Which 36 players will fill out the rosters for the 2015 All-Star game?
This Saturday the NHL will reveal the identities of the remaining All-Stars for the 2015 NHL All-Star game. The game will be played in Columbus, Ohio on January 25th, and there are 36 players still to be named.
Who will those 36 players be? We've decided to compile our projected lineups.
Forwards
Flyers' Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux
A complete no-brainer. Though the Flyers are struggling, Giroux and Voracek are the NHL's most deadly duo this season.
Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk
The NHL's second most productive pair of forwards this season, van Riemsdyk and Kessel will hopefully get the opportunity to show off while playing with a bona fide first-line center this All-Star weekend.
Penguins' Sidney Crosby
Hosting an All-Star game without Crosby is like opening a bar that doesn't serve beer. What's the point?
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin
*ditto*
Penguins' Evgeni Malkin
If you don't want to see Malkin play with Kessel and van Riemsdyk against NHL players who are indifferent defensively, then you're not a real hockey fan.
Stars' Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn
When you think about it, if the entire Stars roster isn't named, well then the All-Star game is just flagrant false advertising.
Islanders' John Tavares and Kyle Okposo
Tavares and Okposo are fearsome when everyone is skating at full-speed. When everyones playing to show-off and avoid injury? Look out!
Canucks' Henrik and Daniel Sedin
The Sedin twins aren't quite the players they used to be, but they have to be at All-Star weekend otherwise no one will be able to complete the passing drill in the skill relay.
Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom
Backstrom is sometimes overshadowed by his flashier line-mate, but he's a deserving All-Star in his own right.
Blue Jackets' Nick Foligno
Only Giroux has more power-play points this season. A massive deal and a first appearance at All-Star weekend: that's how you do a contract year, folks.
Lightning's Tyler Johnson
From undrafted to the All-Star game in a small handful of years: Johnson is a pretty great story.
Lightning's Steven Stamkos
Is there any doubt?
Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf
Getzlaf authoring another stellar years for the Ducks, and has done a good deal of damage without usual running mate Corey Perry.
Blues' Vladimir Tarasenko
The NHL's third-leading scorer will be rewarded for his breakout campaign with an All-Star appearance.
Rangers' Rick Nash
Quietly having a career year for the hottest team in hockey.
Predators' Filip Forsberg
Forsberg could just play in the young star tournament, but he's simply been too good for the Predators. He'll be in the main event.
Defensemen
Flames' Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie
If both members of the NHL's best pairing aren't headed to Columbus for the All-Star game, something has gone terribly, terribly wrong.
Canadiens' P.K. Subban
The most electrifying star in hockey has to be at a game that's all stars, right?
Jets' Dustin Byfuglien
Byfuglien could be an all-star defender, or forward. Or goalie, since no one would be able to score with his gigantic frame in the crease.
Blues' Kevin Shattenkirk
The NHL's leading blue-line scorer will represent the Blues defense at the All-Star game. Alex Pietrangelo sheds a single tear.
Sharks' Brent Burns
So what if he shouldn't be a defenseman? He's third among NHL blue-liners in scoring.
Predators' Shea Weber
With Zdeno Chara likely to miss the All-Star game this year, Weber's the guy to beat in the hardest shot competition.
Senators' Erik Karlsson
In an ideal world, Karlsson would never leave the ice during the All-Star game.
Panthers' Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad has a chance to be the best 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history. He also has an outside chance of topping Weber in the hardest shot competition.
Kings' Drew Doughty
He may not have the flashy counting stats, but most people in hockey recognize that Doughty is the preeminent defender in the league today.
Goalies
Blue Jackets' Sergei Bobrovsky
How epic will his All-Star game hug with Foligno be? We have high expectations.
Predators' Pekka Rinne
A deserving All-Star, Rinne is the Vezina front runner at the season's midpoint.
Canadiens' Carey Price
The only other really serious contender for the Vezina trophy this year.
Panthers' Roberto Luongo
If the NHL is smart they'll ask Luongo to live tweet the entire game, including the period he plays.
Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist
Hasn't been at his best this year, but few stars shine as brightly (or as attractively).