Injury updates, plus the latest on Jakub Voracek, Rick Nash, Patrik Elias, Brian Elliott and Filip Forsberg.
Injuries prevent Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby from participating in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game.
TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (lower-body injury) won’t be attending the upcoming NHL All-Star Game in Columbus, joining teammate Evgeni Malkin on the sidelines. The Penguins got more bad news, as defenseman Kris Letang (concussion) is out indefinitely.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: NHL.com’s Dan Rosen notes the 2007 NHL All-Star Game is the only one Crosby has participated in .
THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson will miss the All-Star Game with a lower-body injury.
STLTODAY.COM: St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott has been named as Sergei Bobrovsky’s replacement at the All-Star Game.
THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg has been named as Evgeni Malkin’s replacement at the All-Star Game.
PHILLY.COM: Philadelphia Flyers winger Jakub Voracek heads into the All-Star Game as the NHL’s leading scorer, healthy in body and mind.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Examining how New York Rangers winger Rick Nash regained his scoring touch.
NORTHJERSEY.COM: New Jersey Devils veteran Patrik Elias intends to enjoy what could be his final All-Star Game appearance.
NBC SPORTS: Chicago Blackhawks winger Kris Versteeg (left hand injury) could be sidelined another four week.
Anyone else hate that rule where a player has to sit out the first game after the All Star weekend if they don’t play in the game?
Why hate it? If you are injured, there is no issue sitting out that first game. It is to ensure that players don’t simply “pass” on the All-Star game. Its punishment for the player if he isn’t really injured and chooses not to participate. Not that it matters to me because I haven’t watched an All-Star game properly since I was about 12 years old back when the league had the purple and teal jerseys.