Eric Staal, Nicklas Lidstrom Named 2011 NHL All-Star Captains

The Bruins may have held Carolina Hurricanes star Eric Staal to zero points and a minus-2 rating during the B’s 7-0 win on Monday, but the Canes forward has something to smile about anyways.

Staal and Detroit Red Wings star Nicklas Lidstrom have been named captains for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, which will take place in Raleigh, N.C., during the last weekend in January. The announcement was made by the NHL and the NHL Players Association on Tuesday.

According to a tweet by NESN’s Naoko Funayama, Staal said that he’s happy he knows he won’t get picked last and that he wants to select Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward to be in his cage during the exhibition game. He even joked about bribing Lidstrom for the rights to select his netminder.

Lidstrom, who has been chosen to 12 career All-Star Games, leads defensemen with 11 goals and 31 assists for 42 points in 45 games this season.  

Staal was named All-Star Game MVP in 2008, and he currently leads the Canes with 22 goals and 46 points.

Staal and Lidstrom won’t be alone, however, as the NHL also announced that four alternate captains – two for each team — will be named at a later date.

Team Staal jerseys will  be white with red trim while Team Lidstrom jerseys will be navy blue with royal blue trim.