Mark Madden’s Hot Take: NHL wants Russian stars at all-star event but without political backlash

All-star games are passe and should be eliminated. They’ve been non-competitive for years, becoming a parody of the sport played.

But they generate revenue. So, they continue.

Of particular disdain is the NHL all-star event, made to look even more toothless by alternating with international hockey. This past Olympic tournament is the toughest possible act to follow.

The NHL will prop up the international format when it visits Long Island for its all-star extravaganza next Feb. 5-6, utilizing a five-team three-0n-three tournament featuring the U.S., Canada, Finland, Sweden and a squad from the “rest of the world.”

Three-on-three overtime at the Olympics was spectacular.

Three-on-three in an all-star format will be limp, lifeless, lacking intensity. Those jingoistic juices will not get flowing. It’s not the same. The integrity of international hockey will be compromised.

Of greater offense is the “rest of the world” team.

It’s pointedly mentioned that Russian players will be included.

Which means Russia won’t have its own team.

Putin bad, viva Ukraine, ignore any U.S. malfeasance, Russia is banned, etc.

Russia’s stars should just say nyet. Decline participation.

Russia is one of the two biggest hockey nations of all time, dogfighting with Canada over that status.

Politics and sport shouldn’t mix.

Russia should have been in these last Olympics. America’s flag-waving and legitimate pride in accomplishment duly noted, the result of the men’s hockey tournament was diluted by Russia’s absence.

But at least the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation (for that governing body’s world tournaments) have the guts to tell Russia no.

The NHL wants to have their borscht and eat it, too.

Dodge the political fallout of letting a Russian team play.

But get the drawing power (such as it is) of letting Russian stars play.

Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, great goaltenders like Igor Shesterkin, old-school legends like Alexander Ovechkin and the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin need to form a united front and tell the NHL to let Russia play, or we won’t.

That won’t happen.

If Russian hockey players haven’t put up a fuss about being banned from the Olympics and the worlds, they won’t do it for this.

But they should.

Because this stinks.