Hockey Hall of Famer Brett Hull was at the St. Louis Blues game Thursday night to participate in the ceremonial faceoff.
Hull, an eight-time All-Star, was joined by two-time All-Star Bernie Federko and 12-time All Star Al MacInnis to drop the puck between captains Alex Ovechkin and Alex Pietrangelo.
The legends were invited to the game to celebrate and promote the Blues’ being named the hosts of the 2020 All-Star Game.
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That's one good-looking puck drop. #stlblues #NHLAllStarGame pic.twitter.com/RaCcz5r2G7
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) January 4, 2019
Hull, one of the few players on planet earth to score more goals than Ovechkin (741 to 636), discussed the Russian machine’s recent decision to drop out of the 2019 All-Star Game with The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford.
Ovechkin, who played in his 203rd consecutive game Thursday, is skipping the game so he can rest for the Capitals’ second half of the season and playoff run. If you count the regular season, All-Star Game, and playoffs, Ovi played in 107 games last year.
Regardless, Hull said he believes it’s important Ovechkin, one of the league’s top stars, play in the game to give it legitimacy and help grow the game. Hull also suggested that the league would have found ways to make the weekend less tiring for Ovechkin if he would have gone.
Hull on Ovechkin not going to 2019 AS game: "I wish a guy like Alex Ovechkin would play. I know they get tired and what-not. But still I think he should play. They could make it so he doesn't have to do a whole bunch of things. But the fans deserve to see a superstar like him."
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) January 4, 2019
Hull cont'd: "If you're injured, you're injured … but this is to grow the game. I know we have enough great players that as much as he'll be missed, we have enough to entertain the fans. But still, I know as a fan of Alex Ovechkin, I'd love to see him live in a 3-on-3 game."
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) January 4, 2019
Last of Hull: "He just won the Stanley Cup, he had a long summer and I understand that. But I'd still like all the superstars come out and pay their respects to the fans, but you know, it is what it is." #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) January 4, 2019
Ovechkin has played in seven career All-Star Games while missing three others he’s been named to.
During the Capitals’ 5-2 loss, Ovechkin scored a goal, his 30th of the season, becoming the second player ever to score 30 goals in 14 consecutive seasons to begin their career.
