Initial B/R 2025 NHL All-Star Team

There's no NHL All-Star Game this year, but for good reason: We're getting the 4 Nations Face-Off instead.

As much as we're looking forward to meaningful, best-on-best, international play again, the All-Star Game is a good story of the individual play of the season. It lets us look back on who the best player from each team that season was, and what it was that made their season so memorable.

So while we're all getting hyped for 4 Nations, let's not forget to periodically check in on some All-Stars. If the game was happening, and if selections were today, here's one player on each team who would get the nod.

Lukáš Dostál's performance in net has been a true wonder of the 2024-25 NHL season so far. You've got the miserable Ducks at the bottom of the Pacific Division, but you've also got the second-best goalie in terms of Goals Saved Above Expected in the league. On one hand, if the Ducks' defense was any better, Dostál wouldn't have had the opportunity to make many of those saves above expected. So even though it's a bummer Anaheim is totally wasting an epic goaltending season, at least they've found out in a very tried-and-true way that they've got something special in Dostál.

This is the first time in a long time we're not exactly jumping for joy at the prospect of seeing a Bruins star in the All-Star Game. David Pastrňák has been fine, and at the very least has not been one of the many problems plaguing the Bruins, leading the team in scoring with just under a point per game.

But he's not close to the Hart conversation like he has been in years past, and still, he's really the only option the Bruins could send. Maybe this is just another slap in the face, considering no Team Czech means he can't participate in the Four Nations Tournament occurring in his own backyard.

Speaking of snubs, Buffalo's Tage Thompson did not crack the 23-man Team USA Four Nations roster. Granted, he missed some time to injury, but he's back and he's already just one point behind Alex Tuch for the team scoring lead. He's got 16 goals and 23 points in 24 games—a bright spot despite Buffalo's eight-game losing streak.

At least Jonathan Huberdeau is one goal away from tying last season's total, am I right Flames fans?

Martin Nečas is scoring at a clip we haven't seen from a Hurricanes player in well over a decade. He became the first in the league to score 40 points this year, and the fastest to do so in Hurricanes franchise history. He's been in the top five in scoring around the league for the entire season, generally hovering somewhere in the top three. In a season that featured much roster turnover and doubt for the Canes, he's stepped up and made it all significantly easier.

Bedard is sophomore slumping, sure, but you look at the rest of the roster—and who he has been partnered with—and it's not hard to understand why. He is clearly the best player on the Blackhawks right now, even if that's not saying much.

Rain, shine, sleet, or 400 terrible Avalanche goalies, Nathan MacKinnon will be at the top of the NHL's scoring leaderboard. He's also at the top of the reasons why Colorado hasn't totally imploded yet despite its hideous goaltending.

Zach Werenski deserved that heartfelt Team USA nod with the way he's been playing this season. He's pacing an unexpectedly solid Blue Jackets team in scoring while providing veteran leadership during a difficult time off the ice. It's been great to see a strong season from the career Blue Jacket, and his contributions matter more this season than arguably ever.

Just look at Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Capitals in which Werenski scored Columbus' only goal and led the defense to push it to overtime.

Is Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger having the absolute best season of his life? No. Is he really, really solid per usual, and the standout player on a categorically stingy Stars defense? Probably. Does everyone at our imaginary All-Star Game want him to be one of the goalies for their team? I think that answers the question. Oettinger's averaging well under three goals per game and holds a .911 save percentage to anchor the Stars as they look for more goals.

It's sort of a shame that Lucas Raymond's great season (11-19--30 in 29 games) is being overshadowed by Yzerplan misery, but that's what our imaginary All-Star Game is for. Step right up and get your recognition, Raymond.

In a game we called Kirill Kaprizov vs. Connor McDavid on Thursday, it was Leon Draisaitl who made the most significant impact in the Oilers' win. I think that just about sums up what it feels to be Draisaitl, and I think this year he would actually get the primary All-Star call for once, especially since he's got a two-point edge on McDavid for the team scoring lead right now.

Draisaitl is also leading the entire league with 21 goals. It's time for the respect tour.

Sam Reinhart has proved that his 58-goal season wasn't a fluke with an outstanding follow-up post-contract extension this season. Reinhart currently ranks second in the NHL with 19 goals, and he's done it without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk in the lineup at times. His consistent scoring has steered the Panthers back every time they've struggled this season.

The Kings are tough, because you want to maybe give a younger budding player like Alex Laferriere or Brandt Clarke the nod. You don't want to pick Anže Kopitar based off name recognition alone.

That being said, Kopitar leads the team with 32 points in 29 games and is having another incredible season. He's still out there doing it all. You have to give him the nod.

Kirill Kaprizov is tied for third in scoring with 18 goals and 43 points in 28 games. He's steady in the Hart Trophy conversation, and he's electric to watch every night. He'd be a fan favorite at this All-Star Game for sure.

Cole Caufield is off to the best season of his career with 17 goals in 29 games. He's elusive and fun, and he makes these tough Canadiens seasons much easier to watch.

Speaking of making a bad season easier to watch, Roman Josi feels like literally the only player on the ice for the Nashville Predators at times.

Jack Hughes is really heating up and rounding into form right now, so he might get the nod in a month, but Jesper Bratt deserves all the love for the beginning of the Devils' season. He's leading the team with 39 points in 32 games and is currently enjoying the most productive stretch of his career exactly when the Devils needed it to happen.

Ilya Sorokin continues to hold down the fort on the Island, with a .910 save percentage and a 2.65 goals against average despite the defense collapsing on him nearly every night.

