NHL All-Star Game 2012: Who Will Win in Each Individual Skills Competition

The NHL unveiled the rosters for the 2012 All-Star Game around lunch time today. Each player was selected for a particular reason and they will represent their team in the event.

However the most exciting part of All-Star weekend is the skills competition.

It is a night full of fun and friendly competition among rivals throughout the league. There are six events at the skills competition, so we wonder what players are going to win in each category.

There are two events that involve each team. They are the only events not include in this prediction.

Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater

Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers

Gaborik is widely considered to be the fastest skater in the NHL. He was even named the fastest skater by a THN poll. In an event where using your legs and speed is key, it is an event made for Gaborik.

Gaborik has competed in and won the fastest skater portion of the skills competition before, so he should have an upper hand against some of the competition.

Honorable Mention: Steven Stamkos

Stamkos competed in the event last year an posted a top time of 14.731 seconds. It depends on how the teams shape up, but Gaborik and Stamkos could face off in the finals of this event.

BlackBerry NHL Breakaway Challenge

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

This event is a popularity contest as the winner is determined by a text poll conducted by the fans. Ovechkin has done some zany things in this event before and has been known to get very creative in the past. 

The video above shows exactly what Ovechkin can do to win the support from his fans. I can’t really see anyone else stealing the crown from Ovechkin, considering his past success in this category.

McDonald's NHL Accuracy Shooting

Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Sedin is the defending champion in this event. It took him 7.3 seconds to knock out the four corner targets in the qualifying round of the event and 8.9 seconds in the final round against Patrick Kane. Sedin has one of the most accurate shots in the league and he has good hands. That much was clear during last year’s event.

Honorable Mention- Patrick Kane

Kane finished in second last year against Daniel Sedin. His time in the qualifying round was 8.7 seconds. He failed to complete the task in the final round but has a good chance of avenging his loss from last year’s event.

XM NHL Hardest Shot

Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

Zdeno Chara has the hardest slap shot in the NHL. Last year he set a new record at the skills competition when he blasted a 105.9 MPH shot. Chara is a massive player with brute strength, so there is really no reason why he shouldn't repeat in this event.

Anyone who sets the record in an event really has a fighting chance.

Honorable Mention: Shea Weber 

Weber, like Chara, is a tall defenseman with a hulking frame. He also possesses a potent slap shot. In the qualifying round last year, Weber outshot Chara by 0.7 MPH before coming up short in the finals. Weber could have a fighting chance this year if Chara miss shoots in the final round. 

Tom Urtz Jr. is an NHL Featured Columnist. For NHL news, updates and alerts about players: