2012 NHL All-Star Game: Alex Ovechkin Makes Selfish Call by Opting out

Let's face it, the NHL All-Star Weekend is all about the fans and their enjoyment. So, why did Alexander Ovechkin deny them of his usual fun-filled flair?

Because he supposedly believed it was the right thing to do.

On Monday, the Washington Capitals Captain was issued a three-game suspension without pay for his illegal hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek in Sunday's matchup.

This incident marks the third time in his career that Ovechkin has been suspended for a dirty hit; he has been fined twice before.

And, although both Alex himself and Capitals GM George McPhee don't think that this current incident deserved such a harsh punishment, the possibility has been brought up that Ovechkin is being judged for his overall repeat offenses.

Ovechkin defended that he was just playing his typical style of aggressive play and didn't believe it was in fact a dirty hit on Michalek.

At the same time, however, he issued a comment about his withdrawal from the All-Star Game, stating:

"

I love the game, it’s a great event, I 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. I got suspended, I have to be suspended, so that’s why I give up my roster [spot].

"

So on the one hand, I see Ovechkin's point for withdrawing his name from the All-Star roster if he felt that he didn't truly deserve to be there given his recent actions. What I don't understand is doing so if you don't believe that you really didn't anything wrong to begin with.Or do I?

This seems like a major conflict of interest, because if he really didn't want to be a target or interfere with the weekend, why would he then make such a bold choice as to opt out and deny the fans in such a way?  

The league was okay with letting him play—even given his suspension. He made the choice not to do so.

So, again I ask, why would Ovechkin make such a decision?

"Elementary, my dear Watson." To stick it to the NHL of course, who count on him for bringing in high ratings to the weekend's events and to the game in general.

The only problem with this is that while he busy sticking it to the league, he is at the same time letting the fans suffer as a result of this selfish act. 

Although it is not the case this year, I wonder if he would have made the same decision not to play if he would have been fined for denying to do so (as was the policy in years past).

Other players, such as Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, were happy to step up and take Ovi's place last night with his creative Superman-styled win of the breakaway challenge. 

I say, let him sit out. The weekend has no room for overpaid and spoiled hockey brats anyway!