Ovechkin... Out!

[Idoit40fans]

He's one of the biggest names in the sport, he deserves to be there.

[tfrizz]

I doubt he will be suspended since he is missing games before and after the break. I think the rule is something like if you skip the ASG you have to miss the last game before it or the first game after.

The rule was that you had to miss one game either before or after the break due to injury, or you'd be suspended for a game.

[Durbano]

LMAO@AO

What an absolute wuss.

[Daniel87]

This will give ovi a great opportunity to work on his conditioning beer belly.

[Fire0nice228]

League should definitely throw another game at Ovie for skipping the ASG. It is clear that this is in response to his suspension and not due to injury or whatever. But, they don't have the guts to do it. They could easily have Ovi there but not do any interviews with him or anything like that so that his mopey self isn't in the media as much.

Really though, this just shows again what kind of person and organization they got down there in Washington

[Idoit40fans]

They have no grounds to punish him for not going and he has every right not to go.

[pensfan1989]

They have no grounds to punish him for not going and he has every right not to go.

Actually they do. They suspended two players from Detroit for skipping in 2009.

[Idoit40fans]

They have no grounds to punish him for not going and he has every right not to go.

Actually they do. They suspended two players from Detroit for skipping in 2009.

Actually they don't. You don't know what you're talking about. He'll be missing both the game before and after the All Star break regardless of whether he plays in the game or not.

[penmyst]

You guys are looking at this the wrong way.

The league is probably happy he chose to stay out of the ASG and they didn't have to sack up and ban him. If he isn't here, it's a lot less likely some hapless player is going to be concussed by one of his 7 foot high "leading with shoulder" charges.

[Idoit40fans]

The league is definitely not happy that he's not there. He is far and away the biggest attraction at their grandiose shootout in the skills competition.

[PensHckyFan79]

I feel the league can suspend him if they want because the rule was for players with injuries. AO is not injured unless you count him not having a brain. I could care less I dis-like him very much I feel the league does a lot to put him out there and market him and he can only think of himself. I respect what he can do on the ice, but think he's trash as a human. I'm glad I don't have to see him at the ASG. I only hope they will stop talking about it because I hate hearing any new related to him.

[cma3585]

Maybe someone will deservedly win the shootout competition this year (Perry and Subban last year destroyed him) and turn the popularity contest into an actual skill contest.

[André]

I completely agree with Idoit40fans.

[Durbano]

Tony Kornheiser still has a local radio show in D.C., and he just called AO a selfish baby.

[Avyran]

Andy McDonald called Ovechkin classless today on Twitter for skipping:

classless move by @ovi8 "opting" out of NHL Allstar Game

[Fire0nice228]

They have no grounds to punish him for not going and he has every right not to go.

Actually they do. They suspended two players from Detroit for skipping in 2009.

Actually they don't. You don't know what you're talking about. He'll be missing both the game before and after the All Star break regardless of whether he plays in the game or not.

Right, but the league said he could still attend, and he chose not to, so whats the difference from the Redwings in 09? I get that hes already suspended before and after, but they still alllowed him/requested him to be at the game.

[Lesky]

Great. So now because you do something dirty or injure someone you are allowed to get an extra vacation? Complete joke.

Should double his suspension and make the fine 1$ million. Ovechkins motivation for skipping the game is also a disgrace.

[Idoit40fans]

Great. So now because you do something dirty or injure someone you are allowed to get an extra vacation? Complete joke.

Should double his suspension and make the fine 1$ million. Ovechkins motivation for skipping the game is also disgrace.

...actually you're required to get an extra vacation.

[Lesky]

Great. So now because you do something dirty or injure someone you are allowed to get an extra vacation? Complete joke.

Should double his suspension and make the fine 1$ million. Ovechkins motivation for skipping the game is also disgrace.

...actually you're required to get an extra vacation.

We are talking about the All Star game in this thead in case you had not noticed?

[Idoit40fans]

So they should be forced to skip meaningful games but required to play in an exhibition game? You're seriously making that argument?

[Lesky]

So they should be forced to skip meaningful games but required to play in an exhibition game? You're seriously making that argument?

Missing NHL games is punishment for a wrongful act. Skipping the All Star game because his "heart is not there" is an advantage since no other player can opt out.

Why would Ovechkin somehow be allowed to benefit from his dirty play? If anything, they should send his ass to the game to compensate for his dirty plays.

Ovechkin said before the game that he would not care if he were not selected as he would get extra vacation. So its obvious Ovechkin simply went angry over the suspension and got back on the league this way.

[Idoit40fans]

Again. He should not be allowed to play in his team's games, but forced to play in an exhibition. Is that how you think it should be? Verify whether or not that is what you are saying. A simple Yes or No will suffice.

[Lesky]

Again. He should not be allowed to play in his team's games, but forced to play in an exhibition. Is that how you think it should be? Verify whether or not that is what you are saying. A simple Yes or No will suffice.

Again. The only reason a player is allowed to miss the game is due injury. Why should Ovechkin be excused because he tried to injure someone? You are reasoning like the league suspended Ovechkin for no reason at all and it would an injustice for him to take part in the All Star game.

[Idoit40fans]

Is that a yes?

Also, you act like the All-Star game is a punishment to all players involved.

[Fire0nice228]

The answer would be yes. They are forcing these other players to go partake in the All Star Festivities (What, you think James Neal doesnt want to go to the beach this weekend?), and they cannot skip without punishment (as precedent was set in 2009), therefore, by Ovechkin opting out of the events that he was asked to attend, he should be punished. This is a completely separate incident from his hit on Michalek and should be punished as such.