McDavid Eichel EDM BUF

Rosters for the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game have yet to be announced by the League's Hockey Operations Department, but NHL.com staff writers are getting a head start.

Four writers, one per division, were asked to fill out their teams to go along with the four captains already voted by the fans.
Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak of the Atlantic Division, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon of the Central Division and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid of the Pacific Division already have been chosen. Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin was voted captain of the Metropolitan Division but has said he will not play.

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      NHL Now panel breaks down 2020 All Star captains

      Each writer was asked to pick the 11-player team for each of the four divisions, having one player per each divisional team among the six forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders.
      The 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game will be in St. Louis on Jan. 25 and will use the same format as last season, with the four division teams playing in a 3-on-3 tournament.
      Here is how the NHL.com staffers voted:

      Atlantic Division

      Bruins teammates Pastrnak (28 goals, 26 assists) and Brad Marchand (19 goals, 35 assists), each of whom has 54 points, have the firepower to lead the Atlantic, but the scoring doesn't stop there. Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel, who has 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists), and Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who has 48 points (14 goals, 34 assists), round out a group of four Atlantic players in the top 10 in the NHL in scoring. And that doesn't even include Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who has 43 points (24 goals, 19 assists).
      Combine those forwards with goalies Tuukka Rask of the Bruins (14-4-5, 2.32 goals-against average, .923 save percentage) and Frederik Andersen of the Toronto Maple Leafs (19-8-3, 2.64 GAA, .916 save percentage) and the Atlantic is well served in goal, especially when defended by players like Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Shea Weber of the Montreal Canadiens.
      There's talent. There's leadership. There's some lethal goal scoring power. I'd put the Atlantic up against anyone this All-Star Game.
      Forwards
      Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres
      Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers
      Anthony Mantha, Detroit Red Wings
      Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
      Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
      David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins (captain)
      Defensemen
      Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators
      Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
      Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens
      Goalies
      Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs
      Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
      -- Amalie Benjamin, NHL.com staff writer

      Metropolitan Division

      My Metropolitan Division All-Star team will have the advantage of the two most productive defensemen in the NHL. John Carlson of the Washington Capitals leads the League's defensemen in points (48) and is second in goals (13), and Dougie Hamilton of the Carolina Hurricanes is third in goals (12) and tied for second in points (35).
      There's plenty of firepower at forward too, even without Ovechkin, who had 36 points (23 goals, 13 assists), Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers, who has 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) and Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes, who has 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists).
      It seems strange not to have Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin representing the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they've been limited because of injuries, and Jake Guentzel deserves recognition for leading the Penguins in goals (18) and points (37).
      Thomas Greiss (11-6-0, 2.43 GAA, .924 save percentage) and Semyon Varlamov (12-3-3, 2.47 GAA, .919 save percentage) have worked so well together as a rotating goalie tandem for the New York Islanders, who have allowed the fewest goals in the League (90), I decided to take both for the All-Star Game.
      Forwards
      Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
      Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins
      Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers
      Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (captain, will not play)
      Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils
      Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
      Defenseman
      John Carlson, Washington Capitals
      Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes
      Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets
      Goalies
      Thomas Greiss, New York Islanders
      Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders
      -- Tom Gulitti, NHL.com staff writer

      Central Division

      The game is in St. Louis and the Blues are the defending Stanley Cup champions, as well as the leaders of the Central this season. So when a choice was close, I went with the home team.
      Forward David Perron, who has 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) was an easy pick as St. Louis' leading scorer; Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O'Reilly, who has 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists) edged forwards like Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor and Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets. Alex Pietrangelo edged defensemen Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators, Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild and Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars.
      If only I had room for Blues forwards Brayden Schenn and Jayden Schwartz too.
      Forwards
      Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
      Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche (captain)
      Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues
      David Perron, St. Louis Blues
      Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
      Eric Staal, Minnesota Wild
      Defensemen
      Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
      Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
      Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
      Goalies
      Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars
      Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
      -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, NHL.com columnist

      Pacific Division

      The firepower of attackers for the Pacific Division surely will create headlines at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game. It begins with the Edmonton Oilers' dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are one-two in the League scoring race. McDavid leads the NHL with 62 points (21 points, 41 assists) and Draisaitl is second with 61 (22 goals, 39 assists).
      The 3-on-3 tournament also should suit Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, the Calder Trophy winner last season who continues to dazzle with his abilities. He has 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists). The other Pacific Division forwards, Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames, who has 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists), Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks, who has 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists), and Max Pacioretty of the Vegas Golden Knights, who has 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists), will fit right in with their remarkable hands.
      Two Norris Trophy winners, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Brent Burns of the Sharks, are complemented by Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks, who matches their experience and offensive abilities.
      Darcy Kuemper of the Arizona Coyotes, who is 15-8-2 with a 2.17 GAA and .929 save percentage, deserves to be one of the goalies as he likely is the favorite in the Vezina Trophy race, but a lower-body injury sustained Dec. 19 has him considered week-to-week and may impact his All-Star Game availability.
      Forwards
      Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks
      Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
      Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (captain)
      Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
      Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights
      Matthew Tkachuk, Calgary Flames
      Defensemen
      Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
      Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
      Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks
      Goalies
      Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes
      Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights
      -- Tim Campbell, NHL.com staff writer