LOS ANGELES -- If the National Hockey League All-Star Game has been viewed in the past as an offensive bonanza, a corporate schmoozefest and a break from the grind of the hard-hitting style that defines the regular season, the gathering of the best and the brightest in Los Angeles at the Staples Center seems more of a showcase for the upcoming Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

Some players have turned up their nose at the All-Star weekend -- Dallas' Mike Modano and Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson chief among them -- but of the 42 players in L.A. to take part in Saturday's festivities, 28 are scheduled to play in the final round in Salt Lake City.

If there is a knock on holding the All-Star game, it's because it is sandwiched in between a very condensed NHL regular season and a very intense Olympic schedule, followed by a difficult stretch run and playoffs. It also comes one day before the Super Bowl, which was delayed because of the events of Sept. 11.

Those who are going to Salt Lake view All-Star weekend as a way to celebrate hockey both on the All-Star level and on the Olympic level and believe that any positive publicity for hockey, which many view as the No. 4 pro sport in the United States, is a good thing.

Philadelphia forward Jeremy Roenick, who grew up outside of Boston, said he and his Olympic teammates feel a definite burden to succeed especially given the miracle performed by the 1980 team of improbable heroes.

"There are a lot of nervous feelings for us going in knowing that we're on our own soil and that we're one of the better teams and that no one has lost on American soil in the Olympics, I don't think ever," said Roenick. "So that's scary for us but that's one thing we can motivate ourselves by and that will be talked about in the locker room. If we just go out and play our game, we'll be OK. We'll do what we're supposed to I'm sure."

Former Rangers goaltender John Davidson, who is a long-time NHL broadcaster and will be in the booth for All-Star weekend, said he neither understands nor agrees with the hits the decision to hold it has been taking.

"We've heard, and maybe justly so, some of the guys say that they're a little nicked up and it might be the right thing not to go, but for every one of those, there are 10 guys who would like to play in it," said Davidson.

"That's the feeling I've gotten and that's what I've directly heard from players. I know it's an All-Star game that's way over on the other coast for a lot of people. But I don't know, I'm walking around talking to Jeremy Roenick and Nikolai Khabibulin and Jarome Iginla and Paul Kariya. They all seem to be happy to be here."

Even as persnickety as Washington forward Jaromir Jagr can be, he said short of suffering an injury, he wouldn't have stayed away. Penguins' owner/star Mario Lemieux said he felt all the players who were either voted onto rosters or asked to be here by the league should show up.

"I think there's an obligation," said Lemieux, who makes his 10th All-Star appearance. "It's fun to be involved in an All-Star game and it's not that hard of a game. You come out and enjoy yourself for a couple of days and try to put on a show for the fans. I think if a guy is healthy, he should be here and be part of it."

Davidson said by no means is it the equivalent of the Stanley Cup finals but he believes it has its merits.

	“	You hear people ripping it and saying, 'How can they do it in an Olympic year?' Well, why not? It's our time and it's a great sport. I know one thing, Ace Bailey [the Kings' scout who perished in the World Trade Center attacks] would love to be here in Los Angeles. People take things and turn them into negatives instead of enjoying the moment. ”
		— John Davidson

"Maybe I'm a sucker for it," Davidson said. "If you come with the mindset that you're not going to see the seventh game of a playoff series and you're coming here to see a high-scoring little celebration at the midpoint with all the hockey people getting together, it's great. In broadcasting it for so many years, we always hope it might be 'Let's see somebody go out and throw some body checks.' But it's not going to happen."

Davidson said the skills competition and game have been a good way for the public to learn about the many who will represent their respective countries later this month. When they return to their NHL teams afterwards, there is apt to be more interest in how all the clubs fare than less. For that reason, Davidson said everyone should just appreciate the showcase for what it is.

"If you see Joe Thornton playing in the game, you realize he's had a great season and deserves to be there -- or if it's Chris Pronger or Brian Leetch," he said. "Why can't we have a nice time for a weekend instead of worrying about squeezing it in? The Super Bowl thing [because of the schedule change] is a fact of life. This isn't the Afghan war here. This is sports. The Sept. 11 thing was horrific and living in New York, we were awfully close to it. The country supported us in that neighborhood so much, but you don't really understand it unless you're there. To see something like this, it's great to get away from everything else. It's terrific stuff. You hear people ripping it and saying, 'How can they do it in an Olympic year?' Well, why not? It's our time and it's a great sport. I know one thing, Ace Bailey [the Kings' scout who perished in the World Trade Center attacks] would love to be here in Los Angeles. People take things and turn them into negatives instead of enjoying the moment."

Boston Bruins' center Joe Thornton, the best forward not on the Canadian Olympic team although he could still be named if there's an injury, is a first-time All-Star, and he said he wouldn't have missed this for the world.

"This is my first one so no way I was going to stay back in Boston," said Thornton. "This is very exciting for me and I'm just happy to be here."

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.