Snapshots: Ovechkin, Islanders, Perreault

The NHL announced the captains of the 2020 NHL All-Star Game Saturday. One of the four captains announced, the Metropolitan Division representative Alex Ovechkin was also named a captain last year, but Ovechkin declined the offer and chose to rest instead, accruing a one-game suspension from the league for skipping their annual all-star event. When asked whether he would participate this year, Ovechkin was noncommittal, according to NBC Sports’ J.J. Regan.

“We’ll see,” he said. “It’s lots of games to play. I’m going to do the best for my health and for the playoffs and I have to be healthy for the most important games moving forward. It’s always nice to be a captain on the All-Star team. Thanks fans for voting me. It’s a huge honor for me, for this organization and this team.”

This marks the fourth time Ovechkin has been voted in as Metropolitan Division captain and third straight appearance. If he participates, it will be his eighth all-star appearance of his career. The all-star game will be held in St. Louis on Jan. 24 and 25.

• Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe writes if newly acquired Arizona Coyotes’ forward Taylor Hall gets to open free agency on July 1, which many people expect, don’t be surprised if the New York Islanders are the biggest bidders on the star forward. Even though New York has to sign young star Mathew Barzal to a new contract this summer, the team and general manager Lou Lamoriello still should have plenty of cap space to bring in a big-name free agent this summer.
• Winnipeg Jets’ head coach Paul Maurice said he hopes to get back forward Mathieu Perreault soon, according to The Athletic’s Murat Ates. The 31-year-old has been out since Dec. 15 after sustaining a concussion. However, Maurice feels he is getting closer to returning. “He’s getting better,” Maurice said. “We’re having good days now. It is possible that he might be ready for St. Louis… But we’re being very, very cautious. He’s had good days so he’s not far off, I don’t think.”