4 Flyers Make All Star Roster

The NHL announced the All Star lineup today and 4 Flyers will be representing the Orange and Black on January 29th in Ottawa.

Claude Giroux, NHL's second leading scorer, without surprise, was selected. This will be Claude's second straight All Star game. But this one will be a little more special for Giroux because the event is being held at Ottawa, where Claude and his family has lived since he was a young teenager. "My family and friends have been talking about it, that hopefully I make the team and if I do it would be pretty cool to live that experience with them."

Kimmo Timonen was the only other Flyer selected to the All Star team. Timonen has 25 points in 41 games, good enough for 7th in the league in points for a defenseman. Also Timonen's 24 assists put him 3rd in the league for defenseman. This is the 4th time Kimmo has been selected.

The NHL also selects 12 rookies to participate in the All Star weekend. Both Matt Read and Sean Couturier will join Claude Giroux and Kimmo Timonen in Ottawa. Read is tied for 1st in rookie goals scored with 13 and is 4th in points with 25. Couturier is 10th in goals (7) and 7th in points (13) on the rookie leaderboard. Couturier has played more of a defensive role for the Flyers and doing so he is still +10, which is second in rookie plus/minus. Also Sean and Matt are 2nd and 3rd when it comes to shorthanded time on ice, respectively.

The only disappointment would be Scott Hartnell failing to make the cut. Scotty's 18 goals put his at 12th in the league and his 37 points are good for 28th. He has never been selected to attend an All Star game. Hartnell also is a very good +19, which is 12th in the league.
To put this in perspective, Alex Ovechkin, who was selected for his 5th time, has 17 goals and 33 points at -8.
There are always players who drop out for personal reasons or injury problems (that's how Briere made the team last year, when Iginla backed out), and perhaps then Hatnell will be considered.

Regardless, 36 players were selected, so on January 29th, Claude Giroux, Kimmo Timonen, Matt Read, and Sean Couturier will represent Philadelphia in Ottawa for the 2012 NHL All Star game.

Here is the entire team.....
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
Tyler Seguin, Boston Bruins
Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres
Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild
John Tavares, New York Islanders
Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
Joffrey Lupul, Toronto Maple Leafs
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Defensemen

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers
Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators
Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Dan Girardi, New York Rangers
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
Keith Yandle, Phoenix Coyotes
Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks
Dennis Wideman, Washington Capitals
Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets

Goaltenders

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues

12 Rookies

Luke Adam, Buffalo Sabres
Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
Craig Smith, Nashville Predators
Adam Henrique, New Jersey Devils
Adam Larsson, New Jersey Devils
Colin Greening, Ottawa Senators
Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
Matt Read, Philadelphia Flyers
Cody Hodgson, Vancouver Canucks