Ducks' Getzlaf, LA Kings' Kopitar and Doughty to play in 2015 NHL All-Star Game

The National Hockey League today announced the players named to the 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend, and that roster will include the Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar, as well as the Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf.

The event will be held January 23-25 in Columbus and will feature 42 players.  A total of 36 All-Stars and six Rookies were selected by the NHL, joining the first six players elected by fans in the 2015 NHL All-Star Fan Vote: Zemgus Girgensons of the Buffalo Sabres, and Corey Crawford, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 42 All-Stars will play in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, January 25, at Nationwide Arena. The six Rookies, along with the 42 All-Stars, will participate in the 2015 NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday, January 24.

The 2015 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft will be held on Friday, January 23, to divide the All-Stars and Rookies into two teams. Captains for each squad will be announced next week.

Getzlaf will make his third career All-Star appearance following his All-Star debut in 2008, and second All-Star appearance in 2009.

Getzlaf, 29, has scored 13-32=45 points with a +6 rating and 35 penalty minutes (PIM) in 41 games with the Ducks this season. He ranks tied for third among league leaders in scoring, tied for second in assists, tied for third in even-strength assists (21) and tied for fourth in even-strength scoring (11-21=32).

Getzlaf, who has won a career-best 51.2% of his faceoffs this season, currently has points in three straight games (1-2=3), 11 of his last 12 games (5-11=16) and 16 of his last 18 (7-19=26). He posted an eight-game point streak (4-9=13) from Dec. 12-28, tied for the second-longest among Western Conference players this season.

Getzlaf was named the NHL’s ‘First Star’ for December after leading the NHL in scoring (5-15=20) and assists during the month.  His 20 points were the most by a Ducks player in any single month since March 2011.

Below are the additional 36 All-Stars and six Rookies:

36 Additional NHL All-Stars

Forwards
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Nick Foligno, Columbus Blue Jackets
Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets
Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Patrik Elias, New Jersey Devils
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Rick Nash, New York Rangers
Bobby Ryan, Ottawa Senators
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning
Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
Radim Vrbata, Vancouver Canucks
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Defensemen
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues
Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets

Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

6 Rookies

Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers
Tanner Pearson, Los Angeles Kings
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Mike Hoffman, Ottawa Senators
Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay Lightning

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services