All Star game no longer so fetchin', for Alex Ovechkin

He's suggesting all the right things, how he respects the annual get together, enjoys the interaction with the players and the fans and all of that, but, considering it all, Alex Ovechkin is sending his regrets, with his heart apparently not into it, he won't be in Ottawa for this weekend's All Star game.

"My heart is not there. I [got] suspended, so why I have to go there?" Ovechkin said. "I love the game; it's great event. I'd love to be there, but I'm suspended. I don't want to be a target. I feel I'm not deserving to be there right now. If I suspended, I have to be suspended. That's why I give up my roster [spot]."

Ovechkin, who has been suspended for three games by NHL Player Safety Poobah Brendan Shanahan, has decided he doesn't want to be a "distraction" at the weekend event and thus won't take to the ice in the game or the skill competition.

A move that is apparently baked up by Capitals management, who like Ovechkin say this has nothing to do with feeling that Shanahan's discipline was too strong, but rather just something that they feel is best for the All Star game.

And, in related news, swampland is now on sale in Florida...  bridges in Brooklyn are available for a reasonable price...

The move to not go to Ottawa leaves you will all the appearances of the Capitals and their star deciding to send a message to the NHL, that if they want to remove the stars from game through suspension then this is the net result of such over bearing enforcement of the rules.

Never mind the fact that in this case Ovechkin, did indeed leave his feet in the incident in question and has been criticized for past behaviour and all of that, somehow the bad is on Shanahan.

Anyways, we're sure he'll keep busy somehow, perhaps  Ovie needs to work on his next music video or something.

The NHL seemingly has no interest in picking a fight with their marquee attraction,nor with the Capitals management over the decision to sit this one out (i.e.: with a one game suspension or fine), but one has to wonder if this doesn't really devalue what ever lustre the All Star game (in name only these days it seems) has in the current configuration.

Between players that bow out of the honour, and those that are too injured to compete, we now can add a pass to those who feel just a little bit petulant over the NHL's discipline.

At this rate, those wise fans in Ottawa that were stuffing the ballot box may have been on to something, with the list of "stars" that aren't going to come to the party, at least by picking Senators the Ottawa fans are providing a guarantee that somebody is going to show up for the game...

Globe and Mail-- Suspended Ovechkin to skip all-star game
National Post-- Alexander Ovechkin will skip the NHL All-Star Game, thank you very much
New York Times-- Suspended Ovechkin chooses not to attend All-Star Game
TSN-- Capitals' Ovechkin taking a pass on NHL All Star Game
Sportsnet-- Ovechkin right to skip All-Star Game?
Washington Post-- Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, 2 time NHL MVP, to skip All-Star game...
Washington Times-- Caps' Ovechkin withdraws from NHL All Star Game
Washington Post-- Alex Ovechkin won't attend NHL All-Star Game following suspension
USA Today-- Suspended Ovechkin skips All Star Game
Yahoo Sports-- Alex Ovechkin pulls out of NHL All-Star Game...