An Ovechkin less NHL All-Star Weekend
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
The 2012 NHL All-Star game, draft and skills competition is scheduled to take place in Ottawa this weekend. It will be without one of the premier players in the league. A player who has been to the annual event every year since breaking into the National Hockey League and making us laugh during his time at the breakaway competition. Alexander Ovechkin has decided to cancel his flight to Ottawa Ontario and stay home this weekend.
Earlier in the week, Ovechkin was suspended by sheriff Shanny (Brendan Shanahan) for an illegal hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek and his sentence is three games. Even though his suspension spans over the weekend when all the best players from all 30 teams display their skills, he is still eligible to attend his fellow stars but has decided not to. His reason for taking the weekend off:
“My heart is not there. I am suspended, so why I have to go there? I love the game. It is a great event. I love to be there. I am suspended. I don’t want to be a target. I feel like I’m not deserving to be there right now because I am suspended.” — Alex Ovechkin
Should Ovechkin attend the All-Star Game?
A few years ago, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and forward Pavel Datsyuk decided not to attend the All-Star game and they were both suspended one game each and missed the first regular season game following the All-Star weekend. Both players who did not have suspensions going into the event but were giving one for not going but Ovechkin is allowed to not attend without further remorse. The question I ask is, “Should Alexander Oveckin receive further discipline for opting out of the All-Star?”
Ovechkin opts out of NHL All-Star Weekend
In my opinion, yes… yes he should. To me it doesn’t make any sense how Lidstrom and Datsyuk were suspended for opting out of the festivities but Ovechkin is allowed to because he was suspended going into it. How many kids and fans of all ages are going to be devastated that their favorite player by the name of Ovie isn’t going to be there? How many Washington Capitals #8 jerseys are going to be in attendance in the crowd but no number eight on the ice? I have always been a fan of the great eight but after this weeekends events, I have taken Ovie down the list quite a bit. As a hockey player, there is no denying he is has tremendous skills and I respect the way he plays and am often entertained how he plays, but I don’t agree with his decision. The guy brings in nine million a season to play hockey. Would it kill him to play the game he loves with the worlds greatest players, on the worlds greatest stage and display his skills?
Last year when Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel was selected last in the All-Star draft, Ovechkin was seen laughing and taking video on his phone of Kessel being picked last. Since Kessel is out playing Ovie this year, maybe he caught wind of a rumor that maybe he was going to be selected last and he doesn’t want to be around for that.