The 2015 NHL All-Star weekend is finally upon us, and with it comes one of the most enjoyable new events we’ve seen in a while – the All-Star fantasy draft. Here’s everything you need to know in order to watch and follow along with tonight’s draft. Where will Zemgus Girgensons be drafted? If Latvia has anything to say about it, he should obviously go first overall, but will captains Jonathan Toews and Nick Foligno bow to the will of Latvia, or will the more likely scenario play out, and Girgensons will be one of the last players picked? Find out with us tonight!
What: 2015 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft
When: Tonight, January 23, 8pm EST. Coverage begins at 7:30 EST.
How to watch: NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports. Also streaming live on NBC Sports Live Extra (cable subscription required)
Team Captains: Jonathan Toews, Nick Foligno
Format: There are 42 veteran players and six rookies involved in the draft. The draft format below is straight from the league website:
A puck will be flipped to determine which team is awarded the first overall selection, with Captains Foligno and Toews, joined by their Assistant Captains, alternately drafting the 36 remaining All-Stars through 18 rounds.
Each team will be comprised of three goaltenders, six defensemen and 12 forwards. To ensure the final draft picks are not predetermined due to position requirements, each team’s three goaltenders must be picked by the end of Round 10 and each team’s six defensemen must be picked by the end of Round 15. One trade per team is allowed.
The six Rookies participating in the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition™ will be divided by the NHL into two groups of three. At the completion of the 11th Round of the 2015 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft™ presented by DraftKings, a puck will be flipped again to determine which Captain chooses his group of Rookies.
To get pumped: ZEMGUS GIRGENSOOOOOOONS
If you really want to dig deep, here’s a mock draft for tonight’s proceedings. Who will be the first and last pick? How many embarrassing and awkward interviews will there be among the players? Come on back tonight and find out!