For the fifth time in his career -- and the first since signing with the Wild in 2016 -- forward Eric Staal will be playing in the NHL All-Star Game.
The 33-year-old forward gets the nod after leading the Wild in goals (19) and points (37) through 43 games this season.
"It's an honor," Staal said via the Wild's Twitter account. "I'm excited to have the chance and to enjoy the experience with my family, my kids, my wife."
Staal becomes the 11th player in Wild franchise history to make the All-Star roster and the first forward since Mikko Koivu in 2012, although Koivu didn't play due to injury.
The All-Star weekend, held in Tampa, Fla., from Jan. 26-28, features a tournament of 3-on-3 hockey between the NHL's four divisions: Central, Pacific, Atlantic and Metropolitan.
"I think every time you go, the weekend itself has a good vibe," Staal said. "You get to meet a lot of the guys you get to compete against nightly, and it's a little more relaxed."
Staal was named MVP of the 2008 All-Star Game in Atlanta when he scored two goals and tallied an assist, one of his four appearances (2007-09, 2011) as an All-Star while playing for the Carolina Hurricanes.
