( ) ...and thus will be suspended for one game:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ho ... story.html

"Jonathan Toews told the NHL he is too sick to participate in Sunday's All-Star game in Nashville. The league, in turn, told Toews he is then too sick to play for the Hawks when they return from the break on Tuesday.

Toews backed out of this weekend's activities citing an illness that limited his playing time in the Hawks' 5-0 loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday.


By NHL rules, Toews also now will be suspended one Blackhawks game — against the Avalanche — for pulling out of the All-Star Game.

"Jonathan was pulled (in the) third period because of an illness and remains symptomatic (Thursday)," Hawks team physician Michael Terry said in a statement. "At this time, rest over the break is most important for him to properly recover and be fully healthy heading into the rest of the regular season."

Toews played just 10 minutes, 7 seconds in the loss to the Hurricanes, well below his season average of 19:42 per game. According to NHL rules, Toews could have sat out the Hawks' game against the Hurricanes to serve his suspension but opted to try to play to see if his condition would improve before the week was out. It did not, at least not enough.

Hawks winger Patrick Kane is expected to participate in Sunday's All-Star Game.

Toews joins Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin as two of the NHL's biggest stars to miss the game. Ovechkin is withdrawing because of an injury. James Neal of the Predators is replacing Toews on the All-Star roster while Evgeny Kuznetsov is replacing Ovechkin.

NHL opens a big, new can of stupid with Jonathan Toews suspension
NHL opens a big, new can of stupid with Jonathan Toews suspension
An NHL spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

The rule, in effect since 2008, is intended to ensure its players participate in the star-studded exhibition that has come under criticism in recent years for its lack of appeal and competitiveness.

Toews and Ovechkin are not the only ones to receive this punishment.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby missed a regular-season game after pulling out of last season's event in Columbus while the Red Wings' duo of Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom missed a regular-season game for skipping out on the 2009 affair.

chine@tribpub.com

Twitter @ChristopherHine

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Not a mult.

Holding Toews out of the All-Star Game and beyond was what I said the team should do weeks ago.

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