MOCKING IT UP: Picking our own NHL All-Star teams

BORROWING OFF THE excitement the boys are sure to generate tomorrow, the Daily News is having some fun today.

Flyers beat writer Frank Seravalli and sports writer Ed Barkowitz conducted a mock draft similar to how Eric Staal and Nicklas Lidstrom will determine the All-Star teams for Sunday's game in Raleigh, N.C.

They followed the NHL-mandated ground rules:

* Just as they will do in the real draft tomorrow, we kept the game's captains and their alternates together. By a coin toss, Seravalli got the three members of Team Lidstrom (Nicklas Lidstrom, Patrick Kane, Martin St. Louis). Barkowitz got the three members of Team Staal (Eric Staal, Mike Green, Ryan Kesler).

* As per the rules, each team was required to pick their three goalies by the 10th round.

* Similarly, each team was required to pick their six defensemen by the 15th round.

In honor of a fine hockey (and sports writing) tradition, our guys are not settling for mundane names like Team Lidstrom and Team Staal. Yawn. Instead, they are borrowing the names of their favorite taverns. Bottoms up.

Here's how they fared:

ED BARKOWITZ, SHAMROCK PUB

 Eric Staal, C, Carolina (captain)

Mike Green, D, Washington (alternate)

Ryan Kesler, C, Vancouver (alternate)

1. Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay

2. Henrik Sedin, C, Vancouver

3. Daniel Sedin, LW, Vancouver

4. Cam Ward, G, Carolina

5. Keith Yandle, D, Phoenix

6. Marc Staal, D, N.Y. Rangers

7. Henrik Lundqvist, G, N.Y. Rangers

8. Duncan Keith, D, Chicago

9. Jonathan Toews, C, Chicago

10. Jonas Hiller, G, Anaheim

11. Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles

12. Rick Nash, RW, Columbus

13. Dan Boyle, D, San Jose

14. Jeff Skinner, C, Carolina

15. Erik Karlsson, D, Ottawa

16. Martin Havlat, RW, Minnesota

17. Patrik Elias, LW, New Jersey

18. David Backes, RW, St. Louis

Quick-hitters

First line: H. Sedin-D. Sedin-Nash

Second line: Stamkos-Toews-Kopitar

Third line: Skinner-E. Staal-Havlat

Fourth line: Elias-Kesler-Backes

First D pair: Green-Yandle

Second D pair: Keith-M. Staal

Third D pair: Boyle-Karlsson

Goalie order: Ward-Hiller-Lundqvist

My favorite picks: Getting Jonathan Toews in the ninth round. Got downright giddy penciling him in as my second-line center.

My biggest mistake: Getting too caught up in the defensemen requirement and picking Keith Yandle ahead of Alex Ovechkin.

His biggest mistake: Taking Tim Thomas with his first pick. That's too steep a price for a guy who's going to play just one period.

FRANK SERAVALLI, BIG HEADS PUB

 Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Detroit (captain)

Patrick Kane, RW, Chicago

Martin St. Louis, RW, Tampa Bay

1. Tim Thomas, G, Boston

2. Brad Richards, C, Dallas

3. Dustin Byfuglien, D, Atlanta

4. Zdeno Chara, D, Boston

5. Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington

6. Marc Andre-Fleury, G, Pittsburgh

7. Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh

8. Carey Price, G, Montreal

9. Claude Giroux, RW, Flyers

10. Danny Briere, RW, Flyers

11. Corey Perry, RW, Anaheim

12. Patrick Sharp, C, Chicago

13. Brent Burns, D, Minnesota

14. Matt Duchene, C, Colorado

15. Shea Weber, D, Nashville

16. Phil Kessel, RW, Toronto

17. Paul Stastny, C, Colorado

18. Loui Eriksson, RW, Dallas

Quick hitters

First line: Ovechkin-Sharp-Kane

Second line: St. Louis-Richards-Perry

Third line: Giroux-Briere-Kessel

Fourth line: Stastny-Duchene-Eriksson

First D pair: Lidstrom-Letang

Second D pair: Byfuglien-Chara

Third D pair: Weber-Burns

Goalie order: Thomas-Price-Fleury

My favorite picks: Nabbing Alex Ovechkin in the fifth round or Kris Letang in the sixth round.

My biggest mistake: Failing to break up the Sedin twins for the first time in their NHL career. Separation anxiety can be painful.

His biggest mistake: Taking Cam Ward as his top goalie in trying to impress the hometown crowd. Marc Staal and Erik Karlsson round out a weak defense.