Jaromir Jagr doesn’t want to play in the All-Star Game. That’s not exactly a new sentiment as he had previously joked during the fan voting that the new 3-on-3 format would kill him. Now it sounds like he’s a bit more serious and it’s raising some questions on what’s going to happen with roughly a week to go before the game.
#FlaPanthers Jaromir Jagr really doesn't want to go to AllStarGame…says team has 30 important games left, he needs to be ready. Stay tuned
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) January 23, 2016
Jagr makes a good point, but the predicament he and the Panthers are facing is the same one other NHL teams are facing. Do you really think any of the teams in a tight playoff race want their star(s) exerting themselves in an exhibition? Of course not.
What would happen if Jagr was to suddenly come down with an “injury” prior to the All-Star Game? He’d likely have to sit out the Panthers’ first game following the break.
If Jaromir Jagr was to skip AllStarGame trip w/ 'injury,' he would likely have to sit out #FlaPanthers game at #Caps after break.
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) January 23, 2016
This precedent was seen back in 2009 when the NHL had Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom sit out the next Red Wings game after the All-Star Game after the duo decided to skip the event.
The NHL has to uphold any situation where players purposely skip the All-Star Game as they’d have a difficult time promoting and selling the event to fans if all the best players stayed home. The game is supposed to be just for fun and it might wear down some players who are in a tough playoff battle, but it’s important to remember who this is for – the fans.
