HftL Does the All-Stars (Eastern Conference): ALEXEI KOVALEV of the Montreal Canadiens

It was just announced this morning that Kovi will be donning the "C" for the Eastern Conference team -- such a nice honor to be captain of the EC All-Star team in front of a home crowd!! YEA, Kovi!!

Alexei Kovalev is another Russian-born player and has played for multiple teams throughout his long career in the NHL. He has his own webpage and organized hockey camps. I guess the following could be listed under either of the titles covered below (but since that's the case, I'll post it here in the beginning paragraph), Kovi began skating at the age of four when his father designed makeshift skates by tying blades to his felt boots; however, he opted to borrow his sister's figure skates which allowed him to develop an "artistic stride." At the age of eight, he developed heart problems, but received treatment and watched what he ate which is the reason he was able to overcome the disease and continue playing hockey.

What's Hot - Kovalev is an older player and seeing as how the league consists mainly of players in their early 20's now-a-days, I find it quite appealing when players like Kovi continue to keep up with the new generation of hockey players (not to mention the fact that he reminds me of the "good ol' days" when I became a fan of the game)! He's beautiful - [again] just look at him! Of course another reason I have a soft spot for him is the fact that he once played for the Pittsburgh Penguins (with whom he recorded a career high of 105 points in the 2000-2001 season).

What's Hockey - Kovalev was a 1st round draft pick of the NY Rangers in the 1991 entry draft (the first Russian-born player to be drafted in the first round of an NHL entry draft); won a gold medal with the Unified Team in the 1992 Olympics and also a bronze medal with Team Russia in the 2002 Olympics; scored his first hat trick playing against the Boston Bruins on December 27, 1992; won a Stanley Cup Championship with the NY Rangers in 1994; named to the WJC-A All-Star Team (1992), played in the NHL's All-Star Game (2001, 2003), was traded three times in his career (by NY Rangers to Pittsburgh on November 25, 1998; by Pittsburgh to NY Rangers on February 10, 2003; and finally by NY Rangers to Montreal on March 2, 2004) to end up where he currently plays in Montreal; signed as a free agent by Kazan (Russia) on November 3, 2004 during the NHL lock-out; during the current season, he led the team in assists (8), points (10) and shots-on-goal (42) in November, was the team leader in December in points (12) and +/- (+10 ); recorded a team-high 39 SOG in December 2008.

HftL Does the All-Stars (Western Conference): BRIAN CAMPBELL of the Chicago Blackhawks

I know I am in the minority, but I really like guys with red hair. I don't know if it's just unusual taste or familiarity (a goodly portion of my family are so afflicted). But the fact remains, I like them. I have a particular fondness for Brian Campbell who is much more appetizing as a Saber than he ever was as a "Guppy" (San Jose Shark) where he played my Stars with such alarming frequency and skill.

What's Hot - I know it's not everyone's thing, but the hair. I'll give everyone a heads up and say that his looks are VERY much improved if the team makes the playoffs. His playoff beard is a true "caterpillar to butterfly" transformation [shivers]. Since there's absolutely no denying that he looks much better on video than in 2 dimensional photos, I've included some that I thought were fun. THIS is really cute, and VERY true to form. Try not to laugh too hard at THIS, it's all at once singularly embarrassing while being very endearing at the same time. I COULD NOT resist giggling at this one, myself. Every time I see him do an interview, I think that he'd be the very best "straight-man" in a comedy team. While he's not possessed of a bubbly personality, I like his quiet and subtle wit.

What's Hockey - He's really good. Halfway through the season, he's the 'Hawks number one defensive goal scorer with 23 assists, a +/- of 8 and 7+ goals scored. He is considered to be one of the top 3 acquisitions by any club in the NHL during last years off season. Last year he ranked second among all NHL defensemen with 54 assists and tied for third with 62 points both career highs in 83 regular-season games. Amassed seven points (a goal & six assists) in the Sharks 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games last year. He really was a TOTAL coup for the Chicago Blackhawks. I count him among the very best D-men I've ever seen play.

HftL Does the All-Stars (Eastern Conference): ANDREI MARKOV of the Montreal Canadiens

Andrei Markov is a Russian-born player and one of the top defensemen on the Montreal Canadien's team and made his NHL debut for them in 2000. In 2007, they resigned him to a 4-year / $23 million contract, so I'd say they definitely believe he's a top defenseman!

What's Hot - it's been said that Markov is a smart defenseman and there's nothing like a smart player!! He was a fan favorite in Moscow / Russia when he played for the Dynamo and scored what is known as "the most curious and astonishing goal ever seen in the world of hockey" during the final of the 1999 European club tournament (Euroleague); his favorite teams to play against are Toronto and Boston because of the great atmosphere and the good feeling he gets when playing them, says the toughest player to defend against is Jaromir Jagr, he enjoys soccer and tennis and his favorite tennis player is Roger Federer

What's Hockey - Markov was Montreal's 6th round draft pick in 1998 (162nd overall); named to the WJC-A First All-Star Team (1998), Russian League All-Star Team (2000), Russian League MVP Award (2000); signed as a free agent by Dynamo Moscow (Russia) on June 19, 2004 during the NHL lock-out and represented Russia in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy; played in the 2008 NHL All-Star Game; last season he recorded a career high of 62 points in 94 games; to this point in the current season, he led the team in assists (10) and points (11) in October 2008, also led the team in TOI (time on ice) in November (24:22 minutes) and December (24:43 minutes) and had a team-high 8 assists in December 2008.

HftL Does the All-Stars (Eastern Conference): MIKE KOMISAREK of the Montreal Canadiens

Komisarek was the surprise pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2001 entry draft which was thought to be the year they would draft Saku Koivu's brother, Mikko; however, Komisarek has progressed into the player they were expecting him to become and more, so the pick turned out to be a wise choice for the team.

