SI.com's 2014-15 Preseason All-NHL Teams: first, second, third
Preseason All-America teams honoring the game's best players have been a staple of college football for nearly a century ... and so have the spillover arguments about who does and doesn't belong on them. With that fire-staring tradition in mind, we present SI.com's first ever preseason All-NHL teams.
Some of the choices were obvious—could anyone really argue against defending MVP Sidney Crosby as First Team center? Others may be more controversial. And there are bound to be snubs that leave you questioning just how much of our salary goes directly into Walter White's pocket.
While there were solid arguments to made on behalf of dozens of players, we ultimately selected the athletes we see as having the best chance of making this season something special.
Disagree? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
. C—SIDNEY CROSBY
Pittsburgh Penguins
2014-15 prediction: 43-59-102
. LW—JAMIE BENN
Dallas Stars
2014-15 prediction: 35-47-82
. RW—Patrick Kane
Chicago Blackhawks
2014-15 prediction: 40-43-83
. D—Shea Weber
Nashville Predators
2014-15 prediction: 20-42-62
. D—P.K. SUBBAN
Montreal Canadiens
2014-15 prediction: 15-45-60
. G—TUUKKA RASK
Boston Bruins
2014-15 prediction: 37 wins, 1.99 GAA, .931 save pct.
• Captain-less Canadiens making a mistake
• Central Division Power Rankings
. C—STEVEN STAMKOS
Tampa Bay Lightning
2014-15 prediction: 60 goals, 37 assists, 97 points
. LW—TAYLOR HALL
Edmonton Oilers
2014-15 prediction: 30 goals, 50 assists, 80 points
. RW—COREY PERRY
Anaheim Ducks
2014-15 prediction: 39 goals, 42 assists, 81 points
. D—DREW DOUGHTY
Los Angeles Kings
2014-15 prediction: 14 goals, 35 assists, 49 points
. VICTOR HEDMAN
Tampa Bay Lightning
2014-15 prediction: 12 goals, 38 assists, 50 points
. G—HENRIK LUNDQVIST
New York Rangers
2014-15 prediction: 34 wins, 2.20 GAA, .921 save percentage
Third team
C—Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers:Nathan MacKinnon is headed for a massive season and earns serious consideration here, but Giroux's consistent excellence can't be ignored.
LW—Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche:So big, so strong and plays the game the right way. Could reach 30 goals for first time in his career.
RW—Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals:Another season of 50-plus goals is likely, but so is another spring on the playoff sidelines. Time for a new trick.
D—Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers: The tools are there and so's the opportunity. This is the season he puts it all together.
D—Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks:The Sharks need the erstwhile forward to be special in his return to the blueline. He will be.
G—Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils:Finally the undisputed No. 1 and playing behind a deeper club, Schneider will assume a place among the league's elite.