New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad was voted into the NHL All-Star Game but will be unable to attend the event due to personal reasons.
New York Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad has been selected as an NHL All-Star through the Last Men In fan vote, but will not be going to the event due to personal reasons.
Zibanejad, 28, has been selected to his first career All-Star Game and is the third member of the Rangers (Chris Kreider and Adam Fox) to be selected to the event in Las Vegas on February 5.
Zibanejad put a post out via his Instagram account stating that he had to fly to Sweden for personal reasons and was unable to attend the All-Star game next month.
Thank you to all of the fans who voted for me to play in the 2022 NHL All-Star Game. Unfortunately, due to a personal situation in Sweden, I will be unable to attend this year.
Being an NHL All-Star, and representing the Rangers with Kreids and Foxy, would have been an absolute thrill. Thank you to everyone for understanding.
Pittsburgh Penguins Jake Guentzel will replace Zibanejad.
Per NHL rules, a player who is named to the All-Star Game but does not participate is suspended for one regular-season game, either immediately preceding or following the All-Star break.
A source, Forever Blueshirts, has told me that the New York Rangers have stated that Zibanejad will not be suspended for missing the game.