Chara’s dreams dashed at 2011 All-Star Fantasy Draft

Chara/By S. Bradley

Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara said before he left for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh that he wanted to get picked by Team Lidstrom in the All-Star Fantasy Draft.

Although they are contemporaries, Chara has always admired Detroit superstar Nicklas Lidstrom — both as a player and a person.

Tonight, however, Eric Staal shattered Chara’s dreams. The Carolina forward and Lidstrom’s opposite number as a team captain at the All-Star game picked Chara in the fourth round. Undoubtedly, Staal knows from all the battles Boston and Carolina have staged the last few years in the regular season and playoffs that he wants the ’09 Norris Trophy winner on his side.

Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was selected by Lidstrom, which means he might have to get in the way of a Chara slap shot in Sunday’s game.

Tyler Seguin’s group of rookies will play for Team Staal in the SuperSkills competition. I’m not exactly sure why that even matters.