RALEIGH -- Dustin Byfuglien will play for Team Lidstrom in the 2011 NHL All-Star game, as the Thrashers defenseman was the 14th overall pick in the player draft Friday night.
Former Chicago teammate Patrick Kane made the announcement.
Byfuglien was the fifth defenseman taken when he was chosen behind Duncan Keith, Zdeno Chara, Shea Weber and Marc Staal.
"Most of it's fun and there is a good group of guys around here," Byfuglien said. "Everyone made fun. It's still nerve-racking. I definitely got some pit stains, that's for sure."
Team Staal captain Eric Staal was joined by alternates Mike Green and Ryan Kesler. Team Lidstrom captain Nicklas Lidstrom was joined by alternates Martin St. Louis and Kane.
Team Staal won the right to select first, and Staal picked his Hurricanes teammate Cam Ward.
“I was the best player available I guess,” Ward said.
Lidstrom's first pick was Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos.
Brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin, teammates in Vancouver, will play on opposite sides for the first time in their careers. Daniel went fifth overall to Team Staal, and Henrik went with the next pick to Team Lidstrom. The Staal brothers will play on the same team, as Marc Staal was picked with the 13th overall selection.
Toronto's Phil Kessel was the last player selected. For the distinction, he received a car and $20,000 to donate to a charity.
No comment from Bettman
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman refused to comment on the current litigation involving the Atlanta Spirit, owners of the Thrashers, and any of the details contained in the lawsuit against an Atlanta law firm used in the buyout of a former partner.
Bettman would not comment on the attempts to sell the franchise, the loss of $50 million in value nor the $130 million in operating losses sustained since 2005, as claimed in a lawsuit filed against King & Spalding.
Speaking to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday from the NHL All-Star Game, Bettman also said he would not speculate on what the disclosures meant for the future of the Thrashers.
“I will say the NHL has a long history of working to avoid franchise relocations,” Bettman told the AJC.
The Spirit filed a $200 million malpractice lawsuit last Friday, saying the law firm’s negligence cost them millions of dollars and made them “unable to sell or otherwise dispose of the Atlanta Thrashers.”
The group also owns the NBA’s Hawks and operating rights to Philips Arena, but they are not mentioned in the lawsuit.
Roster moves
The Thrashers re-assigned forward Nigel Dawes and goaltender Peter Mannino to AHL Chicago on Friday. They also re-called goaltender Drew MacIntyre of Chicago.
Dawes has played three games for the Thrashers since being recalled Jan. 19 and has appeared in nine games this season. He has one assist.
Mannino was recalled Jan. 17 and made one appearance in relief of Ondrej Pavelec. He played 34:21 against Tampa Bay in a 7-1 loss last Sunday. In two games with the Thrashers this season, Mannino has a 4.11 goals-against average and an .861 save percentage.
MacIntyre is 8-5-1 in 15 games for Chicago with a 2.88 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.
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