Evgeny Kuznetsov will replace Washington Capitals teammate Alex Ovechkin, and James Neal of the Nashville Predators will replace Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks at this weekend's NHL All-Star Game.

Ovechkin pulled out of All-Star weekend with a lower-body injury that the team said had been bothering him since mid-November. Toews left Chicago's game Tuesday with an illness.

By NHL rule, Ovechkin and Toews are suspended for the first game after the All-Star break.

The NHL is debuting a 3-on-3 All-Star tournament this year to replace the traditional game. It takes place Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee.