Sens stand united for All-Star events

Daniel Alfredsson stuck close to home — both his native Sweden and his adopted home of Ottawa — in making his selections in Thursday night's NHL All-Star draft.

His opposing team captain, defenseman Zdeno Chara, took a more offensive approach.

The rosters for Team Alfredsson and Team Chara were formed, and they will face each other in the skills competition Saturday and the All-Star game Sunday.

Lightning center Steven Stamkos, the NHL's leading goal scorer, was picked by Alfredsson in the sixth round.

Stamkos is the only Tampa Bay player at the All-Star game.

Chara, the Bruins' captain, earned the right to pick first after winning the "puck flip." Leaving two teammates on the board, Chara went with Detroit forward Pavel Datsyuk.

"I love the way he plays the game," Chara said.

The hulking defenseman also acknowledged he would have considered picking another Red Wings player, Nicklas Lidstrom, had the seven-time Norris Trophy winner been an All-Star. Lidstrom asked the NHL in advance not to select him.

After picking Boston goalie Tim Thomas with his second pick, Chara then went with Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin, the NHL's points leader.

Alfredsson opened by selecting two Senators teammates, defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Jason Spezza. He eventually completed the Senators sweep by taking forward Milan Michalek with the 24th pick.

Selecting Karlsson was no surprise after Alfredsson acknowledged last week that his children wanted him to pick the defenseman. Karlsson is a fellow Swede, and he lived with Alfredsson during his rookie season two years ago, when the joke was that he babysat Alfredsson's children.

The distinction of Mr. Irrelevant fell to San Jose forward Logan Couture, who was the last of the 38 players selected.

For being the last man standing, Couture won a car and will have $20,000 donated to a charity of his choice. It was a homecoming for Couture, who played junior hockey in Ottawa.

This is the second straight year the NHL had team captains draft players.

This year's crop of stars is a watered-down group that is missing some of the league's highest-profile players. Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby is missing his second straight All-Star game due to a concussion; Washington's Alex Ovechkin pulled out this week after the NHL suspended him for three games because of an illegal hit; and Chicago's Jonathan Toews is injured.

The draft was held at a hotel adjoined to a casino in Quebec, just across the Ottawa River from Canada's capital. There was a loud and raucous Senators crowd on hand, cheering on Alfredsson and booing when Toronto's Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf were drafted by Chara.

By selecting Kessel 15th, Chara ensured the Maple Leafs forward wouldn't be the final player selected for a second straight year. It helped that Chara and Kessel previously played together in Boston.

This year's final pick came down to Couture or Dallas forward Jamie Benn. Chara went with Benn after crediting the player for competing in the All-Star game after having an appendectomy.

Alfredsson swept the Swedish contingent, picking the four fellow countrymen — including Vancouver's twins, Daniel and Henrik Sedin — available in the draft.