Music: {allcanada} Kessel taken last in NHL All-Star draft

Friday, January 28, 2011

{allcanada} Kessel taken last in NHL All-Star draft

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)—The NHL All-Star game's first Mr. Irrelevant is Toronto's Phil Kessel (notes).

Kessel went to Team Lidstrom and captain Nicklas Lidstrom (notes) on Friday night with the 36th and final pick of the inaugural NHL All-Star fantasy draft.

Kessel and Colorado's Paul Stastny (notes) were the last two players remaining, and Eric Staal (notes) picked Stastny for Team Staal with the 35th pick.

Then, with star Alex Ovechkin (notes) snapping a photo of Kessel with the camera on his cell phone, Team Lidstrom assistant captain Patrick Kane (notes) ended the suspense quickly.

"We're happy with our last pick in the draft, so we'll take Phil Kessel," Kane said.

Don't feel too bad for Kessel: He will receive a car, and a donation will be made in Kessel's name to a charity of his choice.