An Exciting New Format for the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills Competition

• NHL
• NHL All-Star Game

To showcase the best of the best and build drama throughout the night, the National Hockey League (NHL) has reimagined the All-Star Skills competition. The event, which will take place at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on February 2, 2024, will adopt a new format to see twelve All-Stars compete in multiple events. The players will earn points based on their order of finish in each event.

"We wanted to do something that the players would have fun with and want to participate in..."

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, comparing the format to the decathlon. He added that they would crown an All-Star All-Star as the Skills champion, which should be fun. The winner stands to receive a whopping $1 million prize.

A Creative Approach to the All-Star Skills Competition

The NHL has demonstrated its creativity again, following successful outdoor All-Star Skills events in Las Vegas in 2022 and South Florida in 2023. The new format will see the NHL select eight players from among the 44 All-Stars with input from the NHL Players' Association and a nod to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The fans will have the opportunity to select four more.

According to NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer, the league is looking for 12 players who will be engaged, who are the most skilled players in the league, who have prominent personalities, and who will give it their all to win the title. Each of these players will compete in four of the first six events: the Fastenal NHL Fastest Skater, Rogers NHL Hardest Shot, Upper Deck NHL Stick Handling, NHL One Timers, NHL Passing Challenge, and Cheetos NHL Accuracy Shooting.

Exciting New Events

The top eight from these initial events will proceed to the seventh event: the Honda NHL Shoot Out. This event promises to be a thrilling spectacle as players will line up on one blue line, pick the goalie they want to go up against and aim to score. The top six from this event will advance to the final event: the Pepsi NHL Obstacle Course. This event will include all the skills and be worth double the points, making the competition even more exhilarating.

Additional Plans for the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend

The NHL will select 32 players for the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend, one from each team. Fans will choose 12 more players in the 2024 NHL All-Star Fan Vote presented by MassMutual in January. The captains will be selected from the pool of 44 players and paired with celebrities for the Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Player Draft on February 1. The captains will then pick the four teams from the remaining players for the 3-on-3 tournament in the Honda/Rogers NHL All-Star Game on February 3.

The NHL has worked closely with the NHLPA and individual players on this new All-Star Skills format. The PA has been on board from Day One, and the players consulted have given input on what they feel should be included in a skills competition like this. As the NHL looks forward to this event, the positive feedback from their broadcast networks and other stakeholders gives them confidence that this innovative format will be a hit with fans.