All-star game: The formations of each section according to NHL.com

Fans will have the chance to determine the captain for each section ahead of the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend taking place in Las Vegas on February 4-5. To do this, they can visit the NHL.com/vote or use the NHL app.

As part of this exercise, we submitted a full roster of 11 players – six forwards, three defenders and two goalkeepers – for each of the four sections. Note that a minimum of one player per team had to be selected.

Fans will be able to vote until 11:59 p.m. on January 8. Once the captains are chosen, NHL Hockey Operations will select the remaining players to participate in the Skills Contest and 3-on-3 Tournament.

Here are the rosters compiled by NHL.com:

Atlantic section

Attackers

Steven StamkosTampa Bay Lightning
Jonathan HuberdeauFlorida Panthers (captain)
Auston MatthewsToronto Maple Leafs
Patrice BergeronBoston Bruins
Nick SuzukiMontreal Canadiens
Victor OlofssonBuffalo Sabers

Defenders

Aaron EkbladFlorida Panthers
Moritz SeiderDetroit Red Wings
Thomas ChabotOttawa Senators

Guardians

Jack CampbellToronto Maple Leafs
Andrei VasilevskiyTampa Bay Lightning

Were also considered: Brad Merchant (Bruins), Lucas Raymond (Red Wings), Drake Batherson (Senators), Brady Tkachuk (Senators), Victor Hedman (Lightning), Charlie McAvoy (Bruins), John Tavares (Maple Leafs), Morgan Rielly (Maple Leafs), Dylan Larkin (Red Wings), David Pastrnak (Bruins)

Explanations: It was very difficult to ignore Victor Hedman, the second-best defenseman in the NHL. The choice fell between him and Aaron Ekblad, and the Panthers deserve to have at least two representatives with the season they have had so far. The Lightning are already represented by Steven Stamkos and Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Atlantic section is also very well off in net, with a tandem Vasilevskiy-Jack Campbell. I also preferred the veteran Patrice Bergeron to the dynamic Brad Marchand. We don’t know for yet how long the Quebecer will be able to participate in this event, so why not take advantage of his presence while there is still time? Jonathan Huberdeau is on his way to having the best season of his career and has helped the Panthers maintain their momentum in the absence of Aleksander Barkov. He deserves to be named captain of his section. With Moritz Seider and Thomas Chabot on the blue line in a 3-on-3 tournament, the raise will be particularly effective. – Sebastien Deschambault

Video: FLA@WSH: Huberdeau mocks Samsonov on breakaway

Metropolitan Section

Attackers

Alex OvechkinWashington Capitals (captain)
Artemi PanarinNew York Rangers
Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh Penguins
Sebastian AhoCarolina Hurricanes
Evgeny KuznetsovWashington Capitals
Claude GirouxPhiladelphia Flyers

Defenders

adam foxNew York Rangers
Dougie HamiltonNew Jersey Devils
Zach WerenskyColumbus Blue Jackets

Guardians

Igor ShesterkinNew York Rangers
Ilya SorokinNew York Islanders

Were also considered: Andrei Svechnikov (Hurricanes), Oliver Bjorkstrand (Blue Jackets), Chris Kreider (Ranger), Jake Guentzel (Penguins), Mathew Barzal (Islanders), Jesper Bratt (Devils), John Carlson (capital), Kris Letang (Penguins), Tristan Jarry (Penguins), Tony DeAngelo (Hurricanes)

Explanations: Putting together the formation of the Metropolitan section involved several challenges. First, find a representative for the Islanders. The team is in disarray, and its leading scorer, Mathew Barzal, has only 15 points on his record. That’s why Ilya Sorokin was chosen over Tristan Jarry, who deserved a better fate. Then it was not easy to decide between Evgeny Kuznetsov and Chris Kreider. I opted for the first, despite Kreider’s 17 goals. Kuznetsov’s game is more suited to a 3-on-3 tournament. I would also have liked to make room for Kris Letang, but no Devils and Blue Jackets striker deserves to be selected instead of Alexander Ovechkin, Sebastian Aho, and Artemi Panarin, while Claude Giroux is the only logical choice for the Flyers. Finally, despite Jake Guentzel’s magical season, I can’t bring myself not to include Sidney Crosby in this flagship league event. – Sebastien Deschambault

Pacific section

Attackers

Connor McDavidEdmonton Oilers (captain)
Leon DraisaitlEdmonton Oilers
Johnny GaudreauCalgary Flames
JT MillerVancouver Canucks
Timo MeierSan Jose Sharks
Yanni Water BottleSeattle Kraken

Defenders

Drew DoughtyLos Angeles Kings
Erik KarlssonSan Jose Sharks
Alex PietrangeloVegas Golden Knights

Guardians

Jacob MarkstromCalgary Flames
John GibsonAnaheim Ducks

Were also considered: Elias Lindholm (Flames), Troy Terry (Ducks), Anze Kopitar (Kings), quinn hughes (Canucks), Shea Theodore (Golden Knights), Darnell Nurse (Oilers), James Reimer (Sharks)

Explanations: Many candidates in attack, much less in defense. This is how we could summarize the portrait of the situation in the Pacific section, while players who are having excellent seasons, such as Elias Lindholm and Troy Terry, had to be ignored for lack of available places. It must be said that with the presence of the two best scorers in the league in the section, the positions available in attack quickly evaporated. On defense, it’s no surprise to see Drew Doughty and Alex Pietrangelo, while in Erik Karlsson’s case, he’s back in full force and deserves his place with the team, finishing just ahead of Quinn Hughes. The goaltending position is the only one where there was no debate, since Jacob Markstrom and John Gibson have certainly earned their place in the All-Star Game. Finally, Yanni Gourde is the lucky winner of the Seattle Kraken expansion squad, he who is having a good season even though he started it late due to an injury. – Nicolas Ducharme

Video: WPG@EDM: Another spectacular goal from McDavid

Central Section

Attackers

Kirill KaprizovMinnesota Wild
Nazem KadriColorado Avalanche
Jason RobertsonDallas Stars
Jordan KyrouSt. Louis Blues
Patrick KaneChicago Blackhawks
Kyle ConnorWinnipeg Jets

Defenders

Hold MakarColorado Avalanche
Roman JosiNashville Predators (captain)
Shayne GostisbehereArizona Coyotes

Guardians

Cam TalbotMinnesota Wild
Juuse SarosNashville Predators

Were also considered: Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche), Mikael Granlund (Predators), Pierre-Luc Dubois (Jets), Alex DeBrincat (Blackhawks), Joe Pavelsky (stars), Matt Duchene (Predators) Seth Jones (Blackhawks), Connor Hellebuyck (Jets), Marc-Andre Fleury (Blackhawks)

Explanations: It’s hard to strategize on whether it’s easier to start with teams that don’t really have logical candidates or with teams that have multiple pickable players. My heartbreaking first choice was not to include Nathan MacKinnon, who is one of the league’s headliners. However, we must reward the exceptional season experienced by Nazem Kadri with his 34 points in 22 games. It was obvious that his teammate Cale Makar was going to be part of the training. It’s simply unthinkable to imagine an event like the All-Star Game without the presence of the Avalanche’s young star defenseman, especially when it involves 3-on-3 games. On the side of the Blues, it is really only Kyrou who stands out from the crowd this season. I salivate at the idea of ​​seeing a trio made up of Makar, Kyrou and Robertson. Pure speed! Veterans Patrick Kane, Kyle Connor and Roman Josi will complete this team with explosive potential. In goal, Talbot is having a remarkable season and he is well deserving of his place in this event. – Philippe Landry