My 2022 NHL All-Stars

This year's NHL All-Star Game was supposed to be a grand send-off into the Olympic break.  The players were gonna gather in Las Vegas, then head to Beijing to compete for their countries.  Instead, they'll be gathering in Las Vegas, then going back to their teams to resume the season.  So, basically, it's just like any other All-Star Game...except it's not.

It's the celebration of hockey that we all need after two miserable years.  And, yes, it would've been the perfect way for the NHL to head into its Olympic return, but all of the postponements made that impossible.  So, instead of seeing the NHL's best representing their countries, we'll have to settle for them representing their divisions.

When the NHL went to that format for the All-Star Game, I absolutely loved it!  (Although, frankly, anything would've been better than that idiotic pick your own team nonsense.)  Since the NHL was supposed to be playing in the Olympics this year, there was talk of changing it to some sort of international-based format similar to the North America vs. the World thing they did in the early 2000s.  But I'm glad they didn't.  Because the four-division tournament is so great!

I also love the idea of having it in Las Vegas.  The Golden Knights have been a sensation since joining the league five years ago.  The NHL hit a home run with that franchise.  Everything about it.  So it makes sense to keep that train going and have an All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena.

What's crazy is that it's actually the first of two All-Star Games in Las Vegas in the same weekend.  First the NHL All-Star Game, then the Pro Bowl the following day.  And they're getting a Super Bowl soon, too.  I think it's safe to say Las Vegas is definitely a major league town now!  Quite a change to say the least!  (And there are constant advertisements for the gambling websites on every broadcast now, so the leagues' stance on gambling itself is obviously much different now, too.)

And, just like many shows in Las Vegas, this should be a good one.  The 3-on-3 thing is so exciting!  And the tournament format definitely makes it more competitive than the no-hitting, no-defense All-Star Games of the past that were essentially skills competitions (after the regular Skills Competition the night before).  Not that there won't be offense, though!  Not with the star power in the league!

They'll announce at the same time as the full rosters, but I think it's probably a safe bet to assume Auston Matthews, Alex Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid should hold their leads.  And, I've got to say, that's a great group of captains.  The fans sure got it right with those four, all of whom likely would've been All-Stars either way.

As for the remainder of the rosters, it's definitely got to be a challenge.  I love that every team is represented, but with 11-man rosters and eight-team divisions, that only leaves three extra spots for second (or third) representatives.  Which means a lot of deserving guys won't be heading to Vegas.  (Although, I'd still rather that than seeing the Atlantic Division team be the Tampa Bay Lightning + Auston Matthews.)

NHL.com and ESPN.com have both done their mock rosters, and, as you'd expect, they're not in complete agreement about who'll make each team.  There's obviously some about the no-brainers, but the single-team selections are where it gets complicated.  I looked at both sites and I agree with some, I don't agree with others, and I had to make some adjustments based on who would make the best sole representative from his team.  So now, without further ado, I present the 2022 Joe Brackets NHL All-Stars...

ATLANTIC
G: Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB; Jack Campbell, TOR
D: Rasmus Dahlin, BUF; Aaron Ekblad, FLA; Thomas Chabot, OTT
F: *Auston Matthews, TOR; Brad Marchand, BOS; Lucas Raymond, DET; Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA; Nick Suzuki, MTL; Steven Stamkos, TB

METROPOLITAN
G: Fredrik Andersen, CAR; Tristan Jarry, PIT
D: Zach Werenski, CBJ; Adam Fox, NYR; John Carlson, WSH
F: *Alex Ovechkin, WSH; Sebastian Aho, CAR; Jesper Bratt, NJ; Mathew Barzal, NYI; Chris Kreider, NYR; Claude Giroux, PHI

CENTRAL
G: Darcy Kuemper, COL; Juuse Saros, NSH
D: Shayne Gostisbehre, ARZ; Cale Makar, COL; Roman Josi, NSH
F: *Nathan MacKinnon, COL; Patrick Kane, CHI; Joe Pavelski, DAL; Kirill Kaprizov, MIN; Jordan Kyrou, STL; Kyle Connor, WPG

PACIFIC
G: Jacob Markstrom, CGY; Thatcher Demko, VAN
D: Drew Doughty, LA; Quinn Hughes, VAN; Shea Theodore, VGK
F: *Connor McDavid, EDM; Troy Terry, ANA; Johnny Gaudreau, CGY; Leon Draisaitl, EDM; Timo Meier, SJ; Jordan Eberle, SEA

All four of these teams are pretty evenly matched.  If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably say the Central, but it's very close.  Although, interestingly, only the Pacific and Metropolitan have ever won All-Star Games in this format.  Will that change this year?  I can't wait to find out!