Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
STEPHEN HAWKINS
Associated Press
DALLAS - Welcome to the new-look NHL, with plenty of fresh faces and new sleeker uniforms.
So much will be different Wednesday night when the NHL holds its first All-Star game since 2004.
First, there will be 20 first-time All-Stars led by Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.
"There are so many faces, new guys. It's fun. It's a fast league, a fun league. With the new rules, it's been great for the game," said Tampa Bay forward Vincent Lecavalier, one of 11 others making only his second All-Star appearance. "It's different hockey, but it's a lot more interesting and fun to watch."
The rules have changed in post-lockout hockey to increase scoring - and goals were already easy to come by in All-Star games. Shootouts are now used to eliminate regular-season ties, and will even be part of the SuperSkills event Tuesday night instead of a breakaway team relay.
And the players will even look different on the ice, debuting new uniform systems that the NHL and Reebok have been testing and designing for more than two years. There were nearly 100 different versions before they came up with what the All-Stars will wear Wednesday night - and all 30 NHL teams will beginning next season.
Players wore the uniforms during their light workout Monday night, and the difference was obvious - they looked like they were hardly wearing any pads.
In the biggest change to NHL uniforms since the early 1960s, when synthetic fabrics replaced the old wool jerseys, the new streamlined Rbk EDGE Uniform System is designed provide additional range of motion and increase ventilation. The tighter jersey, pants and socks are redesigned with lighter fabrics to keep players drier and cooler.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom likes the new uniforms.
"Especially when I heard that I'm going to be faster," the 15-year veteran and nine-time All-Star said. "That's something I need now that I'm getting older."
Wind tunnel testing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology confirmed a 9-percent reduction in drag that should enable players to move faster on the ice.
The lockout and the Olympics prevented All-Star games the past three seasons, a big reason for all the new faces. Only 13 of the 42 players from the last All-Star game are back three years later.
"It's great for the league," said Edmonton forward Ryan Smyth, one of the first timers, in his 12th NHL season. "There are some guys who deserve to be here who aren't, and some that shouldn't be here that are. But everybody who is here is deserving of it."
Crosby was the top vote-getter and is leading the NHL in scoring at age 19. Ovechkin topped Crosby for rookie of the year honors last season and is tied for third in scoring; his 29 goals are one off the league lead. The duo will start on the same line for the East.
On the West squad, Joe Sakic, Teemu Selanne and Lidstrom have played in a combined 28 All-Star games; the rest of their teammates have played in a combined 15.
Eastern Conference goaltender Martin Brodeur and Brendan Shanahan hold a 15-11 experience advantage on their teammates.
"The young guys today are a lot more talented than when we broke in," said Sakic, the Colorado forward who is a 12-time All-Star (the MVP in 2004) and the West's captain. "There are so many of them, and that's what is so great about this game right now. They're going to be the leaders of this league, and the league is going in the right direction with them."
While there's talk of trying to put on a competitive game, the reality is that there could be a lot of goals scored - especially with the new rules.
"I think it's important for us as coaches to put the people together to showcase the skills that are here," said West coach Randy Carlyle of Anaheim, another All-Star rookie. "What we're really looking to do is allow the players, A, to go out and show the skills; B, to have some fun; and, C, we want to win the game, too."
Second-time All-Star Dany Heatley laughed at being called a grizzled veteran. But he qualifies because he's among only four former MVPs of this exhibition game making it back, joining Sakic, Selanne and Bill Guerin.