One of the NHL’s very best will miss the league’s celebration of its top players yet again. Alex Ovechkin, voted as the captain of the Metropolitan Division team for the upcoming All-Star Weekend, told the media after the Washington Capitals’ game last night that he would skip the festivities to focus on resting up for the second half of the season. It should not come as much surprise that Ovechkin will be absent in St. Louis on January 24th and 25th, as he declined the invitation to participate in the All-Star Game last season in San Jose as well.
Ovechkin did not hesitate to provide his reasoning for again skipping the event:
Thanks, first of all, fans for voting me. It’s a hard decision, but I have to listen to my body. I have to get ready for the second half of the year. I have to be healthy and focus on different things. It’s a hard decision, obviously, being the captain and missing the All-Star Game, but I have to do [what is] best for me and for my team.
Ovechkin’s decision will impact more than just All-Star festivities, though. The Capitals superstar will also be suspended for one game for skipping the event, a league rule that does not allow for any exceptions other than injury. Ovechkin understood the repercussions of his decision, which will see him miss either the game before All-Star break, against the rival New York Islanders, or more likely the game after players return from break, versus the Montreal Canadiens.
You don’t want to miss the game, but the rules are the rules, I’m healthy, thank God, and I just made this decision because I have to be in good shape and I have to be ready and good in the playoffs. The most important thing is not the regular year, it’s the playoffs.
For the 34-year-old Ovechkin, who plays as hard as anyone in the league, the decision is completely reasonable. With that said, it is a shame that the NHL will again be missing one of it’s biggest names and most popular personalities at All-Star Weekend. The league can only hope that Ovechkin is the first and last player to do so this season.
Plus he’s still pissed at the league over the last Olympics
Thank god the Wild wont need to worry about any of its players having to choose whether or not to play in the AS game!!!!
Ovechkin, seriously? Show up, wave to the fans, skate 3-4 shifts, and sit out the rest of the game if you wish. But at least show up.
I second that motion! Plus, remove said players from future ballots AND negate any All-Star bonus $$$ that they would otherwise get. It doesn’t amount to much in the way of punishment, other than extending the suspension for multiple games, or possibly the first round of the playoffs, if qualified. I don’t blame him or any other player for the Olympics crap, since the IOC is mostly to blame, with Bettman & team owners owning a part of that debacle. The All-Star Game is for the fans, especially the kids.
Players shouldn’t be punished because they decide to skip a meaningless game. I mean I get why the NHL does suspend them, but they really shouldn’t. If the NHL (and other leagues) were honest with themselves they would only host a skills competition or a home run derby if your the MLB. That’s the fun part of the weekend. The game is absolutely meaningless and a snooze fest because no one is trying because they don’t want to get hurt.
Or, because sports leagues rarely see sense, do something along the lines of what the NFL does: have it after the regular season ends but before the Stanley Cup Finals start.
The All-Star Game does matter to many fans, especially the little ones. Could they go with a Skills Competition only? I’d be OK with that, myself. A few decades ago, the All-Star Game was between All-Stars vs the defending Cup champs. That was always pretty popular, but, of course, exposed players to potential injury. Too much $$$ at stake for that today, unfortunately. Recently, a Hall-of-Famer of great prominence was talking about growing the NHL audience by showing up for pre-season games. He couldn’t believe that in a couple of cities their prominent stars (opposing team) weren’t interested. This was a couple of decades (+) ago. Some players today get it, but others don’t.