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NHL 2016 All-Star Game: Here’s how the Pacific Division should line up

Now that we’ve got the roster for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game, it’s time to dive in to the details. Let’s start with our rooting interest: the Pacific Division. The Sharks have a pair of players suiting up for the Pacific and they, along with Captain John Scott, will look to bring meaningless glory to the best coast.

So, let’s take a look at how the Pacific Division should line up to take on the scourge of the NHL.

First thing’s first: Position breakdown. The Pacific has a glut of left wingers, so that means we’re going to need to play someone out of position. Also, Scott is on this team, which means someone’s going to have to carry him on the third line.

Left wingers: Daniel Sedin, Johnny Gaudreau, Taylor Hall, John Scott

Center: Joe Pavelski

Right Wing: Corey Perry

Defenders: Brent Burns, Drew Doughty, Mark Giordano.

Here’s how I’d line them up.

Daniel Sedin – Joe Pavelski

Drew Doughty

Johnny Gaudreau – Taylor Hall

Mark Giordano

John Scott – Corey Perry

Brent Burns

—–

Jonathan Quick

John Gibson

I kind of built these lines around the idea that Scott, Perry and Burns should all play together. Putting Perry and Burns together makes sense because their offensive firepower should mostly overpower the deadweight that Scott brings to the table.

Doughty is the best defender on the squad and putting him up top with Sedin and Pavelski creates a deadly first unit. From there, putting Gaudreau and Hall with Giordano against less-tough competition ought to provide some balance for the three lines.

Of course, none of this matters because no one will be playing hard and coaches won’t be matching lines. Still, if this was a tournament that actually mattered, this is the direction I’d go. What do you think?

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