Nothing to do on a Saturday Night.

I have exactly half an hour until I have to be somewhere, so until then, here's an intersting thought experiment. This was a hotly debated subject back in high-school. If you had to start an NHL hockey team, and you had to take at least one player from every team who would you take. My list wouldn't make for a good hockey team, mostly because I have a disproportionate number of goalies to skaters, and I tend to pick players I like rather than players I know are good (that's why I have a rough time in hockey pools). So without further ado...


Anaheim Ducks:
Ryan Getzlaf - He's pretty much my favorite player on their team, and one of the best young talents in the league.

Atlanta Thrashers:
Scott Mellanby - I know he doesn't play for them anymore, but I really don't like this team. Give me Mellanby any day.

Boston Bruins:
Petteri Nokelainen - Best name in hockey.

Buffalo Sabers:
Ryan Miller - Most underrated goalie in hockey.

Calgary Flames:
Cory Sarich - He's been one of my favorites since I saw him whallop Josh Holden back in junior. To date, that's the nicest hit I've ever seen.

Carolina Hurricanes:
Cam Ward - Had a rough ride last year, but I still think he'll be gooder.

Chicago Blackhawks:
Patrick Lalime - Memories of his record winning streak as a rookie back in Pittsburgh brings a tear to my eye.

Colorado Avalanch:
Karlis Skrastins - Hated playing against him on NHL 2001, but would love to have him on my team.

Columbus Blue Jackets:
Rick Nash - Genetically modified monster has the best hands in the league.

Dallas Stars:
Brenden Morrow - Plays hockey the way it should be played.

Detroit Red Wings:
Valterri Filppula - Detroit's next Datsyuk (hopefully he performs better in the play-offs).

Edmonton Oilers:
Steve Staois - Don't mess with the cagey vet.

Florida Panthers:
Nathan Horton - Reminds me of a young Dave McLlwain.

L.A. Kings:
Anze Kopitar - 2nd best youngster in the game today.

Minnesota Wild:
Marian Gaborik - Apologized to fantasy owners for playing in Minnesota.

Montreal Canadiens:
Tom Kostopolous - Ex-Pen one tough customer.

Nashville Predators:
Vernon Fiddler - One third of the best line in hockey (with Hordichuk and Tootoo). Never met a goalie he didn't run.

New Jersey Devils:
Vitaly Vishnevski - See Karlis Skrastins.

New York 'Long Island' Islanders:
Richard Park - I have good memories of Park blowing Larry Murphy's doors as a rookie.

New York Rangers:
Colton Orr - Legend says a buddy of Orr's once dropped a hammer on the Ranger tough guy's head while redoing a house and Orr never missed a beat.

Ottawa Senators:
Anton Volchenkov - The kind of guy you love to hate, but would love to have on your team.

Philadelphia Flyers:
Jason Smith - Once hit Jan Hlavac so hard his visor broke.

Phoenix Coyotes:
Shane Doan - About the only good thing coming out of Phoenix these days.

Pittsburgh Penguins:
Sidney Crosby - He's better than Ovechkin, Alfredsson, Sundin and Iginla. Yup, I said it.

San Jose Sharks:
Patrick Marleau - Love those Saskatchewan boys.

St. Louis Blues:
Lee Stempniak - Will always be the face of that no-name Blues team from a couple years ago.

Tampa Bay Lightning:
Vincent Lecavalier - His 44 points and 42 PIM's in only 28 games scream 'old school'.

Toronto Maple Leafs:
Andrew Raycroft - Leaf fans hate him, and that's good enough for me.

Vancouver Canucks:
Kevin Bieksa - Most underrated d-man in hockey.

Washington Capitals:
Alexander Ovechkin - He's okay, I guess.

MOF



Sunday Morning Update:

Line Combinations:
Gaborik-Crosby-Ovechkin
Nash-Lecavalier-Doan
Morrow-Getzlaf-Horton
Orr-Marleau-Kopitar

Healthy Scratches:
Stempniak, Kostopolous, Park, Filppula, Fiddler, Mellanby, Nokelainen

D-Pairings:
Bieksa-Volchenkov
Smith-Staois
Skrastins-Sarich

Healthy Scratch:
Vishnevski

Goalies:
Miller
Ward
Raycroft
Lalime

Let me know if I missed anyone. Feel free to leave your own team in the comments.