EDMONTON – Jordan Eberle is heading to the NHL all-star game after all.
The Edmonton Oilers forward and Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang were both added to the event Monday.
They’ll replace Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu (shoulder) and Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien (knee), who are both sidelined with injuries.
Eberle was passed over when the all-stars were named two weeks ago because of a knee injury. But he returned to the Oilers lineup over the weekend and leads the team with 17 goals and 44 points.
“It’s exciting,” said Eberle. “It’s definitely been a roller-coaster. The fact the opportunity had come and then I got injury and they said I would have been on if I wasn’t injured. …
“In the end, I get to go and that’s what I was looking forward to obviously.”
Other injury replacements could be coming before the all-star weekend kicks off in Ottawa with Thursday’s fantasy draft. The skills competition will be held Saturday at Scotiabank Place with the all-star game to be played Sunday.
Jamie Benn (appendectomy) and Jonathan Toews (undisclosed) are among the players who remain questionable for the event.
Wild forward Nick Johnson has also replaced Edmonton’s Ryan-Nugent-Hopkins as a rookie in the skills competition.
