Sidney Crosby out of All-Star Game with lower body injury

In one day the NHL lost a Vezina Trophy winner and two former Hart Trophy winners from its All-Star Game roster.

Sergei Bobrovsky, gone. Evgeni Malkin, gone. The latest? Sidney Crosby ... with a "lower body" injury. You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding Me.

The Penguins posted this release:

Penguins forward Sidney Crosby will miss the 2015 NHL All-Star Game due to a lower-body injury, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.

Crosby has been playing with the injury and will need about a week to heal.

As a result of missing the All-Star Game, Crosby will not be permitted to play in Pittsburgh’s game on Tuesday, January 27 versus Winnipeg.

For lack of better term, this stinks. Crosby is the face of the NHL and the reason why people tune in for these events. Also, he had been playing with the injury, but just decided at almost 7 p.m. on a Thursday he couldn't make it for the game? OK!

In Wednesday evening's #rivalrynight game against Chicago, Crosby was held without a point and played 23:06 and took Pittsburgh's second shootout attempt. But he can't play next Tuesday, so it's all good. We should all hold him to that.

Now as for the theme of the day ... which NHL possible All-Star replacement player on vacation hasn't turned off his cell phone?

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper

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