NHL All-Star Game 2003. Lappy out.

The Young Stars game and Super Skills contests yesterday were top notch, if only because of the effort shown by younger players like Marian Gaborik and Martin St. Louis. This Future-of-the-NHL theme was carried over in today’s All-Star Game by an amazing four-goal, five-point performance by Dany Heatley, awarded MVP of the game despite his Eastern Conference Team losing in the shootout, in which he scored their only goal. This showcase of future talent was especially welcome, to me at least, for two reasons: 1) the big names who weren’t there due to injury and 2) all the nasty talk about salaries, contraction, bankruptcies, and the looming expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. There were amazing plays, funny moments, and a sense that if they can get the economics worked out, hockey has a fine future ahead of it.

Next on the hit parade…

Laperriere Out 4-6 Weeks Following Surgery

EL SEGUNDO, CA. - Los Angeles Kings center/right winger Ian Laperriere today underwent successful surgery to remove bone chips and scar tissue from his right knee, Kings Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor announced today. In addition, the Kings have placed Laperriere on the injured reserve list and have recalled goaltender Cristobal Huet from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League.

Kings team physician Dr. Ronald Kvitne of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic performed the surgical procedure. Laperriere, 29, is expected to be out of the Kings lineup for 4-6 weeks. Rehabilitation is expected to begin immediately.

Not to mention all the trade rumors. Here’s just three: Schneider, Smolinski, Palffy. Like vultures circling a dying man, this is.