The NHL has reimagined the skills competition to showcase the best players, build drama throughout the night and crown an individual overall champion for the first time.
Twelve All-Stars will compete in multiple events each at the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook on February 2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (7 p.m. ET, ESPN , ESPN+, SN, TVAS). You will earn points based on your finish in each event.
“We wanted to do something that the players would enjoy and want to participate in,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” likening the format to a decathlon. “…We’ll be crowning the All-Stars as skill champions. It should be a lot of fun.”
The winner will receive $1 million.
“They’re great at what they do,” NHL chief content officer Steve Meyer said Tuesday. āBut not only will they have fun on the ice, they will be very competitive.ā
The NHL got creative again after trying outdoor All-Star skills events in Las Vegas in 2022 and South Florida in 2023.
Meyer produced television shows such as “Battle of the Network Stars” at IMG before joining the NHL, and is known for his All-Star skills, in which stars compete for cumulative points across multiple events. I always thought it would be interesting to use the format.
Rather than spreading the 44 All-Stars between events to ensure each NHL team’s representative player is selected as in the past, the NHL will use the 44 All-Stars with input from the NHL Players Association and out of respect for Toronto. Eight players will be selected from among the All-Stars. maple leaf.
“I’m sure it’s going to lean a little bit towards the home team,” Meyer said.
Fans will select four more.
“We hope to find 12 people to engage who are the most skilled players in the league, have great character and will work hard to win titles,” Meyer said.
Each will compete in four of the first six events: Fastenal NHL Fastest Skater, Rogers NHL Hardest Shot, Upper Deck NHL Stick Handling, NHL One Timers, NHL Passing Challenge and Cheetos NHL Accuracy Shooting. 1st place gets 5 points, 2nd place gets 4 points, and so on.
The top eight will advance to the seventh event, the Honda NHL Shootout.
“It’s pretty cool to have a seventh event,” Meyer said. “Eight players will line up on one blue line, eight goalkeepers will line up on the other line, and each player, from eighth to first, will choose the goalie they want to play against.”
Who would choose whom? And how much will the rankings be leveled out? Again, 1st place gets 5 points, 2nd place gets 4 points, and so on.
“It’s going to end up with the No. 1 player getting the most difficult goalie, at least the one that’s left,” Meyer said.
The top six finishers will advance to the final event, the Pepsi NHL Obstacle Course. The event includes all skills and doubles the points for him. 1st place will receive 10 points and 2nd place will receive 8 points.
“Someone in sixth place could easily move up the rankings and end up winning $1 million,” Meyer said. āThis is also part of what makes this an interesting tournament that will resonate with fans.ā
The NHL will select 32 players, one from each team, for the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend. Fans will select 12 additional players in the 2024 NHL All-Star Fan Poll conducted by MassMutual in January.
The league will select captains from among 44 players and pair them with celebrities at the Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Player Draft on February 1st. Select. at the Honda/Rodgers NHL All-Star Game on February 3.
The player draft is scheduled to headline NHL All-Star Thursday, a new event that will include recognition of the NHL Alumni Man of the Year honoring the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs and the Canadian Tire Professional Women’s Hockey League. Also includes a 3-on-3 showcase.
The NHL has been working with the NHLPA and individual players on all aspects, including the new All-Star Skills format.
āPA has been on board since day one,ā Meyer said. “They’re our partners. We’ve had everything run by them. They love it. They think it’s great. And because of them, we introduce certain players. These particular players provided input on what they think should be included in a skills competition like this.
“Our broadcast networks have really stepped up and they think it’s great. Everyone who has heard this story from our perspective has been very positive about this event, so It gave us a lot of confidence going into this event.ā