Evgeny Kuznetsov will replace his Washington Capitals teammate Alex Ovechkin, and James Neal of the Nashville Predators will replace Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks at this weekend’s N.H.L. All-Star Game.
Ovechkin pulled out of All-Star weekend with a lower-body injury that the Capitals said had been bothering him since mid-November. Toews left Chicago’s game Tuesday with an illness.
By N.H.L. rule, Ovechkin and Toews are suspended for the first game after the All-Star Game break.
The N.H.L. is debuting a three-on-three All-Star tournament this year to replace the traditional game. It takes place Sunday in Nashville.