draft in which Team Zdeno Chara and Team Daniel Alfredsson with their respective co-captains, Joffrey Lupul and Henrik Lundqvist, pick their own teams.  It is a fun environment as the players pick each other and the crowd responds accordingly.  To make sure it is not too easy, all the goalies and defensemen have to be selected by a certain round so not all the forwards are taken first.  You are allowed one trade but it did not happen.  Also, second year player Logan Couture from the San Jose Sharks was this year's "Mr. Irrelevant" as the last pick.  He won a new car and got to pick the charity he'd like several thousand dollars donated to.

Here are the squads:

2012 NHL All-Star Rosters
Team Alfredsson	Team Chara
Henrik Lundqvist (Rangers, Goalie)*	Joffrey Lupul (Maple Leafs, Forward)*
Erik Karlsson (Senators, Defense)	Pavel Datsyuk (Red Wings, Forward)
Jason Spezza (Senators, Forward)	Tim Thomas (Bruins, Goalie)
Jonathan Quick (Kings, Goalie)	Evgeni Malkin (Penguins, Forward)
Claude Giroux (Flyers, Forward)	Marian Hossa (Blackhawks, Forward)
Kris Letang (Penguins, Defense)	Kimmo Timonen (Flyers, Defense)
Steven Stamkos (Lightning, Forward)	Corey Perry (Ducks, Forward)
Brian Elliott (Blues, Goalie)	Carey Price (Canadiens, Goalie)
Shea Weber (Predators, Defense)	Phil Kessel (Maple Leafs, Forward)
Daniel Sedin (Canucks, Forward)	Ryan Suter (Predators, Defense)
Dan Girardi (Rangers, Defense)	Jimmy Howard (Red Wings, Goalie)
Keith Yandle (Coyotes, Defense)	Brian Campbell (Panthers, Defense)
Milan Michalek (Senators, Forward)	Patrick Kane (Blackhawks, Forward)
Henrik Sedin (Canucks, Forward)	Dion Phaneuf (Maple Leafs, Defense)
James Neal (Penguins, Forward)	Jarome Iginla (Flames, Forward)
Alex Edler (Canucks, Defense)	Dennis Wideman (Capitals, Defense)
John Tavares (Islanders, Forward)	Marian Gaborik (Rangers, Forward)
Scott Hartnell (Flyers, Forward)	Jordan Eberle (Oilers, Forward)
Jason Pominville (Sabres, Forward)	Tyler Seguin (Bruins, Forward)
Logan Couture (Sharks, Forward)	Jamie Benn (Stars, Forward)

(*Assistant Captain) 

Tonight, check out the skills competition starting at 7pm on NBC Sports Network.  Yesterday, the captains sat down and determined their line ups for the events.  Here's the list!

TEAM CHARA

Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater

All-Star backwards: Brian Campbell
Goalie: Jimmy Howard
Rookie: Colin Greening
All-Star: Phil Kessel
All-Star: Marian Hossa

All-State NHL Breakaway Challenge

Rookie: Ryan Johansen
All-Star: Patrick Kane
All-Star: Corey Perry
Goalie: Carey Price

Canadian Tire NHL Accuracy Shooting

Rookie: Cody Hodgson
All-Star: Tyler Seguin
All-Star: Jamie Benn
All-Star: Marian Hossa
Passer: Phil Kessel
Passer: Ryan Suter
Passer: Jordan Eberle
Passer: Brian Campbell

G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay

One-timer passer: Ryan Suter
One-timer right-handed: Dennis Wideman
One-timer right-handed: Jarome Iginla
One-timer right-handed: Joffrey Lupul
Passing accuracy: Patrick Kane
Puck control: Pavel Datsyuk
Stick handling: Gabriel Landeskog
Target shooter: Marian Gaborik
One-timer passer: Jordan Eberle
One-timer left-handed: Dion Phaneuf
One-timer left-handed: Zdeno Chara
One-timer left-handed: Jamie Benn
Passing accuracy: Kimmo Timonen
Puck control: Raphael Diaz
Stick handling: Evgeni Malkin
Target shooter: Phil Kessel

* Note: Two rookies must participate per team

Blackberry NHL Hardest Shot

Rookie: Luke Adam
All-Star: Dennis Wideman
All-Star: Dion Phaneuf
All-Star: Zdeno Chara

Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout

Rookie: Colin Greening
All-Star: Pavel Datsyuk
All-Star: Evgeni Malkin
All-Star: Corey Perry
All-Star: Tyler Seguin
All-Star: Marian Gaborik
All-Star: Patrick Kane
All-Star: Jarome Iginla
All-Star: Jamie Benn
All-Star: Joffrey Lupul
All-Star: Kimmo Timonen
All-Star: Ryan Suter
Goalie: Carey Price
Goalie: Tim Thomas
Goalie: Jimmy Howard

TEAM ALFREDSSON

Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater

All-Star backwards: Kris Letang
Goalie: Jonathan Quick
Rookie: Carl Hagelin
All-Star: Keith Yandle
All-Star: Erik Karlsson

All-State Insurance NHL Breakaway Challenge

Rookie: Sean Couturier
All-Star: John Tavares
All-Star: Logan Couture
Goalie: Brian Elliott

Canadian Tire NHL Accuracy Shooting

Rookie: Matt Read
All-Star: Jason Spezza
All-Star: Steven Stamkos
All-Star: Daniel Sedin
Passer: Alex Edler
Passer: Dan Girardi
Passer: Claude Giroux
Passer: Henrik Sedin

G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay

One-timer passer: Nick Johnson
One-timer right-handed: Shea Weber
One-timer right-handed: Kris Letang
One-timer right-handed: Steven Stamkos
Passing accuracy: Henrik Sedin
Puck control: Milan Michalek
Stick handling: Logan Couture
Target shooter: James Neal
One-timer passer: Alex Edler
One-timer left-handed: Keith Yandle
One-timer left-handed: Scott Hartnell
One-timer left-handed: John Tavares
Passing accuracy: Daniel Sedin
Puck control: Craig Smith
Stick handling: Claude Giroux
Target shooter: Jason Pominville

* Note: Two rookies must participate per team

Blackberry NHL Hardest Shot

Rookie: Justin Faulk
All-Star: Daniel Alfredsson
All-Star: Jason Spezza
All-Star: Shea Weber

Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout

Rookie: Carl Hagelin
All-Star: Steven Stamkos
All-Star: John Tavares
All-Star: Jason Spezza
All-Star: Claude Giroux
All-Star: Daniel Alfredsson
All-Star: James Neal
All-Star: Milan Michalek
All-Star: Jason Pominville
All-Star: Kris Letang
All-Star: Erik Karlsson
All-Star: Daniel Sedin
Goalie: Henrik Lundqvist
Goalie: Brian Elliott
Goalie: Jonathan Quick

I'll be back in a couple of days with the recaps of both Saturday and Sunday's festivities! Enjoy puckheads!