All-Star Game: Oliver Bjorkstrand seemed unhappy to learn that he’ll be taking part

The festivities surrounding the NHL All-Star Game weekend are fast approaching.

This year, the event will be held February 1-3 in Toronto, and the Canadiens know that Nick Suzuki will be taking part.

The league has chosen one representative per team, and Seattle’s Oliver Bjorkstrand has been selected for the occasion. The forward boasts 29 points (11 goals) in 39 games, and the Kraken organization decided to surprise him by announcing that he had been voted an All-Star this season.

That’s quite an honor for any NHL player… But when Bjorkstrand heard the news, he didn’t look like the happiest guy in the world.

He had booked an Airbnb in San Diego to spend some time on vacation with his family, and understandably had to cancel his reservation.

You can see in his face that he really wasn’t expecting this when his coach Dave Hakstol told him the news:

The kind of video the digital team should have kept in the hard drive. No matter how good the idea, when the expected reaction clearly isn’t there, go to plan B. #malaise https://t.co/DUZdlzL7Xd

– Arcadio Marcuzzi (@_marcuzzi) January 5, 2024

It’s a well-known fact: the guys who don’t take part in the event mostly use it to recharge their batteries. We often see photos of players traveling or with their families because it’s one of the rare moments in the season when they’re able to unwind.

Bjorkstrand seemed a little disappointed by the announcement, but took to his Instagram account today to announce his participation in the upcoming All-Star Game.

He joked a bit that his wife didn’t have the best reaction to the news… And he even posted a photo showing the cancellation of his Airbnb.

I laughed when I saw the second photo in his publication :

See this publication on Instagram

A publication shared by Oliver Bjorkstrand (@oliverbjorkstrand)

Bjorkstrand seems to have taken a step back to digest it all and says it’s an honor, to be able to represent the Kraken at the All-Star Game.

He could have decided not to go… But he would have been suspended by the NHL, which isn’t ideal.

That said, Seattle should perhaps have saved themselves a little embarrassment before publishing the video of him learning the news… Because you can really feel the discomfort in the discussion.

It seems to me that it wouldn’t go down well in Montreal, if Nick Suzuki had had the same reaction.

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