John Tavares Named To NHL All-Star Game

The league announced its NHL All Star Game rosters today, and the Leafs have two players on the list:

pic.twitter.com/enfbVyDo0U

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 2, 2019

Tavares will join Auston Matthews, who was previously named captain of the Atlantic Division’s team.  Unless either of them chooses to sit out for rest, as Metropolitan Division star Alex Ovechkin did today.

#Caps captain Alex Ovechkin has informed the NHL that he will miss the 2019 NHL All-Star Game in San Jose, preferring to take full advantage of the adjoining bye week to recuperate and get ready for the second half of the season and the playoff push.

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) January 2, 2019

These rosters aren’t quite finished.  The “last man in” option will give fans the chance to send a player they feel has been snubbed in each division, so there’s potentially another slot for a Leaf to take (Morgan Rielly, anyone?)  We’ve come a long way from the days of Leo Komarov representing Toronto by default.

The NHL All-Star Game will take place at SAP Center in San Jose on January 26, 2019.

The 2019 @NHL All-Star Rosters are here! #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/eWYOEHt1QA

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) January 2, 2019

UPDATE: The NHL has released the fan vote options.

Atlantic fan vote players: pic.twitter.com/kgUVmlm0IU

— Mike Ashmore (@mashmore98) January 3, 2019

There seems to be only two defecemen on the list, so how that will work if the vote goes to a forward is unknown so far.