Alexander Ovechkin took the game ban imposed as punishment for withdrawing from the NHL All Star game for the second consecutive year. Now Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask has followed suit, claiming it is a “selfish decision” to spend time with his family and rest ahead of a playoff run in June.
Ovechkin, when he announced his withdrawal, claimed he had “to listen” to his body, which make sense considering the physical nature of the game. But it also raises the questions, why don’t more star players do this, especially those on Playoff contending teams, and what can the NHL do to counter it?
As a Colorado Avalanche fan I was relieved when Cale Makar was beaten by David Perron in the ‘Last Man In’ voting and in all honestly would have no problem with Nathan MacKinnon withdrawing, if he was to do so, either. Both players will be a crucial part of the Avalanche Stanley Cup run, should they make it considering their recent results, and a week of rest, rehabilitating and relaxation seem much more beneficial than a trip to St Louis to take part in contests that are, at least to me, meaningless.
The problem arising for the NHL is if too many players withdraw and the first game back after the All Star break, likely the game both Ovechkin and Rask will miss for their respective teams, becomes less appealing to fans with viewership and attendance down.
Boston are currently seven points clear of Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic and replacing Rask for one game will likely not bother coach Bruce Cassidy who has Jaroslav Halak as a more than capable backup. Rask’s save percentage is .925. Halak’s is .923. If your goaltender is going to miss a game, having that level of backup and a little point cushion in the standings is more than ideal.
Washington are not in as good a situation as the Bruins, but are still in pole position in the Metropolitan division two points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins. However if they want to make a deep playoff run a healthy Ovechkin is essential and at 31 years old the time his body will get to recuperate could be the difference for the 2018 Stanley Cup winners.
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It’s not what the NHL wants to hear ahead of a weekend they hope will help grow the game, but in future years it may be something they’ll have to deal with more and more unless something changes.
