Meet Your Captains

The man you see to your left is Daniel Alfredsson and the man you see on your right is Zdeno Chara.  In the old format (both play in the Eastern Conference), both of them would have been candidates for the captaincy of one side.  In the new format for the All-Star Game instituted last year, both can lay claim to that role, as they were named to those roles for the game in Ottawa.  Who the alternate captains will be for those teams won't be answered for another day or two, but the captain dynamic presents some interesting calls for when they do pick their teams.

• Chara is a former Senator, and Brian Elliott and Marian Hossa are also going to be playing in the game.  Throw in Dany Heatley, who could be in the game as an injury replacement (likely, since Minnesota Wild teammate Mikko Koivu will miss the game) and it could be one side with all of the ex-Senators.
• Just because Dion Phaneuf or Phil Kessel were not named captain does not mean Chara won't have an opportunity to pick either one or Joffrey Lupul, or even all three.
• Alfredsson is one of four current Senators on the roster.  What will  happen should any of those four have to face one another?
• Does Chara pick any of the Vancouver Canucks players?  You know, for what happened in the Stanley Cup Finals last year...
• Since a coin flip will determine who picks first, could it be possible that Tim Thomas plays for Alfredsson's side?  What about Jason Spezza on Chara's team?
• Carey Price is in the pool (well, someone HAS to be there for Montreal this year), so what are the odds Chara picks him?
• Who will be Mr. Irrelevant this year?

The NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft is a week from today, and while I won't be watching it (heavy metal night in the form of Testament, Anthrax, and Death Angel), it will be interesting to see what happens.