TORONTO - The NHL's all-star teams will be selected by Eric Staal and Nicklas Lidstrom.
They have been named captains for the Jan. 30 game at RBC Center in Raleigh and will lead teams carrying their name.
Staal plays for the hometown Carolina Hurricanes while Lidstrom is the current captain of the Detroit Red Wings.
The event is using a revamped format this year that will see Staal and Lidstrom select their teams in a live draft two days before the game. They will also set the lineup for the skills competition on Jan 29.
"I am honoured that I have been given the opportunity to captain a team during the all-star game in my home arena," Staal said in a release. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of selecting my own teammates for the game."
Added Lidstrom, who will play in his 12th all-star game: "I'm really looking forward to all of the weekend's events and I'm very excited to be a part of the draft that decides the rosters of the two teams."
The all-stars themselves voted on the captains.
The alternate captains are still to be determined. They will also provide input during the draft.
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby was considered a favourite to be picked as captain, but he remains sidelined with a concussion and will likely have to sit out the game.
If that happens, it will be the third time he's missed an all-star game due to injury. His sole appearance came in 2007.
