Notable NHL All-Star Game MVPs

SI Staff | Jan 25, 2008

Notable NHL All-Star Game MVPs

Gordie Howe

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The timeless Mr. Hockey appeared in a record 23 of the 55 NHL All-Star Games that have been held. He was the 1965 MVP when he scored four points in 5-2 win by the NHL All-Stars over the host Montreal Canadiens. His final appearance, in 1980 at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, made him the oldest All-Star ever at 51 years 10 months 5 days.

Wayne Gretzky

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It's no surprise that the Great One owns the career All-Star scoring record (25 points). He played in 18 games and was a three-time MVP, the most notable occasion being his emotional return to Edmonton as a King in 1989. He scored a goal and added two assists in the Campbell Conference's 9-5 win.

Mario Lemieux

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Super Mario shares the career All-Star goals record (13) with Wayne Gretzky and is also a three-time MVP. He set the single-game record of six points in 1988, left, and thrilled the home fans in Pittsburgh by lighting the lamp four times in the first period of the Wales' 12-7 win over the Campbell in 1990.

Brett Hull

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The Golden Brett's pair of tallies in a 10-6 Campbell Conference win in Philadelphia made him and Bobby "The Golden Jet" Hull the first father - son tandem to win the award. Bobby was MVP of the 1970 and 1971 games.

Mike Richter

Paul J. Bereswill/SI, David E. Klutho/SI

The Rangers' magical Stanley Cup season included hosting the All-Star Game in which their goatender earned the award by stopping 19 of the 21 shots he faced in the second period -- the lowest-scoring third of the Eastern Conference's 9-8 win.

Ray Bourque

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Playing before an adoring home crowd in Boston, the Bruin blueliner's goal with 37.3 seconds left gave the Eastern Conference a 5-4 win and made Bourque only the second defenseman to win the award. The first? Boston's legendary Bobby Orr in 1972.

Teemu Selanne

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With the game's format switched to World All-Stars vs. North America, the Finnish Flash hung a hat trick in Vancouver and became the first European player to win MVP honors. Alas, Selanne was also the first MVP from the losing team since goalie Grant Fuhr in 1986, as the North Americans won, 8-7.

Pavel Bure

David E. Klutho/SI, Dave Sandford/NHLI/Getty Images

The dynamic Panthers winger scored a hat trick and four points to lead the World All-Stars to a 9-4 win in Toronto. Brother Valeri assisted on two of the tallies, making the Bures the first siblings to combine on All-Star goals since Hall of Famers Maurice and Henri Richard in 1957 and 1958.

Eric Daze

AP

Probably the most unlikely MVP, the Blackhawks winger notched a goal, two assists and six stitches above his right eye (courtesy of an elbow during a rare scuffle in front of the net). Daze's North America squad lost, 8-5, in Los Angeles, but he became one of only five players to win the hardware in his only All-Star appearance. The others: Bruce Gamble (1968), Syl Apps, Jr. (1975), Mike Liut (1981), and Daniel Briere (2007).

Dany Heatley

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Five players have scored four goals in an All-Star Game, but the Thrashers' 22-year-old winger was the first to bury all four consecutively for his team. For good measure, Heater scored the East's only tally in the shootout, but the West prevailed, 6-5, in Florida.