For the 92nd year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball goes to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in LA was in 1980. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either, nor the commissioner’s office. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 32 players for each league.
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Stanley Cup Conference Finals Preview
StandardEastern Conference
2. New York Rangers vs. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Players to Watch: G Igor Shesterkin and G Andrei Vasilevskiy
Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games
Western Conference
1. Colorado Avalanche vs. 2. Edmonton Oilers
Players to Watch: D Cale Makar and F Connor McDavid
Who Wins: Avalanche in 6 games
Stanley Cup Semifinals Preview
StandardEastern Conference
1. Florida Panthers vs. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Players to Watch: F Carter Verhaeghe and G Andrei Vasilevskiy
Who Wins: Lightning in 7 games
1. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 2. New York Rangers
Players to Watch: D Jaccob Slavin and G Igor Shesterkin
Who Wins: Hurricanes in 6 games
Western Conference
1. Colorado Avalanche vs. 3. St. Louis Blues
Players to Watch: D Cale Makar and G Jordan Binnington
Who Wins: Avalanche in 6 games
1. Calgary Flames vs. 2. Edmonton Oilers
Players to Watch: F Johnny Gaudreau and F Connor McDavid
Who Wins: Flames in 6 games
2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview
StandardEastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Florida Panthers vs. 4. Washington Capitals
Players to Watch: F Jonathan Huberdeau and Goalies Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov
Who Wins: Panthers in 5 games
2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Players to Watch: F Auston Matthews and D Victor Hedman
Who Wins: Lightning in 6 games
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 4. Boston Bruins
Players to Watch: D Jaccob Slavin and F Brad Marchand
Who Wins: Hurricanes in 6 games
2. New York Rangers vs. 3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Players to Watch: G Igor Shesterkin and F Sidney Crosby
Who Wins: Rangers in 6 games
Western Conference
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche vs. 4. Nashville Predators
Players to Watch: F Nathan McKinnon and D Roman Josi
Who Wins: Avalanche in 6 games
2. Minnesota Wild vs. 3. St. Louis Blues
Players to Watch: F Kirill Kaprizov and F Vladimir Tarasenko
Who Wins: Wild in 7 games
Pacific Division
1. Calgary Flames vs. 4. Dallas Stars
Players to Watch: F Johnny Gaudreau and F Jason Robertson
Who Wins: Flames in 5 games
2. Edmonton Oilers vs. 3. Los Angeles Kings
Players to Watch: F Connor McDavid and G Jonathan Quick
Who Wins: Oilers in 6 games
American League West
Standard* – indicates new to team
+ – indicates injury
1. Seattle Mariners
They hit the relative jackpot in getting the reigning AL Cy Young winner and a NL All-Star outfielder in the same offseason.
2. Houston Astros
Losing Carlos Correa will hurt them when it comes closer to October.
3. Los Angeles Angels
They have two of the best players in baseball today. It’s time to start seeing them play in October.
4. Texas Rangers
A lot of money was spent, but the pitching staff isn’t where it needs to be.
5. Oakland Athletics
The fire sale is happening once again. This could get ugly with the lack of a stadium deal being in place.
Player to Watch: P/DH Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Angels
Best Acquisition: OF Jesse Winker – Seattle Mariners
New Kid on the Block: OF Julio Rodriguez – Seattle Mariners
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