NHL 2011 Mock All-Star Draft: Team Staal vs. Team Lidstrom

The captains have been chosen. All we're waiting for is the two teams to be set. The following is one prediction for the way the rosters will work out.

Some of these choices won't make much sense: Why are some players being chosen before better players? I worked off the rules, to make it a little easier.  

The only rules governing the draft are that goaltenders must be off the board after each team's 10th pick, and defensemen have to be gone by the 15th selections. So, to make it a little easier, I went through the goaltenders and defensemen earliest (with a few notable exceptions).

I also made some of my own adjustments.

Sidney Crosby and Ales Hemsky are both out with concussions. Evgeni Malkin and Tobias Enstrom are also out.

I added in my predictions for their substitutions, as you'll see. Here's the explanation of my logic: Hemsky should be replaced with another Edmonton Oiler—to ensure that all teams are represented. The league has decided any last-minute roster subtractions will be replaced with rookie selections, although Martin Havlat is replacing one of the forwards and Tobias Enstrom will be replaced by Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle. The other two replacement forwards haven't been announced.

Until then, I’m going to proceed as if the rookies will be chosen. My prediction of the three replacements will be Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin. These two because they were the highest profile draft picks of this past NHL Draft, and the NHL will want to up the ante since losing Crosby and Malkin.

 Finally: the rosters for Team Staal versus Team Lidstrom. Enjoy!

Recap: The Full All-Star Game Roster

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 22: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings skates in a game against the Chicago Black Hawks on January 22, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Hawks defeated the Wings 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Imag

Out

• Jarome Iginla (not participating for personal reasons)
• Sidney Crosby
• Ales Hemsky
• Evgeni Malkin
• Tobias Enstrom

In

Forwards: David Backes, Danny Briere, Matt Duchene, Patrik Elias, Loui Eriksson, Claude Giroux, Martin Havlat, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Anze Kopitar, Rick Nash, Alex Ovechkin, Corey Perry, Brad Richards, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Patrick Sharp, Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Toews

Defensemen: Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, Dustin Byfuglien, Zdeno Chara, Mike Green, Erik Karlsson, Duncan Keith, Kris Letang, Marc Staal, Shea Weber, Keith Yandle

Goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonas Hiller, Henrik Lundqvist, Carey Price, Tim Thomas, Cam Ward

Team Captains

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 09: Martin St. Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks up during a break in an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 9, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

Team Lidstrom

Captain: Nicklas Lidstrom

Alternate Captains: Patrick Kane and Martin St. Louis

Team Staal

Captain: Eric Staal

Alternate Captains: Mike Green and Ryan Kesler

Since the alternate captains will have a say in the draft picks of each team, you'll notice the influence this has on some of my mock draft choices.

Round 1

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 16: Goaltender Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes against the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena on December 16, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Marc-Andre Fleury

Team Staal: Cam Ward

Round 2

Andy Marlin/Getty Images

NEW YORK , NY - JANUARY 13: Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers plays the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the game at Madison Square Garden on January 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Steven Stamkos

Team Staal: Marc Staal

Round 3

Abelimages/Getty Images

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates up the ice during game action at the Air Canada Centre against the Toronto Maple Leafs January 22, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Dan Boyle

Team Staal: Alex Ovechkin

Round 4

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens makes a pad save on the puck in overtime on a shot by Bobby Ryan #9 of the Anaheim Ducks (not pictured) during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 22, 2011 in Montreal, Quebe

Team Lidstrom: Jonas Hiller

Team Staal: Carey Price

Round 5

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 23: Goalie Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on December 23, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Henrik Lundqvist

Team Staal: Tim Thomas

Round 6

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 03: Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on January 3, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Blackhawks defeated the Kings 4-3. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Dustin Byfuglien

Team Staal: Duncan Keith

Round 7

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 20: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins waits for a faceoff in an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 20, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Kris Letang

Team Staal: Zdeno Chara

Round 8

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 08: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators in action against the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion on January 8, 2011 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Shea Weber

Team Staal: Erik Karlsson

Round 9

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 18: Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks warms up prior to facing the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on January 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Canucks 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/

Team Lidstrom: Brent Burns

Team Staal: Henrik Sedin

Round 10

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks warms up before the game against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on January 14, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Keith Yandle

Team Staal: Daniel Sedin

Round 11

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 22: Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Black Hawks waits for a faceoff in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on January 22, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Hawks defeated the Wings 4-1. (Photo by Claus Anderse

Team Lidstrom: Jonathan Toews

Team Staal: Danny Briere

Round 12

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 20: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Ottawa Senators on January 20, 2011 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Patrick Sharp

Team Staal: Claude Giroux

Round 13

Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

SUNRISE, FL - JANUARY 19: Rick Nash #61 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates prior to the NHL game against the Florida Panthers on January 19, 2011 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Rick Nash

Team Staal: Phil Kessel

Round 14

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 10: Matt Duchene #9 of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck against the Detroit Red Wings at the Pepsi Center on January 10, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Duchene earned the number one star as he scored two goals as the Avalanche def

Team Lidstrom: Matt Duchene

Team Staal: Patrik Elias

Round 15

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 11: Brad Richards #91 of the Dallas Stars during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on December 11, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Brad Richards

Team Staal: Corey Perry

Round 16

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 10: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Staples Center on January 10, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Loui Eriksson

Team Staal: Anze Kopitar

Round 17

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: David Backes #42 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center on January 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: David Backes

Team Staal: Martin Havlat

Round 18

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 01: Tyler Seguin #19 of the Boston Bruins celebrates scoring his teams second goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on December 1, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Team Lidstrom: Taylor Hall

Team Staal: Tyler Seguin

Team Lidstrom

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 22: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Black Hawks waits for a faceoff in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on January 22, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Hawks defeated the Wings 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/

Team Lidstrom:

Alternate Captains: Martin St. Louis and Patrick Kane

1. Fleury
2. Stamkos
3. Boyle
4. Hiller
5. Lundqvist
6. Byfuglien
7. Letang
8. Weber  
9. Burns
10. Yandle
11. Toews
12. Sharp
13. Nash
14. Duchene
15. Richards
16. Eriksson
17. Backes
18. Hall

Team Staal

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 09: Mike Green #52 of the Washington Capitals shoots the puck down the ice against the Florida Panthers at the Verizon Center on December 9, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Team Staal:

Alternates: Mike Green and Ryan Kesler

1. Ward
2. Staal
3. Ovechkin
4. Price
5. Thomas
6. Keith  
7. Chara
8. Karlsson
9. Henrik Sedin
10. Daniel Sedin
11. Briere
12. Giroux
13. Kessel
14. Elias
15. Perry
16. Kopitar
17. Martin Havlat
18. Seguin