HftL Does the All-Stars (Eastern Conference): SIDNEY CROSBY of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby was a very gifted hockey player from a very early age and has been handling the media with poise, grace, and maturity for almost as long. He was given the name “The Next One” (a reference to Wayne Gretzky who is called “The Great One”) by the age of 11 and Gretzky, himself, has admitted that Crosby is the player who is most likely to break various records that he continues to hold today (the only one ever close was Mario Lemieux).

The NHL lockout was the year prior to Crosby being drafted which cancelled the 2004-2005 season, so the 2005 draft order was determined by lottery that was conducted on July 22, 2005. Each NHL team was assigned one to three lottery balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the previous three years. In the end, the stars were aligned once more for the Pittsburgh Penguins who won the lottery allowing them to choose Crosby as their first round draft pick of 2005 in what is now affectionately known by some as “The Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes / Lottery.”

What’s Hot – is it really necessary to elaborate? This entire site is practically dedicated to Sid's hotness!! But, if I must, I must. Well, let's start with the obvious - he's simply gorgeous; milk-chocolaty brown eyes accented with eyelashes that are the envy of any girl, dark curly locks that frame his beautiful face; a firm chiseled upper body with enormously manly thighs that leads to a deriere that can fill out the dullest of jeans; but the crown-jewel has to be that smile (OH - that smile!)!

And his work ethic is second to none - he's a hard worker and leads by example. What girl doesn't love a hard-working man? The way he handles himself with the media and fans is so refreshing; he's all business on the ice, but he doesn't take crap and when I see him mouthing off on the ice -- gosh, it curls my toes; I find that so manly!!

What’s Hockey (it’s a LONG story and he’s only 21!) – Trophy in the Memorial Cup Tournament for being the leading scorer (2005); named to the NHL All-Rookie Team (2006), was the youngest player ever in the NHL to be named Captain of a team (Pittsburgh Penguins) on May 31, 2007; NHL First All-Star Team (2007); earned the Art Ross Trophy (2007), Lester B. Pearson Award (2007), and Hart Memorial Trophy (2007); played in NHL All-Star Game (2007); recorded his 100 named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team (2004), QMJHL First All-Star Team (2004, 2005); was the QMJHL Player of the Year (2004, 2005); named to the Canadian Major Junior First All-Star Team (2004, 2005); was the Canadian Major Junior Rookie of the Year (2004), Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year (2004, 2005); named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team (2005); won the Ed Chynowethth career goal, 200th career assist, and 300th career point in the same game (219th career NHL game) on October 18th against the Toronto Maple Leafs; had a career high 19 face-off wins on October 10th in a game against Montreal Canadiens; has 344 points (114 goals, 230 assists) in his first 250 games which ranks him sixth all-time in NHL history; broke Jaromir Jagr's record set in 2000 along with fellow teammate Evgeni Malkin for most votes received by a player to play in the NHL All-Star game (2009).

HftL Does the All-Stars (Western Conference): PAT KANE of the Chicago Blackhawks

The leading vote getter in the All Star balloting for the Western Conference and arguably one of the very best young players in the League, we have Patrick Kane. His first game-winning goal, was against the Red Wings (yes... sweet...)

What's Hot - Well, he's got the cutest zits on the planet (Crosby excluded). He plays on my weakness (hopefully I don't need to explain my obsession by this point) blond hair & blue eyes. The grin is priceless. He's AMERICAN (I for one share that attraction with Stephanie; READ HERE) born in Buffalo, NY. The very hottest thing I've seen is that Winter Classic billboard (ah, snowflakes & eyelashes...)

What's Hockey - OHL All-Rookie Team (2007), OHL First All-Star Team (2007), OHL Rookie of the Year (2007), Canadian Major Junior Rookie of the Year (2007), NHL All-Rookie Team (2008), and Calder Memorial Trophy (2008). How do you argue with all of that?? First player taken in the first round in the 2007 draft. Kane played in his first international tournament for the United States in the Under-18 in 2006 where he helped the team win a gold medal.

All-Star Interviews

In case you missed them, here are videos of interviews conducted yesterday during media day for the 2009 NHL All-Star game featuring Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (too adorable)!!!

Sidney Crosby All-Star Post

A few of you may be wondering whether or not I will follow through with the Crosby ASG post seeing as how he decided not to participate in the game this weekend. I talked it over with Kena who brought up a pretty valid point: we planned on "doing" the All-Star starters that were voted on by the fans (not replacements that the NHL decided were suitable), so the Sidney Crosby post will be up as scheduled tomorrow - bright and early!!

Any of you fine ladies have any objections? I didn't think you would!! For those of you who may have an objection or two (or would like to voice your opinion), you can post them in the comments.

HftL Does the All-Stars (Western Conference): JONATHAN TOEWS of the Chicago Blackhawks

One of my favorite names in hockey, "Toews." You should pronounce it like the body part (toes); instead, it's "TAYVZ." I don't know what's up with that but it's really, awfully cute.

What's Hot - At 6'2" and 205, he's playing on my weakness for tall guys. He has one of those adorable little smirks. The Blackhawks fans call him "Tayzer" which in no way fits his looks, but who cares? There are some types of adorable that you just can't explain. He's still a cutie. He's got fun dark hair, and pretty chocolate eyes, but most importantly, this - once, when he was ten years old, he put on his skates and headed to an outdoor rink in the middle of the night. He had heard that Guy Lafleur had done the same. WOW, dedication (really, how do you say no to a guy who want's it that bad?). Now that's what I call sexy...

