NHL completely forgets about fan vote as they name Auston Matthew's All-Star Game replacement

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Brett Thomas Wills
January 27, 2023 (2:49 PM)

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The National Hockey League All-Star Game Is a little more than a week away and today the Toronto Maple Leafs released a statement that center Auston Matthews will be forced to miss the annual event. Matthews is nursing what the team is describing as a knee sprain.

But fear not hockey fans as the NHL has announced that Florida Panthers' center Aleksander Barkov will replace him. The Panthers captain has 13 goals and 43 points through 40 games this season.

While many believed that Toronto's William Nylander, who is having a career year, should have replaced Matthews, the National Hockey League appears to be pandering to the hometown fans in Sunrise as the festivities are set to take place at FLA Live Arena. Nonetheless, Leafs fans could still get their wish as Nylander may still get a chance to play as other players drop out closer to the event; but only time will tell.

For most fans the All-Star Game has lost most of its value. With every team being represented this no longer looks like an 'All Star' game as mid range players are seeing time at these events. There is a reason that other sports work so hard to make their all-star game meaningful while the NHL tries to sell jerseys in every single market.

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