PITTSBURGH -- Chris Kunitz called

Nicklas Lidstrom

a special player. Maxime Talbot believes there is nobody tougher to play against. Kris Letang said he is the all-time best defenseman.

Despite their heated battles against the Detroit Red Wings, the Pittsburgh Penguins lathered Lidstrom in praise before Tuesday night’s game.

The respect Lidstrom commands also was evident when the NHL named him one of the captains for the NHL All-Star game Jan. 30 in Raleigh, N.C.

Lidstrom and fellow captain Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes, along with their alternate captains, will pick their teams Jan. 28 from the remaining 36 players selected for the game.

The Red Wings, obviously, believe Lidstrom was the right choice. The Penguins agreed.

“He’s one of the best, if not the best,” Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby said. “Pretty easy fit for captain and obviously having another amazing season.”

Lidstrom said he was honored by the selection and that picking Team Lidstrom, the official name for the squad, will be fun.

“I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the players,” Lidstrom said. “They’re all great players, so I don’t feel any pressure. It’s more exciting and fun, especially for fans to see something like that.”

The league will select two alternate captains per side before the all-star draft. Lidstrom will be the lone Red Wings representative, since the club previously asked the NHL not to select Henrik Zetterberg so he can rest his ailing back.



"It's just like when you were a kid, out on the pond, and you were picking your team," said Lidstrom, who declined to reveal who he would take with his top pick.



Letang, one of the Penguins' four all-stars — Crosby's status is in doubt due to a concussion — hopes he is picked by Lidstrom, and called the six-time Norris Trophy winner his role model.



"I watch him a lot. He's a great example for every defenseman in the league," Letang said. "With his overall game, I think he's the best player in the league. I think he's the all-time best defenseman."



Talbot said that while the league is getting younger, Lidstrom continues to impress with his performance at age 40. Lidstrom led all defensemen with 42 points before Tuesday's games.





Reaction to Lidstrom being named All-Star captain



"He's the best in the league. Certainly, he's the toughest guy to play against," Talbot said. "He's smart, he's always in the right place. He keeps his game simple. It's not about dipsy-doodle or anything, he makes the right play every time he has the puck. That's what makes him so great."



Kunitz, who played at Ferris State University, has skated with Lidstrom and some Red Wings in the Detroit area during pre-training camp workouts in previous years.



"Even in summer hockey, you never see him make any mistakes," Kunitz said. "It's things you didn't really notice then, but now that I've played a little longer, it's things you look back on as truly amazing.



"When a guy is excelling at that age, where they say they're not supposed to, it proves how special a player he is. And you need those players in the game as long as you can."



When Penguins coach and Grand Haven native Dan Bylsma said it doesn't look like Lidstrom is working overly hard on the ice, he was being complimentary.



"He's a very efficient skater," Bylsma said. "He's brilliant positionally, both offensively and defensively. If you're forechecking, trying to get at this guy, he seems to be elusive that way because of his smarts and his ability to skate and his ability to make a pass."



Bylsma wants his defensemen to emulate how Lidstrom handles the puck on the power play.



"For years we've been trying to teach our defensemen how to shoot the puck like Nick, with his head up," Bylsma said. "Seems to look through traffic and find ways to get the puck to the net and (find) passing lanes."



Bylsma, who is five months younger than Lidstrom, said, "He doesn't seem to be getting older. I'm getting older, I had to retire (as player, in 2004), but he keeps playing and playing. And the level which he plays at is still extremely high. It's the best in the league."



Red Wings coach Mike Babcock called Lidstrom one of the easiest players he's ever coached.



"You just put him on the ice and get out of the way," Babcock said. "He's got good feedback for you, he's an honest, straightforward, humble guy. Leads by example, not by talking."