Kessel Picked Last In NHL All-Star Draft

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward was taken first overall in the first-ever fantasy NHL all-star draft Friday night.

Captain Eric Staal of Team Staal won the ceremonial “puck flip,” to earn the right to choose first. He picked his teammate over loud cheers in front of the hometown crowd.

Ward has 22-15-5 record this season with a 2.70 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos was picked second overall by captain Nik Lidstrom.

Forward Phil Kessel was the last of the 36 players selected, going to Team Lidstrom. But the Toronto Maple Leafs star did receive a new car for his patience as well $20,000 to donate to charity.

Kessel and Colorado’s Paul Stastny were the last two players remaining, and Team Staal took Stastny with the 35th pick.

Then, with Washington star Alex Ovechkin snapping a photo of Kessel with the camera on his cellphone, Team Lidstrom assistant captain Patrick Kane ended the suspense quickly.

“We’re happy with our last pick in the draft, so we’ll take Phil Kessel,” Kane said.

Staal, the Hurricanes captain, managed to select Ward as well as Carolina rookie forward Jeff Skinner as well as his brother, Marc, a defenceman with the New York Rangers. He also took Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin fifth overall, and that was worth noting as with the very next selection Team Lidstrom took Henrik Sedin, Daniel’s twin brother who also plays for the Canucks.

Staal, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was also able to take Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp, also a Thunder Bay native, with the 15th selection overall.

One of the surprises of the draft was Jonathan Toews, the Chicago Blackhawks captain and Conn Smythe trophy winner, falling to 16th spot.

Staal told TSN Lidstrom nabbed Toews just before he was going to select him.

“A couple of times we were leaning towards (taking) someone and (Lidstrom) had taken him right before us,” Staal told TSN.

“(Toews) was sitting there for a little while but he was one of the guys.”

A look at the NHL all-star teams as drafted Friday night (Team Staal won the toss and picked first. Goalies must be selected by end of 10th round, defenceman must be selected by end of 15th round)

Team Staal

Eric Staal (captain), F, Carolina
Ryan Kesler (assistant captain), F, Vancouver
Mike Green (assistant captain), D, Washington
Coaches Joel Quenneville and Mike Haviland, Chicago

1. Cam Ward, G, Carolina.
3. Alex Ovechkin, C, Washington
5. Daniel Sedin, F, Vancouver
7. Zdeno Chara, D, Boston
9. Rick Nash, F, Columbus
11. Henrik Lundqvist, G, New York Rangers
13. Marc Staal, D, New York Rangers
15. Patrick Sharp, F, Chicago
17. Dan Boyle, D, San Jose
19. Carey Price, G, Montreal
21. Jeff Skinner, F, Carolina
23. Chris Letang, D, Pittsburgh
25. Claude Giroux, F, Philadelphia
27. Erik Karlsson, D, Ottawa
29. Corey Perry, F, Anaheim
31. Patrik Elias, F, New Jersey
33. David Backes, F, St. Louis
35. Paul Stastny, F, Colorado

Team Lidstrom

Nicklas Lidstrom (captain), D, Detroit
Patrick Kane (assistant captain), F, Chicago
Martin St. Louis (assistant captain), F, Tampa Bay
Coaches Peter Laviolette, Philadelphia, and Alain Vigneault, Vancouver

2. Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay
4. Duncan Keith, D, Chicago
6. Henrik Sedin, F, Vancouver
8. Shea Weber, D, Nashville
10. Tim Thomas, G, Boston
12. Daniel Briere, F, Philadelphia
14. Dustin Byfuglien, D, Atlanta
16. Jonathan Toews, F, Chicago
18. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Pittsburgh
20. Jonas Hiller, G, Anaheim
22. Brad Richards, F, Dallas
24. Keith Yandle, D, Phoenix
26. Brent Burns, D, Minnesota
28. Martin Havlat, F, Minnesota
30. Anze Kopitar, F, Los Angeles
32. Matt Duchene, F, Colorado
34. Loui Eriksson, F, Dallas
36. Phil Kessel, F, Toronto