Article content

Auston Matthews can’t blame Alex Ovechkin.

At the same time, Matthews can see the other side of the all-star argument as well.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Matthews understands Ovechkin's all-star conundrum Back to video

Ovechkin, the superstar captain of the Washington Capitals, announced on Wednesday that he will skip the National Hockey League all-star game on Jan. 26 in San Jose despite being voted by fans as captain of the Metropolitan Division.

The 33-year-old Ovechkin cited rest as his reason for begging off, though it will come with the price of a one-game suspension. NHL fans who were looking forward to watching Ovechkin — who has participated in the all-star game seven times, including in each of the past two years — in the event now won’t have that luxury.

Going into games on Wednesday, Ovechkin leads the NHL with 29 goals.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

“A guy like him has been in the playoffs every year, was in the (Stanley) Cup final last year, had a short summer, so I can understand why (Ovechkin would drop out),” Matthews said after the Maple Leafs practised at the MasterCard Centre on Wednesday.