Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin informed the NHL he will not participate in this year’s All-Star Game in San Jose.
Ovechkin, 33, was named the captain of the Metropolitan Division last week. However, the 2018 Conn Smythe winner has opted to rest his body.
“It’s all the little things right now,” Ovechkin said per Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. “You can take the short offseason, a long [playoff] run, but right now my body needs a rest. I’m not saying it’s sore or something, but for us I think it’s the right decision.”
Ovechkin has played in 202 consecutive regular season games, one game shy of his longest in his NHL career. That does not include the two postseason runs (37 games) during that span which included the Capitals winning their first-ever Stanley Cup championship in June. The wear and tear that associated with the such a playing stretch has persuaded Ovechkin to skip this year’s All-Star Game on Jan. 26.
Ovechkin thanked the fans for voting for him and noted that it was a difficult decision. He has missed just two appearances in his previous nine selections — 2012 and 2016 due to a lower-body injury.
The Capitals will play 12 games in January before the All-Star break. Then the team will have their one-week bye before returning to the ice on Feb. 1.
Per NHL policy, Ovechkin will have to sit out one game either directly before the All-Star Game or after it for skipping this year’s festivities.
Ovechkin leads the NHL with 29 goals and 21 even-strength goals to go with his 16 assists. He also is sporting a plus-13 rating in 38 games this season.
