All-star injury ward
I have never, ever seen this number of all-star replacements:
Added to the Western Conference roster are Scott Niedermayer and Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars forward Mike Ribeiro. Named to the Eastern Conference roster are Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin and Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas.The curse of the all-star game?
The players named today replace Colorado Avalanche forward Paul Stastny, Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg, Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov, New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur and Penguins forward Sidney Crosby.
(And isn't it interesting how both starting netminders have quietly bowed out of participating. As far as I know, Brodeur's health is just fine.)
Labels: All-star game
by James Mirtle @ 2:42 PM
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11 comments
11 Comments:
Am I being unreasonable, or is naming somebody to the All-Star game who has played 17 games on the year (because he didn't feel like playing more than that, apparently) kind of dumb?
At this point, they may as well decide to re-schedule next year's ASG for after the postseason ends, like the NFL. Or just cancel the thing altogether -- lame.
And Steve, you're being completely reasonable.
And Alfredsson apparently still hasn't withdrawn despite his recent injury. So I assume there's one more replacement in the Eastern starting lineup.
Next press conference:
"Congratulations on being selected for the All-Star game!
Now wear this bubble-wrap suit and sign this pledge to only eat with plastic sporks."
given the number of drop outs, could this will be the year when Rory Fitzpatrick gets his shot? Just need a couple dozen more defensemen to drop out...
If not going is an option, why does any player go? I assume it's unpaid work. It's unwatchable. Really, just cancel it.
I'm sure things like "5 time All Star" come up during contract negotiations, so it's still important in that regard. Even if they don't show up.
If Neidermayer agrees to play in this game, and take away a spot from a player more deserving of the "honor" of playing in the All-Star game, he is even more selfish than I thought.
poploser, it's tough to have it both ways. I guess Scott's in a tough spot--he's selfish if he accepts the invitation and he's selfish if he decides he has better things to do than play in the ASG. I think the league was silly to invite Scott, but once the invite is out there, I think it's the proper thing to do to accept and attend. There's enough stars who skip this event each year who also get called 'selfish'.
Earl:
I'll give you that he is in a tight spot, but he has an easy out that is both (1) right, and (2) makes him seem like the good guy he allegedly is. He says "I appreciate the league's faith in me, and I have always enjoyed the All-Star game and the honor of playing in it, but there are other players who are more deserving of this honor this year."
Yeah, he probably does have an out. Still, I find it tough to criticize Scott for his ambassadorship; when the league calls he answers (whether deserved or not). It's not a quality that I think we should slam him for, even though there is plenty of criticism that should be directed at whoever invited him.
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