The 2015 NHL All-Star Game is in 11 days in Columbus, and Anaheim Ducks’ captain Ryan Getzlaf has been named one of four assistant captains for the event.
Getzlaf was named as one of the 42 participants of the All-Star Game on Saturday, making the team as the Ducks’ representative at the event. He was the only Anaheim Ducks player selected for the event. Getzlaf has had a terrific season, as he is ninth in the NHL with 45 points (13 goals, 32 assists). His 32 assists rank fourth in the entire NHL, behind Jakub Voracek (35), Sidney Crosby (35), and Claude Giroux (34). Getzlaf was also named the NHL’s First Star of December, winning the NHL’s player of the month with 20 points to close out the calendar year (five goals, 15 assists).
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Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno and Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews were named the two captains of the All-Star Game, and it’s difficult to argue with either selection. Foligno is not exactly a household name, but he has had a superb season, with 18 goals and 40 points. He just earned a six year, $33 million contract extension, tying him to the team until the 2020-2021 season. His terrific season, plus the fact that the game is hosted in Columbus, makes the choice a good one.
As for Toews, he is widely regarded as one of the best centers and captains in the NHL. He has 13 goals and 38 points on the season while captaining the Blackhawks to the fifth best record in the NHL, sitting at 28-13-2 and 58 standings points. He received the third most votes in the All-Star voting this season, with 1,217,210.
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Getzlaf will serve as one of two assistant captains on Team Toews. The other assistant captains were Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, Rick Nash of the New York Rangers, and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. Doughty and Kane will join Team Foligno, while Nash and Getzlaf will team up on Team Toews.
The coaches for the All-Star Game had been announced, with Darryl Sutter of the Los Angeles Kings and Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators taking the helm. Sutter and the Kings staff will coach Team Foligno, while Laviolette and the Predators staff gets Team Toews.
In short, the two All-Star teams appear as follows, for now.
Team Foligno
- Head Coach: Darryl Sutter
- Captain: Nick Foligno
- Assistant Captains: Drew Doughty, Patrick Kane
Team Toews
- Head Coach: Peter Laviolette
- Captain: Jonathan Toews
- Assistant Captains: Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash
The remaining 18 slots for each team will be filled on Friday, January 23rd during the All-Star Fantasy Draft.