NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft
Added on Jan 29, 2011 by J Merrill in
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After Nicklas Lidstrom chose the wrong side of the puck, the first ever NHL Fantasy Draft was under way, and it was Eric Staal who would pick the first skater for Team Staal. We all had flashbacks of being teenagers when we realized that one of these players would be picked first, and one of them would be picked last.
Staal, whose team is hosting the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, selected his teammate and goalie Cam Ward. Ward said later hat he isn’t going to take the game to seriously, and just enjoy that he is an all-star. Ward said “I’ve watched past All-Star Games, and it’s not exactly goalie-friendly. It’s how you approach it that matters. I’m here to celebrate and be proud of being All-Star and have fun. I’m not going to get too choked up if I get scored on five times or something like that. I’ve got to do something right because I’m the No. 1 overall pick. I guess I’ve got to be lights out.”
As far as being the first pick, Ward said jokingly “I was the best player available, I guess. Yeah, I was surprised. He wouldn’t tell me. He wouldn’t lay down his cards, at all. Obviously, I knew I had a better chance to have him choose me early because he is a good friend and teammate. But I didn’t know if he really actually wanted me to sweat it out.”
Staal said he picked Ward because of his experience, and History together. He said “He is a tremendous goalie, and I won a Stanley Cup with him.” Lindstrom said he figured they wouldn’t get Ward. He said “We figured he was going to go first. No surprise really. We were thinking about him but we thought he was going to go right away. I know he’s a fan favorite here. I talked to Eric afterward about him, and he said he is probably the biggest player here. So we’ll let him slide and let him play for his home team,” he said.
Don’t feel bad for Team Lindstrom, as they got a solid first pick as well. Lindstrom chose NHL goal scoring leader Steve Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightening. Lindstrom said it was an easy pick for them.
Each roster had to consist of three goalies, six defensemen and 12 forwards. The only six players not subject to the draft were those chosen as captains. Twelve rookies were also up for bids to participate only in the skills competition.
There was some speculation about which team Marc Staal would end up on, as his brother is a team captain. At one point last week Marc threatened to withhold future Christmas and birthday presents. Eric chose his brother in the 16th round, but not before playing with him a little bit in the 11th pick. Staal announced “From the New York Rangers … Henrik Lundqvist.” Staal admitted he was teasing his brother. He said “Yes, I felt a little bad for hesitating there and then saying Hank.”
After the brothers shared a hand shake after Marc was chosen they both shared a laugh. Marc said there was no animosity, he said “We’re fine. I was just playing mind games. I didn’t really care all that much. I haven’t played with Eric my whole life, so that will be kind of cool in itself.”
Here is how the rounds shook out, and the picks by each coach.
Pick By Pick
ROUND 1
1. Cam Ward, G, Team Staal
2. Steven Stamkos, C, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 2
3. Alexander Ovechkin, RW, Team Staal
4. Duncan Keith, D, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 3
5. Daniel Sedin, W, Team Staal
6. Henrik Sedin, C, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 4
7. Zdeno Chara, D, Team Staal
8. Shea Weber, D, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 5
9. Rick Nash, W, Team Staal
10. Tim Thomas, G, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 6
11. Henrik Lundqvist, G, Team Staal
12. Daniel Briere, C/W, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 7
13. Marc Staal, D, Team Staal
14. Dustin Byfuglien, D, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 8
15. Patrick Sharp, LW, Team Staal
16. Jonathan Toews, C, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 9
17. Dan Boyle, D, Team Staal
18. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 10
19. Carey Price, G, Team Staal
20. Jonas Hiller, G, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 11
21. Jeff Skinner, C, Team Staal
22. Brad Richards, C, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 12
23. Kris Letang, D, Team Staal
24. Keith Yandle, D, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 13
25. Claude Giroux, RW, Team Staal
26. Brent Burns, D, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 14
27. Erik Karlsson, D, Team Staal
28. Martin Havlat, RW, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 15
29. Corey Perry, RW, Team Staal
30. Anze Kopitar, C, Team Lidstrom
ROOKIE ROUND
Team Staal: Logan Cuture, C; Tyler Ennis, LW; Michael Grabner, RW; Jamie McBain, D; Tyler Seguin, C;P.K. Subban, D.
Team Lidstrom: Evgeny Dadonov, RW; Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D; Cam Fowler, D; Taylor Hall, LW; Kevin Shattenkirk, D; Derek Stepan, C.
ROUND 16
31. Patrik Elias, LW, Team Staal
32. Matt Duchene, C, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 17
33. David Backes, RW, Team Staal
34. Loui Eriksson, LW, Team Lidstrom
ROUND 18
35. Paul Stastny, C, Team Staal
36. Phil Kessel, RW. Team Lidstrom
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