Concluding the All Post-Lockout's team in the Eastern Conference is the Southeast Division, which includes the 2005-06 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes and rising Washington Capitals.
Also in the division and on the rise are the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Atlanta Thrashers.
Line One: Alex Ovechkin - Eric Staal - Ilya Kovalchuk
The top line of the Southeast features three young stars with future captains written all over them.
In Washington, the transformation of the Capitals from cellar-dwellers into legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference is largely credited to Russian superstar Alexander Oveckin.
The 2004 first overall pick has delivered the goods to Washington, and then some. His 420 points in 324 career games are putting him on pace to take over former teammate Sergei Federov as the greatest Russian to ever play in the NHL.
Ovechkin has already given his heart and soul to the Capitals, as he is under contract in the Nation's Capital until the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
On the topic of great young Russian stars, you can't forget about one of the most dangerous shooters in the NHL, Ilya Kovalchuk. Seemingly forgotten due to being stuck with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk's numbers speak for themselves.
The 26 year old winger has put up four straight 40+ goal seasons since the lockout and may be the biggest prize at the 2010 trading deadline or free agency.
Centering this line is the best of the Staal's, Carolina Hurricanes' alternate captain and NHL08 coverboy Eric Staal. During his tenure with the 'Canes, Staal has become a model of consistency in Raleigh, with 70 points or more in the four seasons since the lockout.
His best season came during the Hurricanes push to their first Stanley Cup victory in franchise history, as Staal's 100 point season provided Carolina with an added weapon in their arsenal.
Line Two: Alexander Semin - Vincent Lecavalier - Marty St. Louis
Although Semin has officially made the jump from playing on both wings to becoming a full time right wing, his stats put him worthy of second line minutes on the left side. Semin's three straight seasons of 25+ goals and knack for scoring clutch goals has made him a lethal weapon playing with Oveckin.
On the right side is Tampa Bay Lightning forward and one of the NHL's fastest skaters, Marty St. Louis. Despite his 5'7" stature, St. Louis has been a prime example of the rise of smaller players in the new NHL. St. Louis has chipped in an average of 81 points per season, along with a total of 23 game winning goals in the four years since the lockout.
2008-09 was a trying year for Bolts center Vincent Lecavalier, as the Lightning captain posted his lowest point total since the 2003-04 season. Even with this bad season, Vinny has averaged 39 goals a season since the 2005-06 season.
Despite rumors that the Quebec native was heading home in a trade to the Montreal Canadiens, Lecavalier remained in Tampa and is looking for a rebound year for the rebuilding Bolts.
Line Three: Erik Cole - Nicklas Backstrom - Nathan Horton
It seems as if Erik Cole was born to wear that (horrible) 'Canes logo on the front of his jersey. After heading to Edmonton in the off-season, the New York native struggled to produce with the Oilers and was sent back to Carolina, where he seemingly returned to where he left on in Raleigh.
Cole went on to score 15 points in the 17 games he played with the Hurricanes. During his original three stint with the Hurricanes from 2005-06 to 2007-08, Cole never finished with less than 51 points and was one of the Cardiac 'Canes go-to players when they were in need of a big goal or play.
At just 21 years old, it's surprising to see the development Nicklas Backstrom has gone through for the Capitals. The Capitals' first round pick from the 2006 NHL Draft has without question benefited from playing along with Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin.
But in just two years he's become the captain of the Caps' lethal powerplay. His 42 points on the man advantage and his 38 even strength assists are showing what the future holds in store for this playmaking center.
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