Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is choosing to skip the 2020 All-Star Game and will opt to rest for the second half of the season. The news was first reported by The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir.
This is the second consecutive year Ovechkin has chose a suspension over participating in All-Star Weekend. The Great Eight skipped last year’s game after winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in his career.
NEWS: Alex Ovechkin has decided to skip this year’s All-Star Game. At 34, he wants to ensure he’s physically ready for the second half of the season and playoffs.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) December 28, 2019
“Thanks, first of all, to fans for voting me,” Ovechkin said. “It’s a hard decision. I have to listen to my body. I have to get ready for the second half of the year. I have to be healthy and focus on different things. It’s hard decision obviously being captain in All-Star Game but I have to do what’s best for me and my team.”
Ovechkin will have to sit out one game before or after the All-Star Game.
Ovechkin was first announced captain of the Metropolitan Division All-Stars on December 19. It was the fourth time he had been voted in for the honor. But when asked about the nod, Ovechkin was noncommittal he’d participate.
“We’ll see,” he said according to NBC Sports Washington. “It’s lots of games to play. I’m going to do the best for my health and for the playoffs and I have to be healthy for the most important games moving forward.”
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