One last-minute shuffle to the lineup for the YoungStars game tonight lowered some of the complaining about the roster selection.
Matt Stajan, the rookie centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was chosen as a replacement on the Eastern Conference team yesterday for Atlanta Thrashers defenceman Garnet Exelby, who is out with an ankle injury.
However, there is still a lot of grumbling among fans, a few general managers and many player agents about the National Hockey League's selection methods for the YoungStars game, which will be held tonight along with the skills competition as a preliminary to the NHL all-star game tomorrow.
The feeling is that the NHL overlooked some deserving players for the YoungStars game to appease teams miffed that one or two deserving players were not picked for the all-star game. One agent lobbying for a client said he was told by league officials that they had done enough already for the team on which his client plays.
Sens' stars
forced to sit
There were a couple of shuffles to the all-star rosters yesterday, with the Ottawa Senators losing two of their three representatives on the Eastern Conference team to injury and illness.
Defenceman Wade Redden is out because of the flu bug that sapped the Senators in their 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. He will be replaced by Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Pavel Kubina.
Also out is Senators forward Marian Hossa, who was cut above his right eye by a puck early in the game against the Maple Leafs. Glen Murray of the Boston Bruins will step in for him.