THE STORY: Daniel Alfredsson has long been embraced in Ottawa. The longest current serving captain in the NHL, the 39-year-old Swede has made Canada's capital city his adopted second home. Without question, Alfredsson will continue to hear the cheers on Sunday as he captains his squad of All-Stars against those of led by Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara. To add to his good standing, Alfredsson selected teammates Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza with his first two picks of the draft and Milan Michalek in the 13th round to boot. The opposing captain will also receive a familiar response by the good people in Ottawa - and this one won't be favorable. Flanked by assistant Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chara raised a few eyebrows by eschewing allegiances of either team or country by selecting three-time Selke Trophy winner Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings with the first overall pick of the draft on Thursday night. With last year's Stanley Cup perhaps still fresh in his mind, Chara did not select either Henrik or Daniel Sedin or even Alex Edler from the Vancouver Canucks.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, NBCS, CBC
ABOUT TEAM CHARA: After picking Datsyuk, the towering blue-liner didn't wait long to keep peace in his own locker room. With the second overall pick, Chara promptly selected fellow Bruin and reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, who addressed his White House snub by saying that he "followed his conscience." After selecting NHL leading scorer Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chara picked countryman Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round and fellow Slovak Marian Gaborik in the 16th round. Lupul continued to ride the anti-Toronto crowd by selecting Maple Leafs teammate Phil Kessel in the eighth round and defenseman Dion Phaneuf in the 13th round. After making his teammate sweat, Chara selected Tyler Seguin in the 18th round and shared an awkward hug to bury any resentment.
OFFICIAL ROSTER: Goalies: Tim Thomas (Bruins), Carey Price (Canadiens), Jimmy Howard (Red Wings); Defensemen: Captain Zdeno Chara (Bruins), Kimmo Timonen (Flyers), Ryan Suter (Predators), Brian Campbell (Panthers), Dion Phaneuf (Maple Leafs), Dennis Wideman (Capitals); Forwards: Joffrey Lupul (Maple Leafs), Pavel Datsyuk (Red Wings), Evgeni Malkin (Penguins), Marian Hossa (Blackhawks), Phil Kessel (Maple Leafs), Corey Perry (Ducks), Patrick Kane (Blackhawks), Jarome Iginla ( Flames), Marian Gaborik (Rangers), Jordan Eberle (Oilers), Tyler Seguin (Bruins), Jamie Benn (Stars)
ABOUT TEAM ALFREDSSON: Ever the fan favorite, Alfredsson didn't just pick his fellow Senators - he also selected a former one in Brian Elliott. The current St. Louis Blues netminder leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.937). Assistant captain Henrik Lundqvist also got in on the action by selecting New York Rangers teammate Dan Girardi, who has clearly grown tired of being reminded that he was undrafted into the NHL. Alfredsson also took care of his fellow Swedes by taking both Sedins, who were separated during last season's All-Star Game. For bragging rights, Daniel went in the ninth round and brother Henrik was picked in the 13th. Although Team Chara has three of the top four point producers, Alfredsson did secure some scoring punch when he picked Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round. Stamkos leads the NHL with 32 goals.
OFFICIAL ROSTER: Goalies: Henrik Lundqvist (Rangers), Jonathan Quick (Kings), Brian Elliott (Blues); Defensemen: Erik Karlsson (Senators), Kris Letang (Penguins), Shea Weber (Predators), Dan Girardi (Rangers), Keith Yandle (Coyotes), Alex Edler (Canucks); Forwards: Captain Daniel Alfredsson (Senators), Jason Spezza (Senators), Claude Giroux (Flyers), Steven Stamkos (Lightning), Daniel Sedin (Canucks), Milan Michalek (Senators), Henrik Sedin (Canucks), James Neal (Penguins), John Tavares (Islanders), Scott Hartnell (Flyers), Jason Pominville (Sabres), Logan Couture (Sharks)
OVERTIME:
1. Seven-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom finished with a plus-7 as he captained his squad to an 11-10 victory over Team Staal in the 2011 All-Star Game. By his own admission, Lidstrom is resting his tired 41-year-old body this time around and will watch the game on television.
2. After Dallas' Jamie Benn was selected in the 19th round, that meant that Logan Couture was the last man standing in the draft. For his trouble, the San Jose Sharks star was presented with a Honda Crosstour. In addition, he will have a $10,000 donation made in his name to the grassroots hockey program of his choice by the NHL Foundation and NHLPA Goals & Dreams.
3. The one Senator who did not head to Team Alfredsson was Colin Greening, who will lead his group of rookies under Team Chara. Colorado Avalanche star Gabriel Landeskog, who was the second overall pick of the NHL draft, will lead his contingent under Team Alfredsson.