Reggie Jackson, reserved superstar that he was, used to call himself the "straw that stirs the drink" for the New York Yankees.

Leaning on Reggie's analogy, TV host James Duthie is the microphone maestro conducting the NHL All-Star Game fantasy draft (Version 2 is Thursday 8-9: 30 p.m. on TSN, RDS and NBC) like his personal orchestra.

Don't laugh. Chances are you were one of the 1.5 million viewers who watched the inaugural players-pickthe-players draft last January from Carolina. Duthie, the Ottawa-born TSN host, was so calm and creative while flying by the seat of his pants - think Evgeni Malkin on a breakaway - that he merely won a Gemini Award for his trouble, as "Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program," his third career Gemini.

Not a bad payoff for a fun little made-for-TV concept Brendan Shanahan dreamed up to spice up the buildup to what was becoming a stale ASG. As sometimes happens with a hockey club, low expectations turned out to be a good thing.

"I remember asking the brass what they were hoping for and they said if they could get 500,000 to 600,000 (viewers), it would be a success," Duthie says. "So, when it came in at that (1.5 million), I think they were blown away."

Thank you, Phil Kessel. Television networks don't always draw as big a number for a meaningful regular season game. Staged or not, the concept of the last player chosen (Kessel, last year) intrigued hockey fans who could relate to such humility, hooked right to the last pick.

That Kessel would look suitably awkward as the last man sitting and Alex Ovechkin would have the nerve to snap a picture of Kessel in full embarrassment added spice to the proceedings. But guess what? Off his terrific season, Kessel is back for another go (and with teammate Joffrey Lupul as Zdeno Chara's assistant captain, assured of not going last), while the sulking Ovechkin is a no-show following a three-game suspension.

He may be a member of the rival Maple Leaf tribe, but Kessel is showing Ottawa hockey fans a lot more heart than the two-time Hart Trophy winner, Ovechkin.

"I do think, particularly in this country, it really did catch the attention of people who remembered those days on the pond, or playing street hockey where you throw all the sticks in the middle and pick sides," Duthie says of the draft concept. "I'm not sure how long of a shelf life it has . but I think it's fun while we have it."

This time around, Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and his former Ottawa teammate, Chara of the Boston Bruins, will do the honours, constructing Team Alfredsson and Team Chara on live television. Alfredsson has already been texting his assistant, New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, to plot strategy, so you know the players take this task semiseriously.

Instead of last man sitting, the final group of four will be brought on stage, American Idol style, minimizing embarrassment.

The floor plan has also changed slightly. Rather than sitting awkwardly in front of the stage before being selected to sit in the team stands, players will be hanging out in a backstage room, where they can presumably act as naturally as possible considering they're miked for quips and trash talk.

"I loved having them out front so I could see their squeamish faces," Duthie says, "but we'll have cameras backstage so will see all that stuff, as well."

Dropping an assistant captain was done to ease the dialogue between the captain and a lone right-hand man. Alfredsson and Lundqvist are great pals from Team Sweden (remember to speak English, guys) while Chara and Lupul will be forthcoming - Lupul always has lots to say.

The format remains the same: the three goaltenders have to be picked by round 10 of the draft and all six defencemen must go by round 15, preventing captains from just filling out their rosters at the end.

This way, one of the glory boys at forward has to be picked last, scooping a Honda Crosstour as a salve to his wounded pride. We should all suffer such indignity.

Some players grumble on their way to a cold-weather ASG, but don't count Duthie among the whiners. The redoubtable host gets to come home, and take his mother, Sheila, and father, James, to the Saturday skills competition. Both are "massive" Senators fans. Careful if you sit beside Sheila, she might regale you with who's hot and who's not on her own fantasy pool team.

A proud native son, Duthie is a graduate of Carleton University's journalism program who cut his journalistic teeth at the feet of two local sports broadcast giants, Brian Smith and Bill Patterson of what was then CJOH.

Both died too young, both left holes in the hearts of Duthie and me. Patterson knew stardom beckoned for young James, as he told me often, the talent was obvious.

That no U.S. network has yet snapped him up is the surprise, but it's all to TSN's benefit. "The Quiz" wouldn't be the same without him.

Today, the maestro will again work his magic at this silly draft, making it flow, putting players and fans at ease.

"It was challenging because some of the players were really uncomfortable," Duthie says. "I was trying to have fun while taking into account some fans take this stuff very seriously.

"It was one of the strangest television shows I'd ever done, but I feel much more comfortable this year now that we've got one under our belt."

wscanlan@ottawacitizen.com twitter.com/ @HockeyScanner