Why the NHL All Star Game does NOT need Alex Ovechkin.

As a Pens fan, I have a general dislike towards Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, it seems to come naturally. Does that mean that I am one of the people who say he is a horrible player and a horrible person? No. I would say he is a horrible rapper and guest in a 'rap' video from what I have seen on Youtube, but that is a different matter entirely.

There is no doubt that Alex Ovechkin is a great talent and an asset to the NHL at most times with the skill and attention he brings to the game of hockey. However, I do not believe that the NHL needs Ovechkin to attend this weekend's All Star Game. Ryan Kennedy, of the Hockey News seems to think differently. http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/44395-Kennedy-NHL-needs-Ovechkin-at-AllStar-Game.html


When Ovechkin was handed a 3- game suspension for a hit he delivered on Zbynek Michalek in a loss to the Pens, he decided that he did not deserve to be attending the All Star Game and that his heart was not in it. To me, this sounds like a player who is upset about a suspension and is acting a little childish. His excuse of saying he does not 'deserve' to attend because he is suspended seems like a great excuse to take a little vacation and sit and lick his own wounds, that he created himself. The NHL said he was still welcome to the NHL All Star Game when he was suspended and there is no doubt about that. The NHL knows that Sidney Crosby, arguably the league's best player, is out and they think they need Ovechkin to attend to salvage some of the viewers that they struggle to maintain for the event anyways.

Though, I do not think that is necessarily true. Ovechkin also said that his decision not to attend was based on the fact that he did not want to be a distraction with his suspension. No doubt his suspension would be a topic of conversation while at the event and is that really the kind of attention we want the NHL to be getting? 'NHL's top player receives suspension for hit to the head.'
I believe the NHL has a number of other players it can work on promoting rather than Alex Ovechkin. Also, we are aware that Ovechkin is not even having that great of a season. He is on pace to amass his lowest point total of his career this season and some hits he has been delivering have been questioned. Therefore, all the more reason to promote other players who are playing better hockey than Ovechkin for the All Star Game.

Evgeni Malkin, the best player in the league right now will be attending the All Star Game and is enough to promote the game. Though, as it turns out, the league has some other great talent, besides Ovechkin, Crosby and Malkin. It is up to the league to showcase other talents. Some superb goaltenders will be attending the All Star Game as well as some potent scorers. As much as it pains me to say it, the Flyers have some players attending that are playing well, not to mention Steven Stamkos and his league-leading 32 goals. James Neal, of the Pens, who will be taking Ovechkin's spot, has been on fire playing alongside Malkin. The list can go on and on.

Ovechkin currently sits at the 41st spot in scoring in the league and is suspended and he is the player we NEED at our All Star Game? If that's the player we need at our All Star Game, then I think we have bigger problems than Ovechkin not attending. Seems like the NHL needs to do a better job of promoting other players.

The All Star Game itself is not much of a must-see event and is not great with the ratings, but I don't think Ovechkin would help all that much if he would be attending. The problem is not the players attending and not attending so much, the bigger problem might just be the event itself. That is a whole other topic and issue though.

The NHL does not need Alex Ovechkin to attend the All Star Game. The NHL may not realize its own talents and personalities present within, but I do. I will watch the 2012 All Star Game and see the talent the NHL does have without some star players in attendance. I will see great skill and amazing talent and I won't be watching Alex Ovechkin.