Opting out of the All-Star Game: Yea or nay?

by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 1, 2012 7:04 AM EST in 2012 NHL All-Star Game

OTTAWA, Ontario - As exciting as All-Star Weekend was here in Ottawa, the lead-up included nearly as much discussion of the players who wouldn't be at the game as those who would. Injuries kept Mikko Koivu, Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Dustin Byfuglien out of the game, so it's difficult to fault them, but others just decided they didn't want to go for personal reasons.

This latter group included most notably Alexander Ovechkin, but also respected veterans like Teemu Selanne and Nicklas Lidstrom. If a player is likely to be selected to go to the All-Star Game, should it be so easy to choose not to?

On Media Day during this past weekend's festivities, Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen made his thoughts on the issue abundantly clear.

"I always think this is your personal choice, but, for the fans, I don't think it's right [to opt out of the game]," Timonen said. "The fans are the ones who pay our salary, and that kind of stuff. They wanted to see [Ovechkin]. He's one of the best players in the world. But at the same time, it's been a long season for him, maybe he's got a tiny injury or something, but as a fan I wanted to see him here."

Brian Elliott acknowledged that it would be hard to make any sort of rules against opting out of the All-Star Game, just like Timonen did, but insisted that he'd never say no to the opportunity--and that for everyone who opts out, there are lots of guys who'd love the chance to play in the All-Star Game.

"You can't really make a restriction on it, guys are going to have to opt out of it injury-wise, or resting certain things, so I think that's inevitable. If you opt out, I'm sure there are tonnes of guys in the league who would love to be here. You do whatever you need to do, but I would never turn down something like this."

Mandating attendance to the All-Star Game isn't likely something that could be done, even if the league used fines in the past to discourage opting out without good reason. But an All-Star Game without all the (healthy) stars isn't really an All-Star Game, is it?

Poll

Should the league try to mandate attendance to the NHL All-Star Game?

No, the decision should be up to the individual players.

48 votes

Yes, but there isn't a way to do so effectively.

21 votes

Yes, they should use fines to discourage opting out.

10 votes

Yes, they should simply not allow healthy players to opt out.

32 votes

I don't know.

6 votes

117 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Elliott is correct

there are lots of guys in the league that would love to be there. However, it is supposed to be the best players, the all-stars, not just any guys.

by DaveYoung on Feb 1, 2012 8:38 AM EST reply actions

I didn't vote.

I think there should be rules, but there should also be exceptions. I think there should be an age cut-off, at which point you can start opting out. Guys like Lidstrom and Selanne are older, and need the rest to keep up the rest of the season. Ovechkin should have had to go.

Drew Brees- the REAL MVP.

by Alex Swift on Feb 1, 2012 9:25 AM EST reply actions

I'm with you

I think that players who are 35 and older can opt out if they want, but those younger should definitely attend. Whether to mandate it or not… hard to say.

Co-manager, Silver Seven

by DarrenM on Feb 1, 2012 10:05 AM EST up reply actions

I feel like at 35 you've earned the right.

by The Tif on Feb 1, 2012 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

You're all probably right

And that makes some sense.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 2, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions

I voted no

If Ovechkin (or anyone else) didn’t want to be there, by forcing them to be there, it’s not like they are going to put on a show.

Ovechkin specifically was in a lose-lose situation, if he doesn’t show up, he gets asked why not. If he did show up, he’d be probably asked if he feels he deserves to be there if he is suspended. I think this was a unique situation.

I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Feb 1, 2012 9:59 AM EST reply actions

He could have done what Crosby did.

Say “I respect the suspension, and so shouldn’t be there. But I will be in Ottawa, and participate in the festivities off the ice.”

Same as what others have done. You put in your time, kiss some babies, sign autographs etc.

by The Tif on Feb 1, 2012 9:21 PM EST up reply actions

No Out

Obviously there should be an injury exception but aside from that I say no. The contracts that the players sign are with the league and the respective team. Their job is to play hockey. The All Star game is just one of those games you have to play for free in a season, just like the playoffs, which they also can’t opt out of.

