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Puck Daddy projects the 2017 NHL All-Star Game rosters

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 30: Jaromir Jagr #68 of the Florida Panthers and John Scott #28 of the Arizona Coyotes look on in the Discover NHL Shootout during the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skill Competition at Bridgestone Arena on January 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers and John Scott of the Arizona Coyotes look on in the NHL Shootout during the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skill Competition at Bridgestone Arena on January 30, 2016, in Nashville. (Getty Images)

The NHL opened voting for the 2017 All-Star Game in Los Angeles this week. There won’t be another John Scott moment, however, because that was a perfect confluence of events and the league has changed voting guidelines for this year.

Voting closes on Jan. 2; so as we wait to find out who the four divisional captains will be for the 3-on-3 tournament, as well as their teammates, your friends at Puck Daddy have picked our own rosters for the midseason event.

We did our best to have all 30 NHL teams represented on our rosters, so there will be snubs.

Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy Editor

HONOLULU - FEBRUARY 27: A man is silhouetted as he walks along Waikiki Beach February 27, 2010 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Residents are stocking up on food and emergency supplies in preparation for a potentially damaging tsunami, after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Chile which sent waves across the Pacific Ocean. Warning sirens have been reported to be going off near the coast and the state is under a tsunami warning but there is no evacuation planned at this time. So far over 100 deaths in Chile have been reported and that number is expected to rise. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

OK, guess he’s still on his Hawaiian honeymoon.

Sean Leahy, Puck Daddy Editor

Metropolitan Division
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (CAPTAIN)
F Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers
F Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
F Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes
F Mike Cammalleri, New Jersey Devils
D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
D Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
D Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers
G Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
G Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Crosby hasn’t played in an All-Star Game since 2007, so hopefully that changes this year and we get to see him out there with Ovechkin and either Letang or Gostisbehere for some shifts. We also get two Blue Jackets on the Metro team. Who would have predicted that in September?

If it were up to me I’d go full Survivor Series with the format and have a U-23, All-Europe, U.S. and Canada team.

Atlantic Division
F Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
F Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
F David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
F Jonathan Marchessault, Florida Panthers
F Kyle Okposo, Buffalo Sabres
D Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
D Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens
D Mike Green, Detroit Red Wings
G Carey Price Montreal Canadiens (CAPTAIN)
G Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

Depending on the situation with his wife come the end of January, it would be great to see Craig Anderson rewarded for a strong start with his first All-Star Game appearance. Matthews and Marner make my Atlantic team because who wouldn’t want to see them play together in this setting and also because it’s an All-Star Game. We want to see the stars play.

Central Division
F Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
F Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets
F Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
F Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
F Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
F Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
D P.K. Subban, Nashville Predators (CAPTAIN)
D Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues
D Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild
G Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild
G Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

Not a lot of tough decisions for the Central. Though, I would have loved to have found a place for both Eric Staal and Corey Crawford, but trying to get every team represented makes that pretty tough to do.

Pacific Division
F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (CAPTAIN)
F Radim Vrbata, Arizona Coyotes
F Ryan Kesler, Anaheim Ducks
F Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Bo Horvat, Vancouver Canucks
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
D Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks
G Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks
G Chad Johnson, Calgary Flames

I’m rewarding Vrbata and Johnson for their nice starts while adding Gaudreau because by the time he comes back let’s hope his game is back to normal. Also, Johnny Gaudreau playing 3-on-3 hockey with Connor McDavid is something we should all want to see.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 16: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Verizon Center on November 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 16: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Verizon Center on November 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Josh Cooper, Puck Daddy Editor

Metropolitan Division
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (CAPTAIN)
F Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
F Rick Nash, New York Rangers
F Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers
F Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes
D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
D Damon Severson, New Jersey Devils
D Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
G Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
G Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

It would be great if both Crosby and Ovechkin went to the All-Star Game this season and played on the same line. Just imagine those two together 3-on-3. Taking Sergei Bobrovsky, who should be getting some Hart Trophy love, was a no-brainer and adding teammate Zach Werenski was a reward for the Blue Jackets’ surprisingly solid season.

Atlantic Divison
F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs (CAPTAIN)
F Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
F Kyle Okposo, Buffalo Sabres
F Jonathan Marchessault, Florida Panthers
F Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings
D Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
D Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
D Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
G Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
G Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

As much as I would like to see Jaromir Jagr play 3-on-3 again, teammate Jonathan Marchessault is the only Florida Panthers player worthy of making the All-Star team this year. Auston Matthews will win the highest number of votes in the division and be named captain. Detroit Red Wings 36-year-old captain Henrik Zetterberg is my sentimental choice.He’s clearly in decline, but I’d like to see him as an All-Star one more time.

I had to flip a coin between Anderson and Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask. Both have been phenomenal this year.

Central Divison
F Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
F Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets
F Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
F Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
F Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
F Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
D P.K. Subban, Nashville Predators (CAPTAIN)
D Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild
D Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
G Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
G Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild

The Central Division has some of the best scorers in the NHL and top two-way defensemen. Also, both Pekka Rinne and Devan Dubnyk have played lights out in goal and will provide a nice backbone for the team.

