RALEIGH, N.C. -- Phil Kessel wasn't too dissimilar from any number of kids selected last in dodge ball.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward, however, got something to go along with the fact he was singled out as the last pick at the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft.
He came away with a new Honda and $20,000 for his favorite charity.
"I'm not too worried about this," Kessel told reporters at the conclusion of the draft at the Raleigh Convention Center. "It's our break, right?"
For most NHL players it is, but there were some tense times for a handful of players as the draft wore on.
"We talked a little bit about that when it was getting down to the wire," said Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who, along with Carolina's Eric Staal, divvied up the All-Stars. "There were six guys left, then five guys left. You could tell they were getting nervous down toward the end."
Lidstrom figured out soon after he was tapped by his fellow players to be one of the exhibition's two captains: the captain who lost the toss at the beginning of the draft didn't have to worry about determining who was going to be the last pick.
That honor went to Staal, who had his choice during the final round -- which by rule had to be a forward -- between Colorado's Paul Stastny and Kessel.
He chose Stastny, making Kessel the last pick by default.
"Phil Kessel is a tremendous player," said Boston goalie Tim Thomas, who will backstop Lidstrom's team for at least one period during Sunday's exhibition. "It's not fun being the last guy, but somebody had to do it. He took it really well."
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