What's Hot - well, just look at him! Being tall (6'4"), blonde and blue-eyed, what red-blooded female can't appreciate his good looks?! Even better (for Kena and I, anyway) is that he's yet another American-born player! He's a big, bruising defenseman at 243 pounds which enables him to provide a huge physical presence on the ice but yet he has a better than average speed of the typical defenseman - all very appealing to any female hockey fan!!

For those of you who find it interesting to learn more about players on a more personal note, here's a few tidbits for you (me!): one of Mike's guilty pleasures is peanut M&M's, his biggest pet peeve is people who drive slow in the left lane, his favorite 'chick flick' is "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," he doesn't like celery because of the texture and taste ("it's just gross"), he stays in touch with Ron Hainsey (one of our "American Hotties!") who is a close friend of his and was in his wedding party!

What's Hockey - Komisarek was drafted in the 2001 entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round (7th overall), part of the World Junior Championships (2001, 2002), CCHA First All-Star Team (2002), NCAA West First All-American Team (2002), AHL All-Rookie Team (2003); he played his first game on February 19, 2003 against the Buffalo Sabres and his 100th career NHL game on January 19, 2006 against the Calgary Flames; he re-signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 2007 with a 2-year / $3.4 million contract and led the team with 29 hits and 38 blocked shots (BS) in October 2008.

HftL Does the All-Stars (Western Conference): SCOTT NIEDERMAYER of the Anaheim Ducks

Ah, Scott Niedermayer. Some noticeable hilarity is the fact that during the Ducks Stanley Cup run in 2007 when he grew the most atrocious playoff beard known to mankind. More grey than black, it really, really was awful. He is one of those players you often wished played for your team even though you don't really like them.

What's Hot - with the Jr. Hockey team in his hometown (always sweet, when a guy works with kids). He and his wife, Lisa, have four sons: Logan, Jackson, Josh and Luke. He recently learned how to surf. He says one of his hockey idols is Mario Lemieux (don't mob him yet, Pitt ladies). If he could shop in only one clothing store, he’d pick Patagonia. Welcomed the Stanley Cup to Cranbrook, SK (his hometown) with his brother Rob in August 2007 where they had a helicopter drop them off nearHe's 35 and still playing hockey at this level. The position of defense has it's own hotness factor. He's very involved the peak of Bull Mountain where they took their dream photo with the Stanley Cup together on top of a glacier (I found this to be particularly endearing).

What's Hockey - He's the only player in the history of hockey to have won what many consider to be the "six major championships for Canadian players," those championships being the Stanley Cup, Memorial Cup, World Junior Ice Hockey Championship gold, IIHF World Championship gold, Olympic gold, and a World Cup of Hockey title (2003–04). Notable accomplishments include: James Norris Memorial Trophy (for Defenseman of the Year) and 2006–07 - NHL - Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP) for the ducks Stanley Cup run in 06/07. Even I have to admit that he's a fabulous defenseman.

HftL Does the All-Stars (Eastern Conference): CAREY PRICE of the Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price is one of four Habs to start in the 2009 NHL All-Star game (as the goalie); however, he recently injured his ankle and the Canadiens coach reported that he doesn't want his star goalie to participate unless his ankle is healed.

He first laced-up a pair of skates at the age of 3. Hockey is in the family as his father (also a goalie) was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1978 and his cousin, Shane Doan, is the captain of the Phoenix Coyotes.

What's Hot - Price is 6'3 and 219 pounds with dark hair and eyes (tall, dark, and handsome); he made the cover of the most recent issue of ESPN the Magazine being dubbed "The Loneliest Man in Sports."

What's Hockey - he was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round in the 2005 entry draft (5th overall). Played on the WHL West First All-Star Team (2007), Canadian Major Junior Goaltender of the Year (2007), received the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the AHL's Playoff MVP (2007). He was named NHL's rookie of the month in April 2008 with a 7-3-0 record, 2.67 GAA, .924 save percentage, and a shutout as well as being named to the 2007-2008 NHL's All-Rookie team; also named Canadiens Player of the Month in November 2008 with a record of 6-3-0, and a shut out.

HftL Does the All-Stars (Western Conference): JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE of the Anaheim Ducks

Firstly, let me say. There is no such thing as a "hot" Duckling, PERIOD. I am a Stars fan, and as far as I'm concerned, the only good duck, is one which is thoroughly plucked, cooked and in some sort of sauce on my plate.

What's Hot - Wayne Gretzky to appear twice as a main Wellllll... (see above); however, I am not one to judge hotness based on team affiliation. His family has a yellow lab named Henri (drool, dogs get me every time)…his favorite television shows are “CSI: Miami,” (yea) “The Sopranos” (I can understand this) and “Deadwood” (huh). His first job was as a security guard [uh, REALLY hot] for various events throughout the Montreal area where he's from. He's appeared three times on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," twice following Anaheim’s Stanley Cup run in 2003 making him the only NHL player since guest on the show, and once with Brad May and Chris Pronger the night following the Ducks’ 2007 Stanley Cup championship.

What's Hockey - In his last 10 outings he's stopped 272-of-297 shots for a .916 SV%. Recorded his 200th career NHL win on Dec. 7th vs. CBJ. Played in his 400th game as a Duck, Dec. 1st @ DET. Earned his second shutout (31st career), stopping all 35 shots on Nov. 4th @ LAK. He won the Stanley cup with the Ducks in BOTH 2003 & 2007. Is subtle, quietly good at tending goal. I know I always dread playing against him although he had a streak where the Stars could do no wrong when they sent a shot his way. That hot streak seems to have cooled, however.