RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - The NHL's youngest player, Carolina Hurricanes rookie Jeff Skinner, has been added to the roster for Sunday's All-Star game in Raleigh, the league said on Wednesday.
The teenager was named as a replacement for Pittsburgh centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who withdrew because of injuries.
Skinner will be 18 years and 259 days old when he skates onto the ice on Sunday, making him the youngest player to take part in an All-Star game, played in the current format.
Two players younger than Skinner competed for Stanley Cup winners when the game matched the NHL champions against the league All-Stars.
Skinner, a 2010 first round draft pick, originally had been chosen as one of 12 rookies for Saturday's SuperSkills competition before his promotion to the All-Star game.
His 40 points and 22 assists are the most by an NHL rookie this season. He ranks second among first-year men with 18 goals.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo; Editing by Julian Linden)
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