Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara have a lot in common. Both are well-respected veterans. Both play in the Northeast Division. And both established themselves as stars while playing in Ottawa.
At the 2012 all-star weekend, they had something else in common: They each received the honor of being named as a team captain. That meant they got to draft the teams, choose the skills competition lineups, and lead the all-star squads that would bear their names. It also ensured that they're officially linked in the NHL's history books.
But while they share some characteristics, these are two very different players. Let's take a closer look at the two all-star captains.
Alfredsson: Born in 1972, on December 11.
Chara: Born in 1977, from March 13 to 18.
Chara: Has a wingspan of over seven feet if he spreads his arms out.
Alfredsson: Has a wingspan of over seven feet if we're counting his hairstyle from 2003.
Alfredsson: Once infuriated Maple Leafs fans by pretending that he might throw his stick into the stands before revealing that he was only kidding.
Chara: Continuously infuriates Maple Leafs fans by pretending that he might let Phil Kessel get a shot on goal that night before revealing that he's only kidding.
Chara: On several occasions over the years, has had to fight the other team's toughest players to send the message that his team can't be intimidated.
Alfredsson: On several occasions over the years, has had to fight the urge to grab the team's general manager and scream, “No, seriously, why don't you at least try getting us a half-decent goalie for once?”
Alfredsson: Is often referred to by teammates and opponents as “Alfie.”
Chara: Is often referred to by teammates and opponents as “Whatever you want us to call you, just dear God please don't hurt anybody.”
Chara: Was a guest at the unveiling of a statue in his likeness in his hometown of Trencin in honor of his greatest moment, his Stanley Cup win.
Alfredsson: Senators fans will probably present him with his own statue honoring his greatest moment, just as soon as they figure out how to sculpt a writhing Darcy Tucker onto the ground first.
Alfredsson: Has a deceptive skill set that can sometimes cause defenders to fail to realize how much speed he can generate until he's already blown by them.
Chara: Has a deceptive skill set that can sometimes cause team ownership to choose to spend all their money on re-signing a future minor leaguer instead.
Chara: Has the hardest slap shot in NHL history, according to the radar gun at the skills competition.
Alfredsson: Has a surprisingly decent slap shot himself, according to an angry Scott Niedermayer.
Alfredsson: His career has forced hockey fans to rethink their views on European players and their ability to serve as team leaders.
Chara: His career has forced hockey fans to rethink their views on slamming people's faces into metal stanchions, since most of us had assumed there was some sort of rule against it.
Chara: Is an avid cyclist who has occasionally ridden stages of the Tour de France course.
Alfredsson: Is an avid cyclist who has occasionally ridden stages of the Tour de Wait Why Are All the Senators Always Riding Stationary Bikes in Every Post-Game Interview?
Alfredsson: When he made his selections at the all-star draft, he was greeted with a warm ovation from an appreciative home crowd.
Chara: When he made his selections at the all-star draft, he was shouted down with loud boos, profanity and personal insults, although eventually the Canucks players quieted down and let him make his pick.
Chara: Is fluent in English, Slovak, Czech, Polish, German, Swedish, and Russian.
Alfredsson: Lives in Ottawa, so can presumably say, “The vegan restaurant is located between the shawarma place and the other shawarma place,” in both official languages.
Alfredsson: No halfway competent general manager would ever trade him away.
Chara: No halfway competent general manager would ever trade him away.