GATINEAU, Quebec -- Zdeno Chara went with offense in taking Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk with the No. 1 pick in the NHL All-Star draft, while opposing captain Daniel Alfredsson stuck closer to home, choosing Ottawa Senators defenseman and teammate Erik Karlsson with his first selection.
In selecting Datsyuk with the first pick, Chara -- the Boston Bruins captain -- said, "I love the way he plays the game."
Alfredsson's selection of Karlsson was no surprise because the Senators captain acknowledged last week that his children wanted him to pick the high-scoring defenseman. Karlsson, a fellow Swede, lived with Alfredsson during his rookie season two years ago.
Chara earned the right to choose first by winning the "puck flip" against Alfredsson.
Team Chara will face Team Alfredsson in both the skills competition on Saturday and the All-Star game on Sunday.
The NHL changed the format of the All-Star game last season. Instead of the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference clash it previously used and is used in other North American sports, the NHL moved to a format of having two captains alternatively pick from a pool of players chosen by fan votes and by the league.
The distinction of Mr. Irrelevant -- the last man picked -- fell to San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture. For being the last of the 38 players selected, Couture won a car and will have $20,000 donated to a charity of his choice.
