The NHL All-Star Game is almost here. Instead of who’s on the roster, one of the hottest topics has been who may or may not be on the roster. After weeks of speculation, it’s official. Sidney Crosby announced today that he will not be participating in this year’s NHL All-Star Game due to the lingering symptoms of his concussion.
The NHL was giving Crosby (along with other currently injured players Evgeni Malkin and Ales Hemsky) until Friday to announce whether or not they would be able to play. The league, as well as fans, were holding out hope that Crosby would be able to play. After all, prior to his injury, he’s been the most prolific player this year.
Alas, it was not meant to be. Crosby and the Penguins are putting the star’s health first, as they should. As Crosby said in his media scrum, “People say mild concussion, but I’m not sure there’s such a thing. It’s a serious thing.” Since Crosby is still recovering, and has yet to be even cleared to resume skating, he and the Penguins decided to go ahead and announce he wouldn’t be competing, instead of leaving it to the last minute.
What does the face of the league’s absence mean for the All-Star Game? Unfortunately, Crosby hasn’t played in an All-Star Game since 2007 due to injury. Most recently, he missed the 2009 game in Montreal due to a knee injury. However, since the league was (and is) still fighting for attention, Crosby did them a favor and still attended the festivities.
Crosby won’t be travelling to Raleigh though this year. Luckily for the league, they announced a new format for the All-Star Game as their gimmick this year. Hopefully, the new format will build excitement and cause viewers to still tune in to the All-Star Game.
Honestly, I don't think it makes a difference whether Crosby attends or doesn't attend the All-Star Game. If he had missed the Winter Classic, the playoffs, or the Olympics with a concussion, then it would be a big deal.
Sure, the game is still a competition, but it's played for fun and to showcase the league's top talents. Crosby is one of those top talents, but with all the other top names, his presence won't have a huge impact.
But the All-Star Game is really for those flashy personalities to show off in the skills competition. Crosby has never been one of those flashy personalities, a fact that he's been criticized for in the past. It's also another way for the league to show off their top talent and attract new fans.
Crosby's presence will be missed for that, but it's more important for him to focus on his health. That makes him an even bigger role model for young hockey players, showing them that they need to be wary of their health. This reflects even better on the league, having smart players like Crosby will portray a better image for the face of the NHL.
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