from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

Welcome back for another edition of the Friday Five, where we point out quirks, quips and questions that pop up throughout the week in the NHL season.

Should NHL veterans be given an All-Star waiver?

The NHL has a little bit of an attendance problem when it comes to All-Star weekend. opted for rest and bailed for a second year in a row. This time, goaltender and joined him.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly admitted in a recent podcast with colleague Pierre LeBrun that their absences are “concerning.”

So that got us thinking: Should the NHL have some sort of length of service waiver? For example: Ovechkin has attended seven previous All-Star weekends. How many should he have to attend before he is free and clear to take off without penalty?

It doesn’t make sense to continue to penalize fans – let alone impact the competitiveness of a regular-season game – to have a star like Ovechkin sit out for one game before or after the All-Star break just because he’d like to rest when he’s been a mostly faithful servant.

Before 2019, Ovechkin only missed twice in his career, once for injury (2016) and once because he was suspended (2012).

The idea of a waiver is at least up for consideration.

“I don’t know what we will do yet, if anything,” Daly said via email Friday. “No need to rush any decisions. We have time.”

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