Ovechkin last season opted out of the All-Star Game after the Capitals' Stanley Cup run in '18GETTY IMAGES
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin's decision to skip back-to-back All-Star weekends has the league "concerned it could start a trend among players," according to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.com. Daly said, "In terms of player participation, is that a concern? Yes." Daly added, "Last year, I was much more willing to look the other way on something like this. But two years in a row is probably something we do need to address with the players' association, so it doesn't become a trend." Ovechkin last year opted out of the All-Star Game in San Jose "following the Capitals long run" to the Stanley Cup the previous season. He also "will be skipping" the '20 All-Star Game later this month in St. Louis to "rest up for the second half of the season." Daly said that those who are selected for the All-Star Game and opt out are "neglecting to fulfill their obligations as players." Daly: "I do believe that there has to be a little more urgency among the players to make this a priority, because I think it should be a priority." In the past, prominent players such as Sidney Crosby, Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk have been "suspended for missing the All-Star Weekend after being selected." Daly said that the current punishment "hasn't proved sufficient in discouraging players from skipping the event" (ESPN.com, 1/7).
WORKIN' MAN BLUES: In Detroit, Helene St. James writes Red Wings LW Tyler Bertuzzi was the "obvious choice" to be selected by the league to represent the team when C Dylan Larkin on Dec. 31 asked "not to be voted" into the game. Larkin "noted -- rightfully -- there are players who deserve an All-Star invitation more than him, but his immediate reply when asked about possibly being voted in by fans was to say, 'Please don't vote. I like the days off more.'" Sportsnet analyst Brian Burke "criticized" Larkin last weekend on "Hockey Night in America." Burke: "It's stupid. This kid is a good kid and he's a good player, but it's an honor to be a part of the All-Star weekend. It's a very important weekend for the National Hockey League and its sponsors and broadcast partners." St. James notes now that the All-Star Game goes "hand-in-hand with the mid-winter break, players can end up with a week off," and many "opt to travel to warmer destinations" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/8).
