What the NHL All-Star teams would look like right now
Ed Mulholland / USA TODAY Sports
What was widely expected was confirmed Wednesday, as the NHL announced it would go to a 3-on-3 bracket-style tournament (with built-in incentives) for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.
So naturally, 10 weeks before the league's latest bold stroke gets underway, it's time to pick teams.
Here's who we think should be selected based on individual performances through the season's first six weeks, and the tight selection parameters guaranteed to make the process of formulating these rosters quite difficult.
Atlantic
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Max Pacioretty | Montreal Canadiens |
| Brendan Gallagher | Montreal Canadiens |
| David Krejci | Boston Bruins |
| Steven Stamkos | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Ryan O'Reilly | Buffalo Sabres |
| Dylan Larkin | Detroit Red Wings |
| P.K. Subban | Montreal Canadiens |
| Erik Karlsson | Ottawa Senators |
| Morgan Rielly | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Carey Price | Montreal Canadiens |
| Roberto Luongo | Florida Panthers |
Notes:
- Ottawa has four forwards under consideration - including Bobby Ryan, who's on pace to reach a career-best point total - but Gallagher, the co-leading scorer on far and away the best team in the division, gets the nod.
- O'Reilly edges rookie Jack Eichel (though it would probably be more entertaining the other way), but Larkin is chosen over Zetterberg by virtue of his far superior even-strength production.
- Patrice Bergeron is one of three in the Atlantic scoring at a point-per-game pace, but he fails to squeeze on. No room for Jaromir Jagr, either.
- Rielly, Luongo, and even Stamkos, to a certain extent, are chosen to ensure each team is represented.
Metropolitan
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals |
| Evgeny Kuznetsov | Washington Capitals |
| John Tavares | New York Islanders |
| Evgeni Malkin | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Mike Cammalleri | New Jersey Devils |
| Brandon Saad | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| John Carlson | Washington Capitals |
| Justin Faulk | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Mark Streit | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Henrik Lundqvist | New York Rangers |
| Marc-Andre Fleury | Pittsburgh Penguins |
Notes:
- The Metro's co-leading scorer, Kuznetsov, makes it over Nicklas Backstrom with his two 3-on-3 overtime winners and 10 primary assists.
- Cammalleri, too, is selected with a division-best 18 points, but other co-leader, Mats Zuccarello (and every other Rangers player for that matter) is overshadowed by Lundqvist.
- Saad, Faulk, and Streit crack the roster to ensure each team is represented.
Central
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Tyler Seguin | Dallas Stars |
| Jamie Benn | Dallas Stars |
| Patrick Kane | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Vladimir Tarasenko | St. Louis Blues |
| Blake Wheeler | Winnipeg Jets |
| Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche |
| John Klingberg | Dallas Stars |
| Ryan Suter | Minnesota Wild |
| Roman Josi | Nashville Predators |
| Jake Allen | St. Louis Blues |
| Pekka Rinne | Nashville Predators |
Notes:
- Suter makes the team over Shea Weber, despite best efforts to include as many Predators as possible.
- Tarasenko, Wheeler, and MacKinnon edge Blackhawks rookie Artemi Panarin, preventing the Central roster from hosting the NHL's two deadliest duos.
Pacific
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Jeff Carter | Los Angeles Kings |
| Tyler Toffoli | Los Angeles Kings |
| Taylor Hall | Edmonton Oilers |
| Johnny Gaudreau | Calgary Flames |
| Joe Pavelski | San Jose Sharks |
| Daniel Sedin | Vancouver Canucks |
| Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings |
| Oliver Ekman-Larsson | Arizona Coyotes |
| Brent Burns | San Jose Sharks |
| Frederik Andersen | Anaheim Ducks |
| Jonathan Quick | Los Angeles Kings |
Notes:
- Yes, the Sedins have been split. Daniel gets the nod over Henrik with more goals, assists, and both power play and even strength points.
- Max Domi received consideration, but in the end Ekman-Larsson couldn't be excluded.
- Martin Jones has better numbers than both Andersen and Quick, but the Ducks needed a representative, and Quick's been much better over the last month.