TORONTOâ€”Changes are coming to the NHL All-Star Game. NHL executive Brendan Shanahan presented a proposal at the GM meetings that he believes will increase the exhibition's level of competitiveness and interest.

According to an NHL source, the changes include captains picking the teams, like a pick-up game. Shanahan said details of the changes would come soon in a joint announcement from the National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association.

The teams are expected to be picked during a live television event at the start of All-Star weekend, according to Chris Johnston of The Canadian Press. Fans will vote for the starters and the NHLâ€™s hockey operations staff will round out the rest of the pool, Johnston reported.

"We've worked for a little while now on this idea and this concept closely with the NHLPA. They like the idea, some of the players they've talked to, potential all-stars, they seem energized by it," Shanahan said.

Shanahan hopes to tap into the competitive side of the all-stars more than the exhibition does now. He worked closely with the recently retired Rob Blake in developing ideas to pump life into the game.

Blake believes captains choosing sides will do it.

"Yeah, it'll be kind of fun," Blake told Sporting News. "Ultimately, you want the players excited and this will do it. It's a new format, it's fresh."

Blake doesn't anticipate any star players having issues choosing teammates or hurting feelings by passing over someone else.

"The guys understand these are the top 40 guys in the league," Blake said. "It'll basically go back and forth."

General managers support anything that adds excitement to the game, which will be held in Raleigh, N.C., this season.

"That's Brendan's baby right now. He's working on that," St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong told Sporting News. "He gave us a little bit of insight on some of the ideas they may have. ... I'm always excited when there's change."