"That his All-Star Game experience already rates a C-minus is absolutely no issue for Jonathan Toews.

The Blackhawks captain won't serve in the same capacity for the Jan. 30 game, as the Red Wings' Nicklas Lidstrom and the Hurricanes' Eric Staal were named team captains Tuesday. They therefore will draft their respective rosters two days before the game itself.

All that is now off the table for Toews, who deemed himself "relieved" simply to enjoy the experience with three Hawks teammates.

"I was kind of surprised everyone was asking me who I was going to pick anyway," Toews said.

"It sounded like you all knew something I didn't because I was pretty sure that wasn't going to happen. The four of us will have a great time, and now we can joke with each other (about) who gets picked before the others."

Indeed, the Hawks now can concentrate on those who-gets-picked-last jabs, though forward Patrick Sharp hoped for an advantage with fellow Thunder Bay, Ontario, native Staal."