Winnipeg Jets winger Blake Wheeler has turned down a chance to go to the NHL all-star game in Nashville.

The league asked Wheeler if he'd like to fill in for Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who'll miss the game because of an illness.

But Wheeler declined because he had plans with his family, the Jets confirmed on Thursday.

Wheeler is in a tie for seventh place in NHL scoring with 48 points, the most on his team. He has 13 goals and a team-leading 35 assists.

His decision to not attend leaves defenceman Dustin Byfuglien as the only member of the Jets who'll be in Nashville.

Toews and Washington's Alex Ovechkin, both voted into the game by fans, have pulled out of the festivities, drawing automatic one-game suspensions from the league.

Ovechkin is dealing with a lower-body injury, while Toews left Chicago's game against Carolina, Tuesday, with an illness.

Both the Capitals and Blackhawks released statements explaining their decisions to hold their star players out of all-star weekend.