Curling’s all-star skins game: Will a format change lead to bruised egos?

They've decided the possibility of hurt feelings is a chance they can take, after all.

In a change of format, organizers have decided this weekend's All-star Skins Game event, being held at Casino Rama (near Orillia, Ontario) will have the pressure of a draft as opposed to the anti-climactic feeling of a random draw.

It's a change of heart that could add a little spice to Thursday night's team selection process, to be televised on TSN.

Ontario's Craig Savill, an all-star lead who will be one of the players who takes a seat and waits for one of the skips to call his name, thinks it's a process that could make for a little bit of fun.

“The draft is the best part of the NHL All-Star weekend," he said, in a media release. "With the characters involved, this draft will surely be entertaining – just imagine the trash talk between the guys."

Well, Mr. Savill, we don't really have to imagine it.

Another all-star lead, Alberta's Ben Hebert, has started the good-natured ribbing already. When asked who he thought would go last, he replied: "It probably should be Savill due to his skill level. I like to chirp him probably the most, so you can quote that, if you want."

You can't really get on a guy because his name hasn't yet been pulled from a hat now, can you? You can light him up with a barb or two if the likes of all-star skips Glenn Howard, Kevin Martin, Kevin Koe and Jeff Stoughton have seen fit to leave him in his chair until late in the selection process. So, the insults should be flying. Might already be, on twitter.

It was the players themselves who apparently authored this change to a draft format.

Originally, there had been talk of having the all-star skips choose their sides. That notion was squashed, however, before the format was announced, last autumn, and fans began to vote for their favourite players. Seems organizers preferred not to have the players subjected to the possibility (and reality for one of them) of being chosen last. Now, in the days just before the teams are chosen, the players don't have a problem with the idea of the last two men sitting there wondering if they're to be the Phil Kessel of the bunch.

"I think it just makes it look a little more professional," said Hebert, of the switch to a draft. "You know, how the NHL did it, I think they got awesome ratings when they did the draft. We just didn't want to be drawn out of a hat just to save someone a little embarrassment. We're all good friends. I just think it makes for a lot of fun and people lobbying to be picked, but I think it'll make for a fun night."

Kessel, at least, received a new car as a consolation prize. Doubtful the last pick on Thursday night gets a Honda for their trouble. Wouldn't be surprising, though, to see the last man sitting offered some kind of a reward. A pile of complimentary chips to be used at the casino, anyone? Tickets to see Tracy Morgan or another upcoming Rama show?

"If I could get a car, I would be lobbying hard to be the last pick," chuckled Hebert. "I'd be the happiest last pick in the world if they gave me a car."

There is one more thing to know about Thursday's draft: Skips cannot pick any player that is a regular teammate.

Gentlemen, start your jockeying. And continue your trash talking.

Below: The players, voted in by fans, who are scheduled to take part in The Skins Game:

(from TSN's media release)