COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Phil Kessel traded for Tyler Seguin, again?

Well that was certainly the capper of an entertaining All-Star draft Friday night.

"Well fellas, I've been there before," Kessel said after the draft. "I got traded for the same person and I think it worked out OK for everyone."

In 2009, the Boston Bruins traded Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs for three draft picks. The Bruins used one of those picks to select Seguin second overall in the 2010 draft.

GM Jonathan Toews said it was a tough but necessary trade.

"I was heartbroken about that one," said Toews. "I didn't think it was going to come to that point and it happened so quick. Just kind of had to go with it."

Toews made Kessel his team’s first pick, wasting no time in making sure the Maple Leafs winger didn’t go through the embarrassment of going last overall as he did in the first All-Star draft, in 2011.

"He's a heck of player, no doubt about that," Toews said of Kessel. "I think everyone out there tonight, there's a reason why they're here. For Phil, I was here [watching] his situation a couple years ago and no one wants to go last. There's one great player out there that kind of has to, and tonight there was two guys. I think that was a little bit better in that sense. I think Phil deserved to be our first pick tonight. I think for the most part, the six of us up on stage just wanted to have the most fun with it, make light of things, and we enjoy every minute."

Oh, there were lots of jokes on this night. It seems like some of the players might have had something special in those drinking cups. But the event also allowed for players to relax and show their personalities.

"I think this league's different than any other league," Kessel said. "I don't think you would see that in any league around and that's why this league's special."