It was hard to pick Benn over teammate Tyler Seguin but I think Benn is the most important player on the Dallas Stars. Unfortunately, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was omitted from my team based on lack of offensive production this season.

Pacific Division
F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (CAPTAIN)
F Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks
F Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
F Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
D Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
D Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks
G Chad Johnson, Calgary Flames
G Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks

There are a lot of Sharks represented on my Pacific Division All-Stars, but it’s hard to not select the best defenseman (Brent Burns), the best goaltender (Martin Jones) and one of the best forwards (Joe Pavelski) in the group.

Even though the Canucks have been mediocre this year, I took both Sedins because their game was made for 3-on-3 and this could be one of the last times we see them in an All-Star situation. The Anaheim Ducks had several options at forward but I took Rickard Rakell because he has been their most dynamic scorer since he returned from an appendix issue after the start of the season.

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 3, 2016 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Oilers 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 03: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 3, 2016 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Oilers 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Jen Neale, Puck Daddy Editor

Metropolitan Division
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (CAPTAIN)
F Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Jimmy Vesey, New York Rangers
F Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers
F Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
D Damon Severson, New Jersey Devils
D Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers
G Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
G Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes

Atlantic Division
F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins (CAPTAIN)
F Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Jonathan Marchessault, Florida Panthers
F James van Riemsdyk, Toronto Maple Leafs
F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
F Frans Nielsen, Detroit Red Wings
D Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens
D Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
D Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres
G Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
G Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

Central Division
F Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets
F Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
F Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
F Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
F Ryan Johansen, Nashville Predators
F Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
D Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
D P.K. Subban, Nashville Predators (CAPTAIN)
D Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues
G Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild
G Jake Allen, St. Louis Blues

Pacific Division
F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
F Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks
F Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Bo Horvat, Vancouver Canucks
F Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks (CAPTAIN)
D Alec Martinez, Los Angeles Kings
D Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks
G Chad Johnson, Calgary Flames
G Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks

Don’t yell at me for a fake projection. I went with the easiest choices.

I made Sidney Crosby the captain of the Metro because I’m hoping it will guilt him into attending…although that hasn’t worked before. He’ll probably get out of the game because it’s in LA and he’s suddenly allergic to the sun or something. Phil Kessel is unintentionally hilarious and having him at an All-Star Game is worth it.

Craig Anderson deserves an All-Star nod not just for his play but for what he’s going through off the ice, too. He’ll probably take the weekend to be with the family, which is completely fine, but give him the recognition he deserves.

The Central team could be the most fun to watch. Lots to speed and creativity for the three-on-three.

I’m making Burns the captain of the Pacific because McDavid is a robot. The All-Star weekend can be really boring if there aren’t good personalities in the mix. Burns is the perfect captain for the Pacific; however seeing as the game is in LA, the captaincy will probably go to one of the Kings. I also gave extra spaces to Kings and Ducks

ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 17: Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the San Jose Sharks in Game Two of the Western Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center on May 17, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – MAY 17: Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the San Jose Sharks in Game Two of the Western Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center on May 17, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Ryan Lambert, Puck Daddy Columnist

Metropolitan Division
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (CAPTAIN)
F Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils
F Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers
F Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes
F Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
D Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers
D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
D Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers
G Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins
G Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

This division was quite hard to pick, because there are just so many good players there. Had to leave off Malkin, Giroux, Voracek, Backstrom, Kessel, Saad, Letang, Schneider, Holtby, etc. etc. etc. You could put together a good list of 30 guys out of just the Metro. It’s crazy.

Atlantic Division
F Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens
F Jonathan Marchessault, Florida Panthers
F Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
D Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators (CAPTAIN)
D Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
D Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens
G Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
G Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

Congratulations to Jimmy Howard for being the Detroit entry pity vote. Everyone else is on this team because they’re really good this season. Not that Howard isn’t, but I’d have preferred Roberto Luongo over him for the entertainment factor alone.

Central Division
F Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars (CAPTAIN)
F Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
F Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
F Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
F Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets
F Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
D P.K. Subban, Nashville Predators
D Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues
D Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild
G Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
G Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild

Look at all these guys who have a lot of points. Look at all these defensemen who can move the puck. Look at how good these two goalies are. This feels like one of the two favorites. It’s them or the Metro.

Pacific Division
F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (CAPTAIN)
F Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
F Bo Horvat, Vancouver Canucks
F Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
D Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
G Cam Talbot, Edmonton Oilers
G Chad Johnson, Calgary Flames

I had the opposite problem here with taking talented players. “Ugh, I have to take a guy from the Canucks? And Coyotes?” Everyone else on the team is pretty good (except “NHL All-Star Chad Johnson” is a weird thing to have to say out loud).

