You have to give the NHL credit; in their ongoing pursuit of a mainstream audience they have embraced some out of the box ideas. The Winter Classic has become the NHL's showcase and a "can't miss" for the casual sports fan and HBO's "24/7" was some of the best sports programming of the year. This year the NHL energized their All-Star game in Raleigh by picking two captains (home town star Eric Staal and highly respected vet Nick Lidstrom) who will pick teams like a pick up game. This is the best All-Star idea since the Slam Dunk contest and hopefully the NBA will follow suit. Here at illbefrank we thought this was a great chance to select our own teams based on this format with one caveat, everyone selected as an All-Star being healthy and playing. Since I like Swedish novels and House Hunters in Stockholm, I will be selecting as Lidstrom and after Staal choose Crosby with the overall #1 pick my picks are below.
Alex Ovechkin: He might be having a down year statistically, but the run and gun All-Star format is right up his alley and the natural rivalry with Crosby on the other team is too much to pass up.
Jonathon Toews: Winning is a priority with the players picking the teams and the best player in last year Olympics and Cup finals seems to play his best when it matters the most.
Henrik Sedin: Fellow countryman and pass first center will thrive with the talent around him in this game and being chosen by Sweden's greatest player as captain will only help his desire.
Daniel Sedin: Chemistry is important in an All-Star game with no practices and you can't do better than linemates who are brothers.
Rick Nash: A premier power forward completes my #1 line on the right side, with Ovechkin on the left and Toews in the middle.
Shea Weber: My first five selections went offense, so by choosing Weber I am also choosing my D partner.
Patrick Kane: Looks like a great fit next to the Sedins in a very creative and unselfish line that is an All-Star dream. Kane could also team up with Toews in crunch time if needed.
Ryan Kesler: America's version of Toews, a two way third line center in this format who is all about winning.
Kris Letang: The most improved D-man in the league will play heavy minutes on my second D pairing.
Mike Green: The offense and puck moving combo of Green and Letang was too enticing to pass up. These two will get plenty of point time on the Power Play unit as well.
David Backes: The perfect third line winger who has chemistry with Kesler from the Olympics. A rugged tough to play against third line is shaping up.
Matt Duchene: He has speed to burn and was hard to pass up this late, his skills seem to shine brighter on the big stage with quality players around him.
Carey Price: My first goaltender is the main reason the Canadians are still in the playoff picture and he should be comfortable starting after making his All-Star debut as a starter two years ago on home ice.
Jonas Hiller: Each goaltender is going to play a period so you want depth and no goalie in the league has been better lately than Hiller.
Marc-Andre Fleury: Has rebounded from a tough start and has the big game reputation you want if the game is close in the 3rd. Bad blood with Price could be an issue, but I don't mind two goalies who both think they are the best.
Loui Erickson: A grinder and finisher who will play on the left with Kesler and Backes to form a true and dangerous 3rd line that would make Brian Burke salivate.
Ales Hemsky and Patrick Elias: These two highly skilled players will team up with Duchene on a highly explosive 4th line.
Brent Burns and Erik Karlson: Solid D-men who will play well in their own end round out the final D pairing.
1st line: Ovechkin-Toews-Nash
2nd line: Sedin-Sedin-Kane
3rd line: Erickson-Kesler-Backes
4th line: Elias-Duchene-Hemsky
1st D: Weber-Lidstom
2nd D: Letang-Green
3rd D: Burns-Karlson
1st period G: Carey Price
2nd period G: Jonas Hiller
3rd period G: Marc-Andre Fluery
I like my chances Staal.
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