Being the All-Star of this current Rangers team isn't exactly what you grow up and dream of doing, but it still counts. You gotta hand it to Artemi Panarin for at least trying to keep the team afloat. He's leading the team with 15 goals and 35 points in 28 games, and he's been one of the few stars in the leadership group not involved with trade rumors or underperforming.

Don't let all of the Brady Tkachuk trade fodder distract you from the fact that Tim Stützle is leading the team with 36 points in 28 games. Looks like he's on schedule for a third consecutive strong season, and he's cementing himself as a premier player in the NHL. He's on pace to surpass last season's 18 goals, and he just might make a run at his first 40+ goal season.

Matvei Michkov has almost singlehandedly transformed the Flyers' power play, and he's just a few days past his 20th birthday. His five-game point streak might be over, but he's well above the rest of the NHL rookies with 27 points in 28 games. He's a versatile, shifty player who can shoot as well as he can pass, and it's been a blast to watch.

Sidney Crosby has got to be feeling relieved that he gets to play some special, meaningful hockey this year for Team Canada. He's always seemed to appreciate the All-Star nods, but especially with how poorly this Pittsburgh team has played, hopefully the tournament is a real treat for Crosby.

Look, Macklin Celebrini for the Sharks' current All-Star might be a bit of a stretch when William Eklund is leading the team averaging around a point per game. But at my imaginary All-Star Game, I want the most fun, most electric happenings, and Celebrini has provided exactly this since his return from injury. He's got 10 goals and 19 points in 20 games, and all the vibes. He's the youngest player in the league, and he's making one of the worst teams in the league enticing to watch.

The Seattle Kraken are 12-6-2 with Joey Daccord in net, which is objectively better than their overall 15-14-2 record. There are a few reason's for that, like he's playing the first half of back-to-backs for a team with fresher legs, but he's been the most consistent facet of the team regardless. He was in the mix for Team Canada goaltending but citizenship details took him out of it. He's got a .916 save percentage and a 2.42 goals against average.

Blues star Robert Thomas missed significant time to injury, but he's been on fire since his return and has been a major part of the Blues staying relevant in the playoff conversation.

Jordan Kyrou had a strong start to the season and is probably the reason the Blues entered the playoff conversation at all, but Thomas' return showed how much the team was missing him.

Look, I wouldn't vehemently disagree with anyone opting for Nikita Kucherov as the Lightning's current All-Star. He leads the team in points, came back from injury not missing a beat, and almost never commits costly penalties.

But when I think about the real successes of the Lightning's bizarre season, I think of Brandon Hagel. The Lightning wouldn't be where they are right now without breakout depth scoring, considering the entire league has the first line's number. Hagel's timely goals, consistent assists, and ability to pick up slack have really contributed to the team's success with such an unforgiving early schedule.

Point blank: The Maple Leafs aren't having this season if Anthony Stolarz isn't on the team. So many things contribute to the Leafs' sturdiness with and without captain Auston Matthews this year: new coach Craig Berube, bolstered defense featuring Chris Tanev, the best players doing their jobs, and a few young scorers stepping up. But when you think of the most improved facet of the Leafs' game, you're thinking about goaltending. Stolarz ranked sixth among goalies in GSAA with a 2.13 goals against average and .928 save percentage before he went down with a lower body injury in Thursday's game against the Ducks.

We're still waiting to hear the severity of his injury, but he's been key to the Leafs' overall success this season, particularly while Joseph Woll was out.

It's not easy to captain a brand-new franchise, but Utah's Clayton Keller has stepped into the role with grace. He's pacing the team in points, and he's someone you can rely on night after night on a team that has struggled to develop consistency.

It's funny, at the heart of the perpetual chaos that is the Vancouver Canucks, you've got perhaps the least chaotic and most consistent defenseman in the entire league in Quinn Hughes. This season Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser, and now Filip Hronek have all missed time with injury, JT Miller has taken a leave of absence, Elias Pettersson has had his ups and downs. Still, the Canucks have maintained firmly in a playoff spot, mostly thanks to their new captain.

One of many glaring examples:

Hughes is averaging 25:01 minutes per night, leads the team in points while making few mistakes, and elevates Hronek's play in a sea of otherwise struggling Canucks defensemen. He's on pace for career highs in points and goals, and it feels like he only gets stronger the more time on ice he gets.

Jack Eichel is off to the best start of his prolific career, and it's been thrilling to watch. He's one of those players that you kind of scribble in for All-Star contention because he's that consistently All-Starry, but this year he's outdone himself with 39 points in 29 games and the competitive spirit that keeps the Knights going.

While it would be hilarious if Alex Ovechkin was the Capitals' All-Star in a year in which he wouldn't actually have to attend the game, we have to hand it to Dylan Strome for the season he's having.

Strome has been an assist machine and a great example for the younger guys on the team to look up to, as he's steered the ship leading the team with 36 points and a plus-17 in 28 games.

Strome has stepped up and provided consistency and confidence in Ovechkin's absence, as have plenty of other veterans like Tom Wilson and John Carlson. Plenty Capitals players could contend for All-Star this year, and that's why they're at the top of the East.

Connor Hellebuyck continues to be the best goaltender on the planet this season, and he has finally forced the mainstream to stop being lazy and include goaltenders in MVP conversations. He's at the top of the Goals Saved Above Expected metric with a whopping 18 flat, and he's got a .926 save percentage with a 2.12 goals against average.