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 17: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets waits for a faceoff against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 17, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 17: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets waits for a faceoff against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 17, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Sam McCaig, Yahoo Sports NHL editor

Metropolitan Division
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (CAPTAIN)
F Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
F Michael Grabner, New York Rangers
F Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers
F Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets
D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
D Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
D Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers
G Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
G Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes

Sidney Crosby is the obvious choice to wear the ‘C’ for the Metro side, and what’s an All-Star Game without Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin? Michael Grabner’s goal-scoring resurgence with the Rangers earned him a spot over other breakout teammates such as Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller (as well as Rick Nash). Likewise, Wayne Simmonds represents the Flyers ahead of Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux, while Cam Atkinson gets the nod for the Blue Jackets ahead of Alexander Wennberg, Nick Foligno and Brandon Saad. The Hurricanes’ Jeff Skinner, who hasn’t been to the NHL All-Star Game since Carolina hosted the event when he was an 18-year-old in 2011, also loses out in the numbers game. On defense, the choice was more clear-cut. A case a could be made for the likes of the Devils’ Damon Severson (14 points!), the Rangers’ Nick Holden (journeyman with 12 points and plus-11 rating!) and the Blue Jackets’ Seth Jones (probably next year!), but the Werenski-Letang-McDonagh trio is hard to deny. In net, it’s Sergei Bobrovsky and Cam Ward over Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby. Just like everybody predicted.

Atlantic Division
F Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning (CAPTAIN)
F Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal Canadiens
F David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
F Jonathan Marchessault, Florida Panthers
F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
D Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens
D Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
D Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
G Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
G Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

With Steven Stamkos sidelined for the foreseeable future, his Lightning teammate Nikita Kucherov gets the ‘C’ for the Atlantic Division. There are a few notable omissions up front, especially with the Leafs who could’ve sent James van Riemsdyk and Nazem Kadri along with rookie Mitch Marner, but it’s No. 1 draft pick Auston Matthews and nobody else. Hey, tough choices had to be made. Same deal in Montreal, with Alex Galchenyuk going but not Alexander Radulov. David Pastrnak’s goal-scoring ways earned him a spot, along with Bruins teammate and all-around nice guy Brad Marchand. Jonathan Marchessault was picked because he’s had a great start and not many Panthers players can say the same this season. The three defensemen were pretty much shoo-ins. Yes, there are other deserving defenders, but who would you eliminate of Shea Weber, Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman? Nobody, that’s who. In the crease, Carey Price was an obvious choice, with Craig Anderson getting the tap ahead of Tuukka Rask.

Central Division
F Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets (CAPTAIN)
F Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets
F Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
F Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
F Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
F James Neal, Nashville Predators
D Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
D Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues
D Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild
G Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild
G Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

The Jets’ Mark Scheifele just seems like the captainly type, you know? He’s joined by his Winnipeg rookie teammate Patrik Laine, who’s simply scoring too many goals to be ignored, but it means that other fine Jets forwards like Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler had to be left out. Vladimir Tarasenko, who could end up leading the league in goals by season’s end, was an easy choice. The Stars’ Tyler Seguin goes, but not Jamie Benn. That might seem wrong on a philosophical level — but hockey ain’t no high-falutin’ philosohphy. Patrick Kane represents the Blackhawks ahead of Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin; it was a difficult choice but Kane’s the straw that stirs the drink in Chicago. We went off the board a bit for Preds power forward James Neal, so you can yell at us for that one if you want. The three defensemen were pretty straightforward, it was Duncan Keith over longtime partner Brent Seabrook to rep Chicago, while the Blues’ Kevin Shattenkirk is putting up too many points and the Wild’s Ryan Suter is playing his typically strong all-around game. Apologies to Dustin Byfuglien and P.K. Subban. In net, Devan Dubnyk and Pekka Rinne have been too good to ignore, at the expense of Chicago’s Corey Crawford and the Blues’ Jake Allen.

Pacific Division
F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (CAPTAIN)
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
F Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
F Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks
F Bo Horvat, Vancouver Canucks
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
D Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks
D Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
G Chad Johnson, Calgary Flames
G Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks

Connor McDavid, obviously, gets the ‘C’ and lots of all-star love. The Kings’ Jeff Carter has 10 goals and six of them are game-winners, so he represents the home team in L.A. After that, it gets tough. McDavid’s Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl has been too productive to ignore, and the same can be said for Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. But this meant Milan Lucic and Logan Couture are left out. If you want to send them, fine by us. Rickard Rakell missed the entire month of October due to injuries and contract negotiations, but with nine goals and 13 points in 15 contests, we picked the lucky Duck. If you want to send Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler instead, we won’t argue. Bo Horvat has been a bright spot in Vancouver, so we went with the 21-year-old. On defense, Brent Burns was an easy choice – and so was the Ducks’ Cam Fowler, who responded to a summer’s worth of trade rumors with his best NHL hockey so far. For the final ‘D’ spot, we went with the Coyotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson over the Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic, the Flames’ Dougie Hamilton and the Kings’ Drew Doughty. In net, how about the Flames’ sizzling hot Chad Johnson? The Sharks’ Martin Jones also deserves to go, although Petr Budaj’s rise from the minors to a starting job in L.A. is a great story. The Oilers’ Cam Talbot also deserves a mention for bringing star-stopping power and general stability to Edmonton’s crease.

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