Most of us can agree that the NHL all-star break is nothing more than fun time for the players.

The skills competition is the real deal, so it's fun. On the other hand, the game is a laugher because it isn't one. Last season, for example, the West defeated the East 11-10. The year before, there was no all-star break because of the winter Olympics. In 2009: East 12, West 11.

On Sunday, who knows? Who cares? Should anybody, when it's considered that too many of the best players can't be part of the All-Star Game?

Sidney Crosby, still dealing with concussion symptoms, isn't in Ottawa. Neither is Chris Pronger. That's distressing to both players - and even more to their families.

Perhaps you noticed that Pronger's wife, Lauren, revealed recently in a brief interview how her husband is dealing daily with a concussion that was likely suffered first on Oct. 24 when he caught a stick in the eye in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mrs. Pronger told Comcast Sportsnet: "It's been a tough go at home. It's tough for all of us to watch him go through this.

"They're confused all the time," she added of her sons Jack (10), George (7) and daughter Lilah (3). "They ask him: 'Dad, when are we going to a game?' Or 'Dad, when are you going to play?' He looks at them and says: 'Please don't ask me that question, because God knows I want to get out there, too.' "

Pronger, as you know, has not played since Nov. 19 and has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.

"It's been a lot of trauma going on," Mrs. Pronger said. "It's tough to watch him going through this. He's battling. He wants to be out there more than anybody.

"I think any player that has been concussed several times has good days and bad days," she added. "It breaks my heart. It breaks his heart.

"We're just praying right now. We're hoping for another good day tomorrow. At least, a couple good days in a row would be nice."

rfisher@montrealgazette.com