Lidstrom is the Detroit Red Wings captain and oldest player named to the All-Star roster, while Staal is only 26 he is captain of the Carolina Hurricanes who will host the All-Star game on Sunday January 30.

The All-Star teams will be named Team Staal and Team Lidstrom. The captains will select their players in a fantasy-like draft the Friday before the game.

Interestingly, neither Lidstrom or Staal were voted as starters for the game.

Lidstrom took a $1.25 million pay cut, which gives the Red Wings some room in the salary cap. Under NHL regulations, a team can only spend $56.8 m (with the possibility to increase by $3 m for next season).

Lidstrom was not considering retirement because his level of play has dropped but because his oldest son is enrolled in a hockey academy in Sweden next season. The contract extension is only for one year, and the Red Wing’s future looks uncertain with Thomas Holmstrom and Todd Bertuzzi also being free agents.