The competitors for the 2011 NHL SuperSkills competitions have been announced, with the order of their participation to be determined on the ice by the captains for Team Staal and Team Lidstrom.
Here's a breakdown of this year's field, including a brand new competition that involves several hockey skills and several hockey players, as Wyshynski and Leahy pick the winners.
Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater
(Six preliminary races with two players skating at one time taking one lap of the ice; the players from each team with the fastest time for their team will then meet in one final match race. One of the races will be between two players skating backwards.)
Team Staal
*Michael Grabner – New York Islanders
Mike Green – Washington Capitals
Patrick Sharp – Chicago Blackhawks
Ryan Kesler – Vancouver Canucks
Marc Staal – New York Rangers
Kris Letang – Pittsburgh Penguins
Team Lidstrom
Duncan Keith – Chicago Blackhawks
*Taylor Hall – Edmonton Oilers
Matt Duchene – Colorado Avalanche
Martin St. Louis – Tampa Bay Lightning
Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning
Keith Yandle – Phoenix Coyotes
Puck Daddy Predicts: Leahy likes a win from St. Louis here, but Wyshynski goes with a dark horse: Michael Grabner.
BlackBerry NHL Breakaway Challenge
(Each skater will attempt four shots - with no limits. Shooters can start their attempt from anywhere with full access to the offensive zone, including behind the net. NHL penalty shot rules do not apply. The shooter with the highest fan vote will score four points for his team, second place will score three points and third place will score one point.)
Team Staal
*P.K. Subban - Montreal Canadiens
Corey Perry - Anaheim Ducks
Alex Ovechkin - Washington Capitals
Team Lidstrom
*Evgeny Dadonov - Florida Panthers
Anze Kopitar - Los Angeles Kings
Henrik Sedin - Vancouver Canucks
Puck Daddy Predicts: Leahy and Wyshynski are both dazzled by his AHL highlights on YouTube, and select PK Subban.
McDonald's NHL Accuracy Shooting
(From 25 feet in front of the net, shooters take aim at four foam targets attached to the inner side of the goalposts. The objective is to hit all of the targets in the fastest time. A total of eight points are available. The winner of each match scores one point. The players with the fastest time from each team will go head-to-head in the final round for the title of the NHL's most accurate shooter and two additional team points.)
Team Staal
Rick Nash - Columbus Blue Jackets
Daniel Sedin - Vancouver Canucks
Eric Staal - Carolina Hurricanes
*Logan Couture - San Jose Sharks
Patrik Elias - New Jersey Devils
Ryan Kesler - Vancouver Canucks
Passer: Dan Boyle - San Jose Sharks
Passer: Paul Stastny - Colorado Avalanche
Team Lidstrom
Brad Richards – Dallas Stars
Phil Kessel – Toronto Maple Leafs
Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks
Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks
Martin Havlat – Minnesota Wild
*Derek Stepan – New York Rangers
Passer: Nicklas Lidstrom – Red Wings
Passer: Danny Briere – Philadelphia Flyers
Passer: Nicklas Lidstrom - Red Wings
Passer: Danny Briere - Philadelphia Flyers
Puck Daddy Predicts: While tempted to select Phil Kessel as the ultimate redemption story, Leahy picks Brad Richards and Wyshynski goes with his boy, Rick Nash.
G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay
(This new event for 2011 is an all-around competition that will showcase the one-timer, passing, puck control, stick-handling and accuracy shooting in four exciting relays. In the one-timer event, three shooters (with the assistance of one passer) must score three goals over an eight inch barrier; in the passing event, one passer must complete a pass into each of the six nets set up around the rink; in the puck control event, one skater will skate through a series of cones while keeping possession of the puck; in the stick handling event, one skater will control the puck through a series of obstacles; and in the accuracy shooting event, one player will take aim at four targets.
Each skill must be completed before moving on to the next skill in this timed relay event worth a total of eight points. The group with the fastest time will score four points, second place will score three points and third place will score one point.)
Team Staal
Group 1
Zdeno Chara - Boston Bruins
Eric Staal - Carolina Hurricanes
Daniel Sedin - Vancouver Canucks
Erik Karlsson - Ottawa Senators
Dan Boyle - San Jose Sharks
*Tyler Ennis - Buffalo Sabres
Paul Stastny - Colorado Avalanche
Corey Perry - Anaheim Ducks
Group 2
Kris Letang - Pittsburgh Penguins
Mike Green - Washington Capitals
Claude Giroux - Philadelphia Flyers
Patrik Elias - New Jersey Devils
*Jamie McBain - Carolina Hurricanes
David Backes - St. Louis Blues
Marc Staal - New York Rangers
Jeff Skinner - Carolina Hurricanes
Team Lidstrom
Group 1
Nicklas Lidstrom – Detroit Red Wings
Brad Richards – Dallas Stars
Loui Eriksson – Dallas Stars
*Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Phoenix Coyotes
Henrik Sedin – Vancouver Canucks
Martin St. Louis – Tampa Bay Lightning
Matt Duchene – Colorado Avalanche
Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks
Group 2
Shea Weber – Nashville Predators
Dustin Byfuglien – Atlanta Thrashers
Phil Kessel – Toronto Maple Leafs
Keith Yandle – Phoenix Coyotes
Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks
Martin Havlat – Minnesota Wild
*Kevin Shattenkirk – Colorado Avalanche
Danny Briere – Philadelphia Flyers
Puck Daddy Predicts: In a move as predictable as splitting up the Sedins in the Fantasy Draft, Leahy and Wyshynski both select the Team Lidstrom Group 1 juggernaut.
XM NHL Hardest Shot
Two players will square off in each round, valued at one point each. The highest recorded shot (by radar in mph) will earn one point for his team. The players from each team with the hardest single shot will meet in a final match, with two points scored to the winner, to determine the NHL's hardest shooter.
Team Staal
Zdeno Chara - Boston Bruins
Alex Ovechkin - Washington Capitals
David Backes - St. Louis Blues
*Tyler Seguin - Boston Bruins
Rick Nash - Columbus Blue Jackets
Patrick Sharp - Chicago Blackhawks
Team Lidstrom
Anze Kopitar – Los Angeles Kings
Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning
Dustin Byfuglien – Atlanta Thrashers
Brent Burns - Minnesota Wild
Shea Weber – Nashville Predators
*Cam Fowler – Anaheim Ducks
Puck Daddy Predicts: Leahy is as impressed with Chara's shot tonight as he was Chara's shot last year (photo bomb alert). Chara said last night he was worried about Shea Weber and Dustin Byfuglien in this competition; either one gives Team Lidstrom the win, so Wyshynski will go with Weber.
Discover NHL Elimination Shootout
(Shooters who score will move on to the next round in the shootout, with the All-Star goalies rotating after every third shooter. Rounds of the shootout will continue until only one player scores and the other(s) don't; the last scoring shooter wins. Every goal scored will count as one point for his team.)
Team Staal vs. Team Lidstrom
Puck Daddy Predicts: Leahy predicts the fans go home happy with Eric Staal winning. Wyshynski hates smiles in any form, and picks Staal's division and All-Star rival Steven Stamkos to win it all.
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