All-Star Game Suspension Rule

[Mike 0]

So, the rule as I understand it says that if a player is voted to an All-Star game and plays in part of the last game before the All-Star break, he must attend the All-Star game events. If he does not attend the All-Star game events, he is suspended for the first game after the All-Star break. My question to Bettman is, what if a player suffers a major injury in the last game before the All-Star break? Are you going to suspend him for having a torn ACL, a broken ankle, etc.? This is similar to Datsyuk's case. Datsyuk did not suffer a major injury, but he did suffer an injury in the last game before the All-Star break. Now, Datsyuk will be suspended because of said injury. Bettman is setting a dangerous precedent. Next thing you know, Bettman will be suspending everyone for getting injured because it will reduce the revenue of the NHL.

[lets go pavel 2]

So, the rule as I understand it says that if a player is voted to an All-Star game and plays in part of the last game before the All-Star break, he must attend the All-Star game events. If he does not attend the All-Star game events, he is suspended for the first game after the All-Star break. My question to Bettman is, what if a player suffers a major injury in the last game before the All-Star break? Are you going to suspend him for having a torn ACL, a broken ankle, etc.? This is similar to Datsyuk's case. Datsyuk did not suffer a major injury, but he did suffer an injury in the last game before the All-Star break. Now, Datsyuk will be suspended because of said injury. Bettman is setting a dangerous precedent. Next thing you know, Bettman will be suspending everyone for getting injured because it will reduce the revenue of the NHL.

I'm not sure he's actually "suspended" ... it sounds like he just has to sit out, and if he doesn't then there will be further punishment?

[MacK_Attack 108]

If a guy tears an ACL right before the All-Star game, he won't be suspended because there's no chance he'll be playing right after the All-Star game.

[Blueliner 69]

I'm not sure he's actually "suspended" ... it sounds like he just has to sit out, and if he doesn't then there will be further punishment?

That is my understanding of the situation. They aren't actually suspended. They just have to "sit out" to verify that they are actually injured and not just saying they're hurt. To me Datsyuk should be excluded because he proved he was injured by missing most of the third period against Phoenix. And Lidstrom should be excluded because he's played in the last nine or ten all-star games and should have some kind of seniority deal that allows him not to go.

[Icesurfer 75]

There is no "rule". Buttman is making everything up as he goes along. Buttman is pissed because the most watched hockey team throughout the US is snubbing his game.

Does it count if Babcock wears a Lidstrom jersey????

[egroen 384]

I believe the rule is you must play in the game if you are voted in or named as a player. A player not playing because of an injury must also miss the game immediately preceding or following the ASG.

The exception, which was just created today, states: If you attend the All STAR GAME, or your name is Sidney Crosby, you do not have to miss a game if you are injured.

[HockeytownRN 0]

And in the rule it states that said All-Star participants will not be notified that they will actually ENFORCE the rule until said participants are ouf of the Country, the day before the All-Star game is to start (and after Crosby arrives in Montreal).