What's Hockey - Blackhawks’ first choice (third overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. When he was named the 34th captain in Blackhawks history on July 17, 2008, making him the third-youngest player to earn that distinction in the history of the National Hockey League, Sidney Crosby sent him a text message congratulating him on this accomplishment. Nominated for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 07/08. Recorded the first fighting major of his professional career on Nov. 18 against Phoenix (Martin Hanzal). [authors note: the proceeding sentence also goes in the above "What's Hot" category above, as well].

HftL Does the All-Stars (Eastern Conference): EVGENI MALKIN of the Pittsburgh Penguins

I can still remember the excitement that my husband, John, had when Malkin finally fled from Russia so he could come to the US and play for the Penguins. He explained how “this kid may be even better than Sidney!” No way, I didn’t believe it – someone better than Sidney? Well, it’s been a few years since then and he’s definitely made a believer out of me – there is someone just as good, if not better, than Crosby (as much as it pains me to say it, I'm all for giving credit where it’s due); however, I suppose it can be like comparing apples and oranges since they’re two totally different types of players – they can both be categorized as elite!!

What’s Hot – come on, what’s NOT hot about a skilled hockey player that’s good at his craft?!! He’s a natural player (even my husband will tell you that!) and makes everything he does on the ice look effortless – now THAT’S SEXY!!! Oh, and of course we cannot forgot about those beautiful manly hands of his!! He’s not unlike Modano in the fact that he’s “shy sexy” to borrow a term from my good friend, Kena!! He single-handedly saved the Pens season last year after Sidney went down with a high-ankle sprain injury by carrying the entire team on his back encouraging the rest of them to step up and play at another level – he takes the reigns when he needs to and knows exactly when that is! He’s also very humble and credits his teammates before accepting credit himself. Recently, Malkin has more willingly been learning the English language which is something that intrigues the female fans, myself included!! How cute is his thick accent and his eagerness to "please" the media with proper English?!! Too damn adorable!!

What’s Hockey – represented Russia at the 2006 Olympics as well as in two World Under-18 Championships (2003, 2004), three World Junior Championships (2004, 2005, 2006), and two World Championships (2006, 2007); named to All-Tournament team at 2007 World Championships and tied for Russian team scoring lead at 2006 Worlds with nine points in seven games; named top forward and tournament MVP at 2006 World Junior Championship where he scored 10 points in six games; played three seasons with hometown team Metallurg Magnitogorsk in Russian Super League (2003 - 2006) leading the team to a regular season title (2005-2006) and ranked third in league scoring as 19-year-old with 47 points in 46 games; won Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year (2006-2007) and named to NHL All-Rookie Team being the first Penguins played to be named Rookie of the Year since Mario Lemieux in 1984-1985; led all NHL rookies in goals - 33, assists - 52, points - 85, power-play goals - 16, and power-play points - 40; scored his first NHL goal in first NHL game on October 18, 2006 against New Jersey Devils' goalie Martin Brodeur; became the first NHL player in 89 years to score a goal in each of his first six games.

BIG THANKS to "71crush" for all the AWESOME Malkin pictures featured in this post (I just regret I couldn't use more)!!

HftL Does the All-Stars (Western Conference): RYAN GETZLAF of the Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Getzlaf spent his day with the Stanley Cup in the summer of 2007 in his childhood hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan, where he hosted a street hockey tournament for kids in which competing teams played for the actual Stanley Cup.

What's Hot - Well, look at him... he's easily got the Duckling market cornered as far as looks. Although he does suffer from the atrocious facial hair standards that afflicts the rest of the team on occasion, I will admit that this vicious malady is not as pronounced for him. He's 6'4" 220lbs. which is tasty any way you look at it. His older brother Chris is a wide receiver in the CFL (Canadian Football League) [Why is this hot, you ask me? My answer, "I was a football fan before I became a hockey fan(atic). What can I say, you never forget your first love]. He has 3 dogs. Says the Cannery is his favorite restaurant in the OC (Orange County) area [Ha, Canned Duck, OK, maybe it's not that funny, yea, I give, not that funny.] Says he enjoys cooking [All I can say is "So Awesome! A guy who can actually cook."], with most of his meals centered around chicken [Again, awesome].

What's Hockey - Honestly, a lot! He currently ranks in the top 10 (I think 4th, at this very moment) in goals scored. During the Ducks Stanley Cup Run 2 years ago, he centered the second line with teammates Corey Perry (do not talk to me about Corey Perry) and Dustin Penner (who now plays for EDM, by the way), the trio was dubbed the "Kid Line" (Getzlaf and Perry were both 21, while Penner was 22) and combined for 147 points. He led the Duck's roster in scoring in the 2007 playoffs with 17 points in 21 games.His draft year of 2003 is considered one of the deepest drafts ever. In the first round alone Eric Staal (be gentle with me Stephanie), Dion Phaneuf, Marc-Andre Fleury (your area of expertise, Stephanie), Zach Parise, Nikolai Zherdev, Thomas Vanek, Mike Richards, Corey Perry (No Comment), Nathan Horton, Jeff Carter and Ryan Getzlaf were all taken.

Some players he admires -

Joe Sakic [COL Avalanche] "I like him a lot. I've had the chance to hang out with him at All-Star Games, and that's big for me. The numbers he's put up, and the leadership he has provided, it's incredible."

Teemu Selanne [ANA Ducks] "He has helped me a lot. We don't play similar games, but we have similar attitudes and have developed a good friendship here. He shows us how to have fun at the rink."