Blackhawks' Toews will not play in All-Star Game, suspended 1 game

The NHL announced Thursday that Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews will miss the All-Star Game. Toews will be suspended one game for not participating.

The 27-year-old will not be heading to Nashville as he continues to battle an illness that forced him to miss the third period of Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

"(Toews) was pulled from Tuesday night's third period because of an illness and remains symptomatic today," said team physician Michael Terry, per Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. "At this time, rest over the break is most important for him to properly recover and be fully healthy heading into the rest of the regular season."

Nashville Predators forward James Neal has been named Toews' replacement on the Central Division team, and will be the fourth Predators player to suit up at All-Star Weekend along with defensemen Shea Weber and Roman Josi and goaltender Pekka Rinne.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin will also be suspended one game by the NHL after withdrawing from All-Star festivities due to a lower-body injury. He will be replaced by teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov.