Saad selected for first All-Star Game

By foxsports
Published

COLUMBUS, OH -- Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Brandon Saad has been selected to participate in the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game® at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, January 31, the league and club announced Wednesday.

Saad, 23, has registered 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points with 12 penalty minutes in 39 games this season. He leads the club in goals, game-winning goals (three) and shots on goal (115), while ranking second in points and power play goals (five). He has racked up 7-6-13 in 13 games since December 8, including 6-5-11 during a career-high seven-game point streak from December 17 to January 2.

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native was acquired by the Blue Jackets via trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on June 30, 2015. He has collected 68-87-155 in 248 career NHL games, added 15-19-34 and 16 penalty minutes in 67 career Stanley Cup playoff contests and helped the Blackhawks capture Stanley Cup championships in 2013 and 2015.

The Blackhawks' fourth pick, 43rd overall, in the 2011 NHL Draft, he was a finalist in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2012-13 after notching 10-17-27 in 44 games. In 2014-15, he set career highs in games played, goals, assists and points with 23-29-52 in 82 games.

Saad becomes the seventh Blue Jackets player selected to participate in the NHL All-Star Game, joining right wing Nick Foligno (2015, team captain), center Ryan Johansen (2015, voted game's Most Valuable Player), goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (2015, missed game due to injury), left wing Rick Nash (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), left wing Ray Whitney (2003) and center Espen Knutsen (2002).

The 40 All-Stars selected by the NHL today join the first four players voted by fans to serve as division captains in the 2016 NHL All-Star Fan Vote: Jaromir Jagr, Florida (Atlantic Division); Alex Ovechkin, Washington (Metropolitan); Patrick Kane, Chicago (Central) and John Scott, Arizona (Pacific). As part of a new format for the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game, the All-Stars will take part in a three-game tournament, played in a 3-on-3 format, and featuring four teams representing each NHL division. Each division's roster will have six forwards, three defensemen and two goalies. The Atlantic Division will face the Metropolitan Division in one semifinal and the Central Division will face the Pacific Division in the other semifinal. The winners play in the championship game. Games will be 20 minutes in length and will be decided by a shootout if tied after the 20 minutes.

Live television coverage of the League's midseason showcase during the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition and 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game will be broadcast by NBCSN in the U.S. and Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada. The 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition will begin at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 30, and the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game will start at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT on Sunday, Jan. 31.

The Blue Jackets return to action on Friday when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes. Game time from PNC Arena is 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show at 6:30 p.m.

(Columbus Blue Jackets press release)