Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns have been chosen to represent the Sharks at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game in Nashville on Jan. 31.
It’s the first career selection for Pavelski, 31, who is sixth in the league in goals (20), first in game-winning goals (7) and tied for ninth in points (38). He is in his first season as Sharks captain.
Burns has been chosen as an All-Star for the third time in his career, including last season when he was the Sharks’ only representative. Among NHL defensemen, the 30-year-old is first in goals (16), third in points (34), first in power play points (17) and third in the NHL in shots on goal (163). Conversely, Burns’ -15 rating is the third-worst mark among NHL defensemen.
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“I think both deserve to be there,” coach Pete DeBoer said on Tuesday, before the announcement. “It’s a great feather. … I think any time you recognize individual accomplishments – those guys both have had excellent first halves for us.”
The NHL will utilize a new format for the game, which has become stale in recent years. This season, the All-Stars will take part in a three-game, three-on-three tournament between the divisions.
The NHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. PT, while the tournament will be played the next day at 2 p.m. PT, with NBCSN broadcasting both.
The complete NHL All-Star rosters are listed below:
Pacific Division
F Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)
F Taylor Hall (EDM)
F Joe Pavelski (SJS)
F Corey Perry (ANA)
F John Scott (ARI)*
F Daniel Sedin (VAN)
D Brent Burns (SJS)
D Drew Doughty (LAK)
D Mark Giordano (CGY)
G John Gibson (ANA)
G Jonathan Quick (LAK)
Head coach - Darryl Sutter (LAK)
Central Division
F Jamie Benn (DAL)
F Matt Duchene (COL)
F Patrick Kane (CHI)*
F Tyler Seguin (DAL)
F Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)
F Jonathan Toews (CHI)
D Dustin Byfuglien (WPG)
D Roman Josi (NSH)
D Shea Weber (NSH)
G Devan Dubnyk (MIN)
G Pekka Rinne (NSH)
Head coach - Lindy Ruff (DAL)
Atlantic Division
F Patrice Bergeron (BOS)
F Jaromir Jagr (FLA)*
F Leo Komarov (TOR)
F Dylan Larkin (DET)
F Ryan O’Reilly (BUF)
F Steven Stamkos (TBL)
D Aaron Ekblad (FLA)
D Erik Karlsson (OTT)
D P.K. Subban (MTL)
G Ben Bishop (TBL)
G Roberto Luongo (FLA)
Head coach - Gerard Gallant (FLA)
Metropolitan Division
F Nicklas Backstrom (WSH)
F Claude Giroux (PHI)
F Evgeni Malkin (PIT)
F Alex Ovechkin (WSH)*
F Brandon Saad (CBJ)
F John Tavares (NYI)
D Justin Faulk (CAR)
D Kris Letang (PIT)
D Ryan McDonagh (NYR)
G Braden Holtby (WSH)
G Cory Schneider (NJD)
Head coach - Barry Trotz (WSH)
