Some-Stars Game

As has been reported several places today, Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk will be missing the All-Star Game in Montreal this weekend due to injury.

From Khan…

Datsyuk sustained a hip flexor during the third period of Tuesday’s 6-3 loss in Phoenix. Lidstrom, who scored two goals, finished the game, but apparently is still bothered by the ankle injury that caused him to miss two games Dec. 27-30, after he blocked a shot in Nashville.

I find it extremely interesting that the NHL made such a big deal about getting representatives from all 30 teams onto the rosters, only to replace the two Detroit representatives with a Star and a Shark in Stephane Robidas and Patrick Marleau.

Maybe Henrik Zetterberg and Marian Hossa declined the opportunity, like Brian Rafalski did last year (and I assume did again this year). Do you really mean to tell me, though, that Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson turned down the chance to go? Before you say they don’t deserve it, know that they both have similar or better stats than Colorado All-Star representative Milan Hejduk.

While I hate the NHL’s hypocrisy on the issue, it’s actually a relief for me. Snubbing the Wings means that I won’t be watching the game, which gives me three hours that I didn’t expect to have this weekend.