THE CANADIAN PRESS
GATINEAU, Que. — Captain Zdeno Chara picked Detroit forward Pavel Datsyuk first overall and then turned to Bruins teammate Tim Thomas in goal in the NHL all-star fantasy draft Thursday night.
Rival skipper Daniel Alfredsson loaded up on Senators in the early going. And he picked up some fellow Swedes as the draft progressed.
The Ottawa captain, who lost the puck flip to pick first, chose Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson second and Jason Spezza fourth overall. He took Ottawa forward Milan Michalek with the 24th pick.
Chara also stayed at home with the third pick, taking Thomas. He rescued Bruins forward Tyler Seguin with the 35th selection
Leafs sniper Phil Kessel, the last man picked in the inaugural draft last year, went 15th overall to Team Chara.
The last man standing this year was San Jose forward Logan Couture, who had earlier tweeted: "Is it me or is it getting hotter back here after every pick?"
Couture went to Team Alfredsson by default as the 38th player taken.
"It’s awesome to be here," he said, seeing the glass half-full.
Couture got a Honda Accord Crosstour for his troubles. The NHL and NHL Player’s Association also donated $10,000 each to a charity of his choice.
It came down to a final four of Seguin, Buffalo’s Jason Pominville, Dallas’ Jamie Benn, and Couture.
And then there were two: Benn and Couture.
While Chara ignored players from the archrival Canucks, he was quick to welcome Thomas into the fold.
The star goalie has been in the media spotlight this week, after opting not to join the Bruins in a visit to the White House, citing political objections.
On stage after being picked, Thomas said simply: "I followed my conscience."
Team Chara went for the league’s leading point-getter in Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin next, leaving Alfredsson to choose Kings goalie Jonathan Quick and his league-leading six shoutouts with the sixth pick.
Ten picks in and there was still plenty of talent back in the green room, including the Sedin twins.
Daniel Sedin eventually went to Team Alfredsson in the ninth round — 18th overall. Henrik Sedin joined his brother with the 26th pick. The twins were separated at last year’s game.
"It was nice to play with some good players last year finally," Henrik joked.
Alfredsson made former Sens goalie Brian Elliott his second goalie in the seventh round, one pick after Chara chose Montreal’s Carey Price. Chara rounded out his goaltending by taking Detroit’s Jimmy Howard 19th overall.
While Alfredsson shopped locally, Chara made sure assistant captain Joffrey Lupul had his own friends to play with in the form of Kessel and Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf.
Chara also picked up a 500-goal scorer in Calgary’s Jarome Iginla in the 14th round.
The Boston captain allowed the Canucks to go to Team Alfredsson, which added defenceman Alexander Edler to its Sedin collection.
Goalie Cam Ward was first overall in last year’s fantasy draft in Raleigh, N.C, picked by Carolina Hurricanes teammate Eric Staal.
The pro-Ottawa crowd wasn’t shy Thursday, chanting "Alfie" and " Leafs Suck" in the leadup to the first pick.
Lupul was booed whenever he went to the podium to make a pick.
