Just Say I Do: NHL Stars Who Could Have Their Own Royal Weddings

As anyone not living under a rock knows, today is the day of what is possibly the biggest wedding of the 21st century. Well, so far.

In the sports world, it can be quite a big deal when an athlete officially takes the plunge into marriage. The attention the wedding gets usually depends on how well-known the athlete is.

Hockey is no exception, as several players' weddings have been under a microscope in seasons past. The marriage of Nashville Predators forward Mike Fisher and country singer Carrie Underwood is probably the most notable example.

However, most people can probably tell you that actress and singer Hillary Duff is married to Pittsburgh Penguins center Mike Comrie.

Even when Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators got married, the media decided to make a production out of it. They featured photos of him and his bride in addition to showcasing which of his Sens teammates past and present attended the ceremony.

Which NHL players could have something close to a royal wedding of their own someday?

Here are some of my bets.

Henrik Lundqvist, Goaltender, New York Rangers

Photo: Vanity Fair

Who better to kick off this slideshow than a player whose nickname defines royalty?

King Henrik has been the face of the Rangers' starting goaltender position since the 2005-06 season. In that time, he has been to the postseason six times and became the second Rangers goalie to post back-to-back 30 win seasons to start his career. He is also a two-time NHL All-Star and a three-time nominee for the Vezina Trophy.

He helped Team Sweden to a gold medal at the 2006 Olympics in Turin and also has two silver medals from the World Championships.

Lundqvist got engaged to girlfriend Therese Anderson in January 2011.

This sets the stage for a big-deal NHL wedding. Lundqvist plays in a city where the media and fans are watching the steps of every athlete on every professional team. He is one of the faces of the Rangers franchise, and there is no doubt that women in the States and in Sweden adore him, fiancee or not. 

It would also be a great time for Henrik's twin brother, ex-Dallas Stars Joel, to make an appearance.

Unfortunately, ladies, Joel is married as well.

Sidney Crosby, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins

I've heard mixed rumors about whether Sidney Crosby has a girlfriend, and to be honest, I'm not sure what to believe. No matter what, though, good on him for keeping his personal life quiet. 

However, let's just speculate for a minute about what would no doubt be the most royal wedding in hockey, should it ever come to fruition.

Crosby is only 23 years old, and he's already accomplished almost everything there is to accomplish in the league.

He has a Stanley Cup, a Hart Memorial Trophy, an Art Ross and a Rocket Richard Trophy. He is also one of the youngest captains in the NHL.

Crosby was responsible for scoring the game-winning overtime goal of the 2010 Olympics, which set off a massive celebration in Canada.

Think about it: the face of not only the Penguins, but the NHL, who has grown up before television cameras and print media.

He has met all expectations for a professional career, and probably even exceeded them. Questions abound about if a lucky girl exists, and if it does, who is she?

You'd better believe this is going to be a media spectacle.

Alexander Ovechkin, Left Wing, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin is known as quite a womanizer, as he has been linked to several different women during his time in the NHL.

The most recent arm candy for Ovechkin is Russian supermodel Valeria Sokolova. He had also been previously seen with Alyonka Larionov, daughter of former Detroit Red Wings player Igor Larionov.

Fans are constantly debating the merits of whether Ovechkin is better than Crosby, and although Ovechkin has not yet won the Stanley Cup, he is not doing too badly for himself.

He beat Crosby for the Calder Trophy in 2006 and is a two-time Hart Trophy recipient. He also has one Rocket Richard Trophy.

In 2009, Ovechkin was named the 48th Most Powerful Person in Washington, D.C. by GQ Magazine. The year before, he received a key to the city in honor of being the first MVP in any sport for a D.C.-area sports team since 1983.

Ovechkin was part of the reason the Caps made such a turnaround to become one of the NHL's top franchises, and it's clear he is a big influence on the city he plays in and the league.

When he is ready to tie the knot, all eyes in Capitals land will be on him.

Jonathan Toews, Center, Chicago Blackhawks

Photo: expobay.com

Toews is currently the youngest active captain in the NHL.

