The former scoring champ made the announcement Tuesday.
"I love the (All-Star) game, it's a great event and I love to be there, but I'm suspended and I don't want to be a target," Ovechkin told Comcast Sportsnet. "I feel that I don't deserve to be there right now. If I'm suspended, I have to be suspended, so that's why I gave up my roster (spot)."
His suspension for his hit on Zbynek Michalek did not cut him out of the ASG, he made the decision himself.
"It's not about what I want, I don't deserve to be there right now. I'm suspended until February 4th," he said.
The captain iterated that he did not agree with his suspension at all.
"I don't think I deserve the three game suspension for the hit I did. Lots of guys make that hit, but it's not about that," explained Ovechkin, "It is what it is, and it's (Brendan) Shanahan's call."
When asked about what he will do during the break, he said that he would support his team mates during his suspension.
The league has not named the replacement for Ovechkin's roster spot yet.
