NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft: 10 Players Zdeno Chara Should Pick

To channel an exchange of dialogue in the young stages of Miracle, Boston Bruins’ captain Zdeno Chara should pursue the right players as well as some of the best when he assembles his team at Thursday’s NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft.

Despite the unique nature of this contest, which ultimately boils down to a mere friendly, the pregame process is not far off the mark from what Chara’s employer, Peter Chiarelli, conducts each June.

Nearly all of the most celestial and best-performing players are in the ring to join a foundation, namely Chara and assistant captain Joffrey Lupul. But the act of selecting or passing over the candidates must be based expressly on how they will fit in, what they can contribute and how they may complement established members of the team.

Each prospect’s general aptitude, most recent performances and general familiarity with settings, situations and other players should all factor into Chara’s approach to his role as GM for a day. Assuming he takes that approach and is fortunate enough to not have any of them nabbed by counterpart Daniel Alfredsson, he will have the following ten individuals on his bench this Saturday.

1. Brian Elliott

With colleague Jaraslav Halak being the hot hand in St. Louis, Elliott has not seen much action of late. But looking past any potential rust, Elliott has plainly been at his sharpest in the first period, being a part of a tandem that has allowed only 24 goals in the first period through their first 46 games.

In his last 16 appearances, including Tuesday night against Pittsburgh, Elliott has authorized 15 second-period strikes and eight in the closing frame, but only four within the first 20 minutes.

Team Chara should select Elliott, assign him to start the game and stall Team Alfredsson long enough to sculpt a lead at the other end, then sit him down to let the other two stoppers safeguard that advantage.

As an added bonus, Elliott is a former Senator who played two-and-a-half seasons and 68 regular-season and playoff games at the site of this game. He therefore has a better sense of the ice, the boards and the general atmosphere of Scotiabank Place than any other stopper in the All-Star fantasy pool.

2. Pavel Datsyuk

Seeing as Jonathan Toews is out of commission, Datsyuk is arguably the best face-off man available in the fantasy pool. He is also one of the leading playmakers, meaning he can be banked on to garner control of the puck and to cultivate tangible gains with it.

3. Scott Hartnell

Of all the forwards coming to Ottawa, Hartnell has the most hits (100) and the best shooting percentage (.198) up to this point in the season.

Granted, in an All-Star scrimmage, it is tough to envision him making significant use of his pure physical assets, but his precision with the puck will doubtlessly be valid.

4. Evgeni Malkin

Besides being the league’s leading point-getter, Malkin is the hottest NHLer entering the All-Star break. He entered Tuesday night’s action, the Penguins’ last game for a week, with goals in eight of his previous nine outings and a cumulative 11-4-15 transcript in that span.

With Saturday being the closest simulation of an extramural competition in the next seven days, Malkin would be shrewd to give this game―no matter how otherwise meaningless―his all so as to avoid rust for the homestretch.

In turn, he should be one of the more sought-after picks in this pregame draft.

5. Erik Karlsson

A member of the host Ottawa Senators and the leader among NHL defensemen with 40 assists, Karlsson should be the top blueliner on both captains’ radar.

With Karlsson on his side, and especially on his unit, Chara could have the perfect set-up man for a multitude of one-time slappers. Karlsson has the capability and the great familiarity with the environs, as does Chara himself as a former Senator.

6. Jason Spezza

Spezza is another solid face-off man, but more importantly another hometown hero to the Scotiabank Place masses. The fewer Senators opposing captain Daniel Alfredsson has on his side, the better Team Chara’s chances of wooing support from the local crowd.

On that note, if Alfredsson beats Chara to Spezza, then the “visiting” captain should at least be sure to nab Spezza’s linemate, Milan Michalek. From a twofold practical perspective, on the ice and in the air, that would be a critical, tic-tac-toe block.

7. Shea Weber

If Chara wants defensive depth for this game―and who wouldn’t want that in any hockey game or series?―he must bring on his fellow 2011 Norris Trophy finalist, who will likely join him on the same award ballot this spring.

8. Tyler Seguin

Because the odds are always in favor of a shootout in this game, they likewise point to abundant opportunities for a blueliner to send a forward flying on a smooth breakout feed. Chara might as well give himself and his team an edge in that regard by drafting a forward whom he works with on a daily and nightly basis at Ristuccia Arena and TD Garden.

9. Brian Campbell

In his first season as a Florida Panther, Campbell has done more than merely a better job of justifying his hefty salary. He is arguably the best playmaking point patroller in the NHL behind Karlsson.

Whether or not he gets Karlsson’s rights, Chara will want to pursue Campbell with equal keenness.

10. Jimmy Howard

If Elliott is the most ideal starter for this unique, three-goalies-for-three-periods affair, then Howard is the most ideal closer.

The young Red Wing has been his most tight-fisted during the final period of regulation, letting in only 24 goals over a total of 40 third periods. That amounts to an average of 0.6, as opposed to 0.69 against Jonathan Quick, 0.7 on Tim Thomas’ tab and 0.8 at Carey Price’s expense.