The second annual National Hockey League Rookie Showcase takes place this Sep. 1 in Toronto, ON. This year, the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association have invited 23 potential rookies, including 2010 top draft picks Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers), Tyler Seguin (Boston Bruins) and Erik Gudbranson (Florida Panthers).

This year’s event will feature both the Upper Deck Company and new card licensee Panini. There will be a media session with the players in the morning followed by on-ice activities throughout the day tailored to the card companies’ photograph and editorial needs.

With Hall and Seguin at the top of the list, this year’s rookie crop is highly anticipated. Many rookies have already been previewed in junior and pre-NHL card sets like In The Game Heroes & Prospects, so these players already have a following amongst card collectors. Kings’ prospect Brayden Schenn has the highest Collector’s Index at 77 items, followed by Hall (60), Jordan Eberle (56) and Chet Pickard (55).

The full list of NHL Rookie Showcase players is listed below:

Taylor Hall – Edmonton Oilers
Tyler Seguin – Boston Bruins
Erik Gudbranson – Florida Panthers
Ryan Johansen – Columbus Blue Jackets
Jeffrey Skinner – Carolina Hurricanes
Brayden Schenn – Los Angeles Kings
Nazem Kadri – Toronto Maple Leafs
Jordan Eberle – Edmonton Oilers
Magnus Pääjärvi – Edmonton Oilers
Jordan Schroeder – Vancouver Canucks
Mats Zuccarello-Aasen – New York Rangers
Ryan McDonagh – New York Rangers
Jonathon Blum – Nashville Predators
Chet Pickard – Nashville Predators
Jacob Markström – Florida Panthers
Mattias Tedenby – New Jersey Devils
Tomas Tatar – Detroit Red Wings
Zach Hamill – Boston Bruins
Joe Colborne – Boston Bruins
Kyle Beach – Chicago Blackhawks
Scott Glennie – Dallas Stars
Calvin de Haan – New York Islanders
Kevin Shattenkirk – Colorado Avalanche

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced their All-Time Team, honouring 15 of the greatest players in Penguins history. The 15 players were voted by the fans and a panel of media and team officials. Of note, nine of the 15 honoured players are Stanley Cup champions with the Penguins.

“It’s really an impressive group,” said team president David Morehouse. “It certainly reminds us of the tremendous individual talent and great team moments that have defined Penguins history. “And we can’t wait until our fans get a chance to experience the interactive Trib Total Media Penguins All-Time Team Zone. It is amazing.”

No word yet as to what collectibles may be produced in honour of this group, but the interactive display will be at the Trib Total Media entrance at the CONSOL Energy Center, the new home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

ALL-TIME TEAM
Mario Lemieux
Ron Francis
Jaromir Jagr
Rick Kehoe
Kevin Stevens
Jean Pronovost
Paul Coffey
Larry Murphy
Ulf Samuelsson
Tom Barrasso
Syl Apps
Joe Mullen
Dave Burrows
Les Binkley
Pierre Larouche

Washington Capitals’ forward Alex Ovechkin has once again been named the National Hockey League’s most outstanding player. The Russian forward won his third-straight NHLPA award, becoming the first player since Wayne Gretzky to win the title three consecutive times.

Ovechkin is in fact the first winner of the new Ted Lindsay award, albeit the award dates back to 1970-71 when it was originally introduced as the Lester B. Pearson Award. The award celebrates the NHL’s Most Outstanding Player, as voted by members of the NHLPA. Twenty-two different players won the Pearson Award from 1970-71 to 2008-09. Before Ovechkin, only Gretzky (1981-82 to 1984-85) and Guy Lafleur (1975-76 to 1977-78) won the award in three successive seasons.

Also on Wednesday night at the NHL Awards Banquet, Henrik Sedin won the Hart Trophy (most valuable player), Martin St-Louis won the Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship and skill), Ryan Miller won the Vézina Trophy (top goaltender), Tyler Myers won the Calder Trophy (outstanding rookie), Duncan Keith won the Norris Trophy (top defenceman), José Théodore won the Masterton Trophy (perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication), Dave Tippett won the Jack Adams Trophy (top coach), Pavel Datsyuk won the Selke Trophy (top defensive forward), and Ryan Miller won the King Clancy Trophy (leadership on and off the ice).

Other 2009-10 NHL award winners were Jonathan Toews for the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff’s most valuable player), Henrik Sedin for the Art Ross Trophy (most points), Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos for the Maurice Richard Trophy (most goals), Jeff Schultz for the Plus-Minus Award, Martin Brodeur for the Jennings Trophy (team goals-against average), Tuukka Rask for the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award (save percentage).

The Edmonton Oilers have won the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft lottery. As such, the Oilers will have the first pick in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft, a first for the Canadian franchise. The Oilers will be followed in the draft by the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders.

The top two draft prospects are Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires and Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers. The Oilers have stated that they will “go through the process” before making their selection at the draft in June. Whoever the Oilers don’t select will be available to the Bruins.

The 2010 NHL Entry Draft is this Jun. 25-26 in Los Angeles, CA.