Brett Hull Will Sit Out All-Star Game

St. Louis Blues right winger Brett Hull, the overwhelming leader in the balloting for the NHL All-Star game, will not play Saturday because of a sore ankle.

Blues Coach Brian Sutter said Thursday night that Hull will attend the All-Star festivities but will not play.

“He realizes the game on Tuesday against Minnesota is a hell of a lot more important than the game Saturday,” Sutter said.

“The rest will do him good. “I assume he has to go. He has to go, but he won’t be on skates.”

Hull suffered a sprained ankle in Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Capitals.

“I just can’t do it,” Hull said today. “We tried everything to cushion the ankle, but nothing worked. I would have loved to play.”

Sutter said the team had chosen Adam Oates to replace Hull on the All-Star roster.

“It’s a brutal situation,” Oates said. “How can you tell the fans that you’re not playing Hull when 400,000 voted for him. He’s got to go anyway.”