Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports
The NHL All-Star game is designed to showcase some of the best talent in the NHL. Unfortunately, this year the game will be without two All-Stars who were nominated to participate in the celebration. Both Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews have decided to opt out of this year’s game just a few days before the game is scheduled.
Ovechkin, who was set to not only play in the All-Star Game, but still be the captain of the Metropolitan Division team, announced Wednesday night that he will not participate in the game due to a lower-body injury he sustained in the team’s game that night against the Flyers. It was announced on Thursday, by the NHL, that Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov will replace Ovechkin in the game and will, in his place, represent the Capitals. Though Kuznetsov was chosen to take Ovie’s spot on the roster for the game, the Islanders captain John Tavares will rise into Ovie’s former position as captain of the Metropolitan Division team.
Toews’ reason for being unable for play in the All-Star Game was attributed to an illness that he has, reportedly, been battling. He missed the third period of the Hawks’ game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The League has also announced that Nashville Predator James Neal will take Toews’ place on the All-Star lineup.
Ovie and Toews won’t just be missing the All-Star Game, but they’ll also have to obey the league’s rules and will be sidelined for their team’s first game returning from the All-Star break. The rules state that any player who is fan-voted or selected to be on the All-Star lineup must participate in the game or they will receive a one game suspension, the first game they would play following the break. The Capitals will take on Florida Panthers and the Hawks will take on the Colorado Avalanche, both without their captains.
The 2016 NHL All-Star Weekend begins on Saturday, Jan.30, beginning with the All-Star Skills Competition. The All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Jan.31 at 5 p.m.
