Nicklas Lidstrom and Teemu Selanne are two of the names curiously absent from the 2012 NHL All-Star Game roster, which was fully announced by the league on Thursday afternoon.
But were these guys really snubbed? How the hell could they not be selected to the game? They're future Hall of Famers! Well, turns out they were invited, but they politely declined participation in the game. After all, they are both pretty old and could use the rest.
Okay, so a few sure-fire All-Stars turned down their nods. But what about other guys, like perhaps rookie Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers or Scott Hartnell of the Philadelphia Flyers?
In the case of these teams, they both already have multiple All-Stars heading to Ottawa, and there's the requirement in place that all teams have at least one representative.
A guy like Hartnell likely missed his spot thanks to the fact that he has better teammates that were named to the game, and a guy like Hagelin likely missed the game because teams like the Colorado Avalanche and the Columbus Blue Jackets were relying on one of the few rookie spots available to get their lone representative in the game. Then, there's Alex Ovechkin, stealing a spot from somebody...
For full coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa, check in with our StoryStream.
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