NEW YORK (Reuters) - Philadelphia Flyers winger Danny Briere has replaced Calgary's Jarome Iginla as an NHL All-Star after the Flames' captain withdrew for family reasons, the league said on Wednesday.
Iginla, who would have been playing in his sixth All-Star Game, said he was pulling out to spend time with his grandmother.
"I just lost my grandfather in the spring and I have learned that my grandmother is not doing very well," Iginla told the Flames' website (http://flames.nhl.com).
"I don't get too many opportunities to see her, and as much as I was looking forward to ... the All-Star Game, I just know that my mind will be elsewhere."
Briere was miffed at initially being overlooked for the January 30 game in Raleigh, North Carolina as he is Philadelphia's leader in goals (24) and points (41) this season.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Julian Linden)
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