NHL ALL-STAR POWER RANKINGS

2023-01-26 · 5 min read · NHL/Hockey
2023 NHL All-Star Game jerseys with a true "Reverse Retro" feel

NHL.com

With the fan vote finished and a few days to marinate on the results it seems like a good time to do a little all-star team power ranks. As a reminder, the All-Star Game will take place on Feb. 4 at 3 PM EST. The All-Star Game will feature a three-game tournament, played in a 3-on-3 format and showcasing teams from each division. Each of the four teams will consist of nine skaters and two goalies. The rosters are below.
2023 NHL All-Star rosters
Atlantic Division
NHL Atlantic Division

NHL

Metropolitan Division
NHL Metropolitan Division

NHL

Central Division
NHL Central Division

NHL

Pacific Division
NHL Pacific Division

NHL

1. Metro
The Metro team has the most balanced roster in my mind, giving them my top spot. Headlined by two of the best players of this generation in Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. This team also has some of the best playmakers in the league in Artermi Panarin and Johnny Gaudreau, plus rising stars Jack Hughes and Andrei Svechnikov. They also have one of the best young defensemen and 2021 Norris winner Adam Fox. While all the above is a big part of what gives me confidence, the main reason is simply because I think the goaltending tandem of this division is a good bet to be the strongest, a crucial factor considering the amount of high quality chances the league's superstars are likely to generate at 3 on 3. Their netminders are no joke given one Igor Shesterkin is the reigning Vezina winner and the other Ilya Sorokin is a strong candidate to win this season and is at or near the top in most goaltending categories so far, despite his team giving up the third most high danger attempts.
2. Central
The Central is in a similar spot with a balanced and talented roster in front of good goaltending, being headlined by the Avs deadly trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar. They also have young stars Kiril Kaprizov, Jason Roberston and Clayton Keller, and are the only division with more than once defencemen as they have Makar, Seth Jones, and Josh Morrissey who is having a career year. Their goaltending tandem may be just as good as the metro with studs Juuse Saros and Connor Hellebuyck between the pipes. My main concern with this team is they could be a style over substance squad, given their bevy of extravagant young goal scorers with a penchant for stickhandling; but with the extra ice this could be a high risk high reward brand.
3. Atlantic
The Atlantic division is certainly no slouch given they have three of the league's best goal scores in Auston Matthews, David Pasternak and Tage Thompson. They also have some good pedigree as multiple players have gone deep in the playoffs at least once, especially Nikita Kucherov and Andrej Vasilevskiy, who have been to the finals the last three years. It's also important to consider the team has chemistry with multiple guys who have experience playing alongside each other and even family ties with the Tkachuk brothers Brady and Matthew now in the same division. This roster also has
strong centres down the middle: Matthews, the 6-foot-6 Thompson and two other high-scoring workhorses, Dylan Larkin and Nick Suzuki, could help dominate the possession battle. My concern with this team is they have no defenceman on the roster and a bunch of young guns with goals on the mind.
4. Pacific
Sorry Pacific, somebody had to be last, but on the bright side it's the all-star tournament so their roster is still strong; really anybody could pull out. We have all seen what Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can do in a 5-on-5 game for the Edmonton Oilers; now imagine the two of them with all the open ice in the 3-on-3. Erik Karlsson is fully healthy and back in his elite form this season which gives them a likely dynamic defender in the tourney. Put Karlsson with McDavid and Draisaitl and there might not be a better or more dynamic group of three in the entire All-Star Game. On top of that, you have an electric young player like Calder frontrunner Matty Beniers, plus Bo Horvat who is having a career season for the Vancouver Canucks. My big concern is goaltending as this group is easily the most underwhelming on paper. Logan Thompson and Stuart Skinner do not hold up against the goaltending groups of other divisions, so it may take a herculean effort to keep pace with some of the other tandems. Yet it is possible that their lack of name recognition and experience causes them to give it their all. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Sports Tree Profile

By: Chase Howard

Share

Up Next

Sports Tree Blog

MNF Week 3 Double Header, Double Bettor

Read more2024-09-23 · 3 min read
NFL/Football
Sports Tree Blog

NFL WEEK 3: THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FREE BET

Read more2024-09-18 · 2 min read
NFL/Football

Sports Tree

© 2024 Sports Tree LTD.

The sports tree newsletter

Sign up for the newsletter

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service  and Privacy Policy. You can opt out at any time.