Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Coach Mike Johnston didn’t even know about the policy.
Neither did right wing Craig Adams, the Penguins’ NHLPA representative.
Sidney Crosby, who should be able to resume skating Tuesday and theoretically may have been recovered enough from a lower-body injury to play against the Winnipeg Jets, is banned from the game because he didn’t participate in the NHL All-Star Game.
“If that was something we (NHLPA) bargained for, I missed that one,” Adams said. “My bad. I didn’t know it existed.”
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to the Tribune-Review via email that players elected to the All-Star Game may not participate in their next regular season game, no matter the severity of the injury or when it occurred, if they don’t play in the All-Star Game.
You finding this out for the first time:
A pit hits your stomach immediately. At this point, you suddenly remember you rattled off this tweet yesterday after you found out that Alex Ovechkin would be skipping this year’s NHL All-Star game in San Jose so he could take advantage of some much needed rest:
Alex Ovechkin puts Sidney Crosby in an even brighter light. Sid wouldn’t miss the All-Star game because it’s good for the game.
Ahem, Alex.Surprised the NHL is powerless in this situation.
— Dan Kingerski 🇺🇦 (@TheDanKingerski) January 2, 2019
Fuck. You’re wrong (again).
And worst of all, your mentions are starting to pile up left and right with people letting you know you don’t know what you’re talking about (as usual).
This take made me want to smash open the window of this airplane, deprive everyone of oxygen, and throw my phone out the window https://t.co/jlIXWpHFNZ
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) January 2, 2019
Didn’t Sid do the same thing in 2015?
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) January 2, 2019
Sid has skipped the game more than once, Dan.
— Nick Case, Summer Enjoyer (@Nick422) January 2, 2019
You begin to panic:
And to add insult to injury, a ratio begins developing.
Yikes!
But then you take a moment to think about it for a second. You begin to calm down as you slowly remind yourself one very important thing not everyone knows about you – you’re the fucking man and everyone should know it.
So what do you do?
You think about it some more:
.
.
.
.
.
DOUBLE DOWN, BABBY!
Yeah I don’t mind when good peeps like @SaraCivian and @MarkLazerus throw some snark my way for a bad opinion.
Others hoping on a soapbox get a bit annoying.
I don’t recall Sid brazenly skipping the game. 🤷♂️— Dan Kingerski 🇺🇦 (@TheDanKingerski) January 2, 2019
TAKE THAT, HATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
P.S. – By the way, here is the correct opinion about the Alex Ovechkin/All-Star Game situation (i.e. The Peep Take™): If you’re a Capitals fan, you absolutely love this. Any time your 33-year old franchise captain can take eight consecutive days off (or nine in this case since he will be getting suspended for a game either immediately before or after the break) without missing any game action and heal up for a playoff stretch run, you absolutely take full advantage of it. In fact, it’s quite possibly the biggest no-brainer in the history of no-brainers.
Now, on the other hand, I do understand how people forking over pretty pennies to witness the All-Star Game festivities live in San Jose would be upset about this. Folks at home, too. Ultimately, people are tuning in to witness guys like Ovi and Sid compete in a truly unique and spectacled event. But do you think a 33-year old, 10-time All-Star who’s slowly but surely approaching the final stages of his career gives a flying fuck about that nonsense anymore? Fuck no. His sights are set on winning another Stanley Cup. And if I’m being totally honest, Sid should consider skipping it, too.
Nine days off (if he would skip the game and get suspended) wouldn’t be so bad if the Penguins continue to beat the wheels off of every opponent in sight like they’ve done over the past seven games.
But the NHL is stupid and Sid would never do this again like he did (unknowingly) four years ago so don’t get your hopes up. That’s just how it is.
Go Pens.
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