Crosby to start All-Star Game

Crosby top vote-getter in Eastern Conference, will start All-Star Game

Wednesday, January 10, 2007
By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

TAMPA, Fla. -- Penguins center Sidney Crosby is looking forward to hanging out with hockey's best when he goes to his first NHL All-Star Game later this month in Dallas.

He just hopes he doesn't make a pest of himself.

"It's only a few days, but you get a chance to meet great players, great leaders of the game," Crosby said yesterday. "You get a chance to learn something, even just pick up something hearing about their experiences. But, hopefully, I won't be bothering any guys for advice or anything."

There's every chance it will be Crosby, 19 and in his second NHL season, who shows people a thing or two at the Jan. 24 game in Dallas.

The league's leading scorer with 65 points, Crosby was announced not only as an Eastern Conference starter but also as the leading vote-getter either conference in online balloting.

Crosby, 19 years, 5 months, is the youngest player elected to start by the fans. Joining him will be three Buffalo Sabres -- center Daniel Briere, defenseman Brian Campbell and goalie Ryan Miller-- Washington forward Alex Ovechkin and Montreal defenseman Sheldon Souray. Crosby is six months younger than former Penguin Jaromir Jagr was in 1992 when he started for the Wales Conference.

The Sabres are the first team to place three players in an All-Star starting lineup since fan balloting began in 1986.

Out West, reigning NHL MVP Joe Thornton of San Jose led the vote-getters . He will be flanked by Sharks teammate Jonathan Cheechoo and Colorado's Joe Sakic. Nicklas Lidstrom of Detroit will make his seventh start in a row on defense, teaming with Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer. Vancouver's Roberto Luongo will start in goal.

The remainder of the squads, as well as the YoungStars rosters, will be announced today.

Because of the 2006 Olympics, the NHL didn't have an All-Star Game last season.

Penguins general manager Ray Shero hopes Crosby can use the All-Star stage to dispel any aspersions that might have been cast toward the Penguins' star.

"It's really nice to see him get it this year," Shero said. "Last year, from the outside, there were some questions in terms of him complaining to the refs. I don't know about that, but this is what you hear. It was out there. But he plays hard. He's a leader. I know [the All-Star selection] is a great compliment to him."

Shero considers Crosby's place among the starting All-Stars to be more than just a reward for his prolific play.

"This is a kid who studies and respects the game. Some kids might not know who a Stan Mikita was. He really does. He's respectful of the game. So, when he's around the great players, it will be great for him."

With scoring-friendly defense in All-Star games, Penguins coach Michel Therrien said there's no telling what Crosby could do offensively in a game full of the top skill players.

"I'm sure he's going to enjoy it," Therrien said. "It's going to be a new experience for him, too. He's only 19 years old. He's going to face a lot of new experiences. Every aspect of your career that you're facing is going to help you. I'm sure he's going to have a great game."

(Shelly Anderson can be reached at shanderson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1721. )