Ed Willes: Rubbing elbows with game's greats means something to Canucks All-Stars

As part of its continuing and generally futile attempt to make All-Star Weekend interesting, the NHL fiddled around with something called the YoungStars game some years back.

Or the next year when NHL icon Brian Sutherby carried off MVP honours in his team’s 8-6 win. Or the next year when Colorado goalie Philippe Sauve — at least I think he was a goalie and played for the Avs that season — took home the hardware. He’s asked if he’s relayed that message to his three teammates who’ll be attending the NHL’s annual fun fest in St. Louis this weekend.

But, aside from its symbolism for the organization, the All-Star appearance represents a significant honour for rookie Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Jacob Markstrom. All three are at different stages of their career and all three have taken a different route to St. Louis but they’re here now. And even if some of the gimmickry around this event is cringeworthy, it means something to all three.

Hughes and Pettersson, meanwhile, represent something different. For Pettersson, it’s an affirmation that he’s taking up a place inside the game’s velvet ropes. Last year he was the shiny new thing, the runaway leader among rookies in goals and points.He would slump over the final two months of the season but he looks to have taken another step this season. Pettersson is currently 15th in scoring and the best player on a first-place team.

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