Hiller goes in 10th round, Perry 15th at All-Star draft.
A seldom-seen set of spectacles gave Jonas Hiller a dignified look as he sat with his fellow NHL All-Stars at the draft room in Raleigh, N.C.
Then Hiller was met with the indignity of being the last goalie selected Friday, in the 10th round by team captain Nicklas Lidstrom. Hiller and Ducks teammate Corey Perry were split up for Sunday's All-Star game, which will be played at the RBC Center, home of the Carolina Hurricanes.
According to the rules of the first-year "draft" format, Hiller could not have been picked any later than he was. All six all-star goalies had to be picked in the first 10 rounds.
Hiller, who leads the NHL with 25 wins, watched as Cam Ward was the first player selected overall by captain Eric Staal, Ward's teammate in Carolina. Tim Thomas (fifth round, Lidstrom), Henrik Lundqvist (sixth round, Staal), Marc-Andre Fleury (ninth round, Lidstrom) and Carey Price (10th round, Staal) all went first.
Perry had to wait until the 15th round to hear his name called, when he was selected by Staal -- one spot after Minnesota Wild forward Martin Havlat and one spot ahead of Kings forward Anze Kopitar.
In addition, Ducks rookie Cam Fowler joined Team Lidstrom and will compete opposite Perry in the SuperSkills competition Saturday. The rookies were divided into two teams of six, before each group of rookies joined up with one group of All-Stars.
Then Hiller was met with the indignity of being the last goalie selected Friday, in the 10th round by team captain Nicklas Lidstrom. Hiller and Ducks teammate Corey Perry were split up for Sunday's All-Star game, which will be played at the RBC Center, home of the Carolina Hurricanes.
According to the rules of the first-year "draft" format, Hiller could not have been picked any later than he was. All six all-star goalies had to be picked in the first 10 rounds.
Hiller, who leads the NHL with 25 wins, watched as Cam Ward was the first player selected overall by captain Eric Staal, Ward's teammate in Carolina. Tim Thomas (fifth round, Lidstrom), Henrik Lundqvist (sixth round, Staal), Marc-Andre Fleury (ninth round, Lidstrom) and Carey Price (10th round, Staal) all went first.
Perry had to wait until the 15th round to hear his name called, when he was selected by Staal -- one spot after Minnesota Wild forward Martin Havlat and one spot ahead of Kings forward Anze Kopitar.
In addition, Ducks rookie Cam Fowler joined Team Lidstrom and will compete opposite Perry in the SuperSkills competition Saturday. The rookies were divided into two teams of six, before each group of rookies joined up with one group of All-Stars.
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
Leave a comment