Ovechkin was being a sulky primadonna. Too bad if he gets asked tough questions. Every job comes with it’s downside but most of us do not get to play a kid’s game for millions of dollars a year. Suspended players should have to play as the purpose suspensions serve do not apply to the all star game, namely diminishing the players teams strength and costing the player financially.

The fear of injury or older players arguement also does not carry any significant weight. No one gets injured in the all star game, it is powderpuff hockey. If there is so much concern that a veteran player will be extra tired in playing at max 20 of a game that he has 2 days rest on either side of, then his team, and not the player should have to make application to the leage to hold the player out.

by Drockidy on Feb 1, 2012 10:13 AM EST reply actions

Opting out is selfish.

It hurts their image, the league image and the team image, and it hurts league revenues and it hurts their NHLPA brethern. Ovechkin, Lidstrom, Selanne put people in the seats and glue eyes to their screens. Companies such as Bridgestone, Molson, Blackberry etc spend big money to sponsor these events & to have advertising live at the venue and commercial spots on tv. They spend this money based on brand exposure. The more exposure there is, the more the league and its TV partners can charge for that exposure. All that money goes into the League Revenues, which we know is directly tied to the Salary Cap. The higher the salary cap, the more the players get paid. So by having these players opt out of the game, it is harming the income earning potential of their union brothers.
In Canada, its not such a big deal. Highest viewership numbers ever for an NHL AllStar game & Skills Competion & Fantasy Draft. Great. But when you’re trying to sell your sport to Americans, & the American companies with the big money, they aren’t worried about Canadian viewership. They’re worried if the biggest stars in the league are going to be at the event, because if they are, more people tune in, and therefore more exposure. Companies pay for that. If they aren’t, viewers turn out and the companies sponsorship dollars are not nearly as effective.
Good luck to the NHL selling the big dollar sponsorships next year for the 2013 game in Columbus with no guarantees that the games biggest stars in Ovechkin & Crosby will be there, and are able to simply choose to not go.

Bring back the one game suspension if the player who chooses not to go plays in either the team game immediately preceeding or immediately following the All-Star game. The league has to do something to protect its revenue.

Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.

by havey03 on Feb 1, 2012 10:28 AM EST reply actions

The ASG

I can’t imagine that playing a scrimmage game is mentally, or physically, taxing. Sure, players would rather get some R&R on a beach somewhere than spend it in a winter trap like Ottawa but, judging by the number of players I saw imbibing on the devil’s water at bars across this city this weekend, I think they got some fun in too and recharged the old batteries.

Unless someone can post some facts about how players per game totals decreased after the ASG, I think players should continue to attend. This isn’t the Olympics were players are giving it their all for two weeks and then coming back for the stretch run.

by The Dutch Treat on Feb 1, 2012 11:01 AM EST reply actions

Do it like MLB

Winner gets home team advantage in the finals.
OR (getting creative here)
All teams are awarded an extra point for their regular season record. If a player declines to represent then the team gives up that point.

by Sir Real Ism on Feb 1, 2012 12:28 PM EST reply actions

Now THAT...

is thinking outside the box. That second suggestion is strangely appealing.

ALFIE! ALFIE! ALFIE!

by BigSlice on Feb 1, 2012 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

Not a fan

There’s already a lot of point inflation thanks to three-point games. Giving a bonus point to half the teams in the league? No thanks.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 1, 2012 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

Players should be allowed to opt-out from voting

If you are not voted in as an all-star, you do not have to go, but if you do not ask to be removed from ballots, then you should go.

5 times all-star would become “an all-star once long time ago”, and I hope at least some would decide to come for pride… Ovi – you suck! That was another low by #8!

I know that, that doesn't matter, I know you Mr. Rainey, that's what matters. You stole my story.

by TaBu on Feb 1, 2012 12:59 PM EST reply actions