Last year, he led Chicago back to hockey prominence with the Blackhawks' first Stanley Cup win in 49 years. He also took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Toews' awards shelf is pretty crowded, though. He is the youngest member of the Triple Gold Club, reserved players for who have won a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal and a World Championships gold medal.

He also helped lead Chicago to a near-comeback against the Vancouver Canucks in this year's Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Blackhawks were down three games to none in the best of seven series but forced a Game 7.

Toews scored with less than two minutes left in regulation to force overtime, and although the Hawks ultimately came up short, their heart and good work ethic was not to be denied.

In an interview after last season, Toews stated that he is single. Today is also his 23rd birthday, so he has plenty of time to settle down and get ready for what no doubt could be a magical wedding.

Ryan Miller, Goaltender, Buffalo Sabres

Miller was first embraced by Buffalo Sabres fans back in 2005-06, when he took over starting goaltender duties. That year, the Sabres reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, last year was when other fans sat up and took notice of the rising goaltender.

In the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Miller led Team USA on a Cinderella run throughout the tournament and to the gold medal game, where they won silver after losing to Team Canada.

He was named the MVP of the tournament and best goaltender after posting a 1.35 GAA and .946 save percentage.

He also took home the 2010 Vezina Trophy after posting a 41-18-8 season in Buffalo, the second 40-win season of his career. He had a .929 save percentage and 2.22 GAA.

Miller is engaged to actress Noureen DeWulf, who you may recognize from the NBC series "Outsourced" and the movie "The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It."

Miller's wedding will no doubt put his play in the Olympics fresh into the minds of Americans once again.

Dion Phaneuf, Defenseman, Toronto Maple Leafs

Phaneuf is the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and is dating actress Elisha Cuthbert. The last time we checked, Sean Avery was not pleased about this.

Phaneuf came to Toronto last year after being traded from the Calgary Flames. He had 32 points in games with both teams last year. 

This year, his first full season as a Leaf, he finished with 30 points. It was also his first year as captain, as he had assumed the role prior to the season.

He represented the Flames at the 2007 and 2008 NHL All-Star Games and took home a gold medal from the 2007 World Championships.

When the captain of one of hockey's most historic franchises ties the knot, there is no doubt that a lot of eyes in the hockey world will be on him.  

Sean Avery, Left Wing, New York Rangers

Avery is one of the most controversial players in the NHL.

In 2008, he became notorious for his interesting way of screening New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur. He turned his back to the play and distracted Brodeur by waving his stick and moving back and forth.

The NHL was not impressed and drew up a rule to prevent such actions in the future, which became known as "The Avery Rule."

Then, later that year, Avery was at it again while with the Stars. He sought out cameras and discussed how he was amused that other players (specifically Dion Phaneuf) were falling in love with his "sloppy seconds" (referring to Elisha Cuthbert).

He was suspended and dismissed from the Stars, which led to his second stint with the Rangers.

When not drawing attention to himself on the ice, he brings even more off of it.

In the 2008 offseason, Avery interned at Vogue to start his path towards becoming a fashion editor once his playing days are over.

He has a specific interest in women's fashion and has even offered past girlfriends advice on how to put an outfit together.

I don't think there would be an interest in who Avery marries as much as everyone would be dying to see the outfits on the guests and members of the bridal party.

Avery is also into vintage wines, so the food and drinks being served would be a popular additional area of discussion among New York City sports fans.

Mike Cammalleri, Left Wing, Montreal Canadiens

Cammalleri is nowhere near the stuff of Canadiens legends, but his time there has made him one of the most talked-about players in the NHL, specifically when it comes to the playoffs.

Last season, he had 13 goals, which led all players in the postseason. He was a big part of the reason the Canadiens were able to make a Cinderella run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Habs were not as successful this postseason, as they lost to the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. However, Cammalleri still tallied 10 points, which led Montreal and is currently first in the league.

He had 47 points in this regular season, the third highest total on the Habs. He was just one goal shy of a fourth 20-goal season.

Montreal has been around for over 100 years, and Canadiens fans live, eat, breathe and sleep their team.

Could you imagine how they would celebrate the marriage of one of the players who is quickly becoming a star on their team?