Hartnell an All-Star!
Flyers' Hartnell in for Toews on All-Star roster
Tuesday, 01.24.2012 / 12:08 PM
/ News
By Adam Kimelman
- NHL.com
Print
Scott Hartnell's best week ever just got even better.
First, the Flyers' forward had a five-goal weekend, including a natural hat trick Sunday against the Boston Bruins. And both games came with his father, Bill, in attendance as part of a father-and-son trip hosted by the team.
On Monday he was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week.
And Tuesday, he received an invitation to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, the first All-Star Game invite of his NHL career.
The NHL announced Hartnell, who leads the Flyers with 25 goals and is first in the League with 13 power-play goals, was selected to replace injured Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. The Hawks placed Toews on injured reserve Tuesday due to an upper-body injury.
Playing on the Flyers' top line with All-Star Claude Giroux and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, Hartnell is having a career season. His 25 goals just five shy of his previous best of 30 set in the 2008-09 season.
Hartnell's exclusion from the initial All-Star roster was a surprise to Hartnell and his teammates, who campaigned for his inclusion in the game.
"You don’t hope for injury, for sure, but if there were a spot to open for whatever reason, you'd certainly like to think that Scott would get the nod," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette told the (Cherry Hill) Courier Post on Jan. 12.
"I think (Hartnell) deserved to be there, and it's just frustrating," added Giroux. "He's been working so hard and he's having one of the best seasons of his career, and I think he's one of the best power forwards in the League, so I think for him not to get chosen, it's too bad."
Hartnell told reporters after Sunday's game that he does have plans for All-Star Weekend, but would change them "in a heartbeat" if he was added to the All-Star roster.
Hartnell will join Giroux, defenseman Kimmo Timonen and rookie teammates Matt Read and Sean Couturier in Ottawa for All-Star Weekend.
Toews was injured during the second period of the Blackhawks' game Saturday against the Nashville Predators. On Monday, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville announced Toews would miss Tuesday's game against Nashville and said it was "not likely" he'd be able to take part in any of the All-Star Weekend events.
"We have some time off. Have some extra days there," Quenneville said. "Hopefully he gets some rest. We'll get a better assessment after (the All-Star break)."
Hartnell is the fourth player added to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game roster due to injury. On Monday, Edmonton forward Jordan Eberle and Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang were added as replacements for injured Minnesota forward Mikko Koivu and Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. Also, Minnesota forward Nick Johnson was added to the rookie roster in place of injured Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
First, the Flyers' forward had a five-goal weekend, including a natural hat trick Sunday against the Boston Bruins. And both games came with his father, Bill, in attendance as part of a father-and-son trip hosted by the team.
On Monday he was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week.
And Tuesday, he received an invitation to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, the first All-Star Game invite of his NHL career.
The NHL announced Hartnell, who leads the Flyers with 25 goals and is first in the League with 13 power-play goals, was selected to replace injured Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. The Hawks placed Toews on injured reserve Tuesday due to an upper-body injury.
Playing on the Flyers' top line with All-Star Claude Giroux and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, Hartnell is having a career season. His 25 goals just five shy of his previous best of 30 set in the 2008-09 season.
Hartnell's exclusion from the initial All-Star roster was a surprise to Hartnell and his teammates, who campaigned for his inclusion in the game.
"You don’t hope for injury, for sure, but if there were a spot to open for whatever reason, you'd certainly like to think that Scott would get the nod," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette told the (Cherry Hill) Courier Post on Jan. 12.
"I think (Hartnell) deserved to be there, and it's just frustrating," added Giroux. "He's been working so hard and he's having one of the best seasons of his career, and I think he's one of the best power forwards in the League, so I think for him not to get chosen, it's too bad."
Hartnell told reporters after Sunday's game that he does have plans for All-Star Weekend, but would change them "in a heartbeat" if he was added to the All-Star roster.
Toews was injured during the second period of the Blackhawks' game Saturday against the Nashville Predators. On Monday, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville announced Toews would miss Tuesday's game against Nashville and said it was "not likely" he'd be able to take part in any of the All-Star Weekend events.
"We have some time off. Have some extra days there," Quenneville said. "Hopefully he gets some rest. We'll get a better assessment after (the All-Star break)."
Hartnell is the fourth player added to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game roster due to injury. On Monday, Edmonton forward Jordan Eberle and Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang were added as replacements for injured Minnesota forward Mikko Koivu and Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. Also, Minnesota forward Nick Johnson was added to the rookie roster in place of injured Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
