My 2016 NHL All-Stars

Voting for the NHL All-Star Game has always been a hokey thing.  Maybe because the number of people that do it is so much smaller than it is in baseball or the NBA, or even for the Pro Bowl, but the fan voting in hockey always leads to some kooky results.  Like last year, when the six "starters" voted into the game by the fans were five Blackhawks and Zemgus Girgensons of the Sabres.  I guess there's no underestimating that Latvian vote.

This year, the fans were only responsible for picking FOUR All-Stars.  The captain of each of the four teams.  Patrick Kane leads the NHL in both points and rape allegations, which clearly didn't his popularity at the ballot box.  Kane's a Conn Smythe Trophy winner and one of the biggest stars on the NHL's marquee team.  Nobody could possibly question that choice.  Same thing about Alex Ovechkin.  He's a transcendent star, one of the best players in the game, and his team happens to have the best record in the Eastern Conference.  And it also means that he won't be able to campaign to NOT be picked so he can get a car this year.

Jaromir Jagr told the fans not to vote for him, but they didn't listen.  But I think it's awesome that the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer is still playing at an All-Star level at this stage in his career.  Besides, Jagr, amazingly, hasn't been an All-Star since 2004.  How long ago was that?  It was before the first lockout.

But John Scott?  Really Coyotes fans?!  I'm sure there's probably some people out there who think this is hilarious (clearly enough did, seeing as they made a social media campaign out of it), but it's his selection that makes fan voting look like a total joke.  It's like when Mike Trout and eight Royals led the first AL voting update for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game.  The guy who wrote the ESPN article announcing the captains tried to not be sarcastic when he compared Scott to the other three, but he couldn't help it.  Scott has been waived three times this year and played in just 11 games.  But he does have an assist!

Now that my rant is out of the way, it's time to think of who else will be in Nashville for the All-Star festivities.  And, yes, it might look like I'm biased, but how is anybody going to stop the Metropolitan Division team?  I mean, look at those forwards!

ATLANTIC

Goalies: Craig Anderson, Senators; Roberto Luongo, Panthers

Defensemen: P.K. Subban, Canadiens; Erik Karlsson, Senators; Dion Phaneuf, Maple Leafs

Forwards: Patrice Bergeron, Bruins; Ryan O'Reilly, Sabres; Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings; *Jaromir Jagr, Panthers; Max Pacioretty, Canadiens; Steven Stamkos, Lightning

METROPOLITAN

Goalies: Cory Schneider, Devils; Braden Holtby, Capitals

Defensemen: Justin Faulk, Hurricanes; Ryan McDonagh, Rangers; John Carlson, Capitals

Forwards: Brandon Saad, Blue Jackets; Claue Giroux, Flyers; Evgeni Malkin, Penguins; John Tavares, Islanders; Mats Zuccarello, Rangers; *Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

CENTRAL

Goalies: Corey Crawford, Blackhawks; Antti Niemi, Stars

Defensemen: Ryan Suter, Wild; Roman Josi, Predators; Shea Weber, Predators

Forwards: *Patrick Kane, Blackhawks; Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche; Jamie Benn, Stars; Tyler Seguin, Stars; Vladimir Tarasenko, Blues; Blake Wheeler, Jets

PACIFIC

Goalies: John Gibson, Ducks; Jonathan Quick, Kings

Defensemen: Oliver Ekman-Larsen, Coyotes; Drew Doughty, Kings; Brent Burns, Sharks

Forwards: *John Scott, Coyotes; Johnny Gaudreau, Flames; Taylor Hall, Oilers; Tyler Toffoli, Kings; Joe Pavelski, Sharks; Daniel Sedin, Canucks