The Senators captain, who has been to five all-star games, had a good chuckle the other day when asked to recall his first trip to the annual showcase — in 1996 at the TD BankNorth Garden in Boston.

Sitting in a dressing room that included Bruins legend Ray Bourque, New Jersey’s Scott Stevens and Rangers captain Mark Messier, Alfredsson remembers keeping his mouth shut and doing a lot of watching.

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Alfredsson said Karlsson will carry these memories throughout his career.

“The first one is a great one overall,” said Alfredsson. “It’s a great experience being around the best players in the world. It’s a great-feeling atmosphere in the locker room and this is going to be a lot of fun for him.

“It’s a great confidence boost as well, knowing that you’ve been able to make it that far. At his age, it’s quite remarkable. He just needs to take in the moment and enjoy it. You can’t try to do too much.”