2024 National Hockey League All-Star Game Explained

Compact:yes
2024 NHL All-Star Game
Location1:Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Date1:February 3, 2024
Mvp:Auston Matthews
Previous:2023
Next:2026

The 2024 National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on February 3 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the first time that the four-team, three-on-three format used since 2016 was combined with the "fantasy draft" format used from 2011 to 2015. The fantasy draft took place on February 1, and was followed by the NHL All-Star Skills Competition on February 2.[1] This was the 68th edition of the game.

The team captains were chosen by the NHL: Auston Matthews of the All-Star Game-hosting Maple Leafs captained one team, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers captained the second team, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche captained the third team, and brothers Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks co-captained the fourth team.

Following this All-Star game, the NHL will instead hold a new 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in 2025, with the next All-Star Game taking place in 2026.[2]

History

The NHL awarded Toronto as the host city of the game on February 4, 2023. This was the first time since 2012 in Ottawa that a Canadian city was selected to host the game. This was Toronto's ninth time hosting the NHL All-Star Game, including the first game in 1947. This was the second time that Scotiabank Arena (then known as Air Canada Centre) hosted the game, the first time being in 2000.[3]

Rosters

On November 27, 2023, the NHL announced that the fantasy player draft, used from 2011 to 2015, would make its return to the All-Star Game, while keeping the three-on-three format used since 2016. Like in the 2023 All-Star Game, the player selection process was performed in two stages, with the league's initially selecting 32 players, one for each team, and then the remaining 12 players were decided by fan vote. The league then selected four players to be captains for each of the four teams, and the draft of the players took place on February 1, 2024.[1]

On January 14, the head coaches were announced, chosen from the team in each division with the highest points percentage through January 13: Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins (Atlantic), Peter Laviolette of the New York Rangers (Metropolitan), Rick Bowness of the Winnipeg Jets (Central), and Rick Tocchet of the Vancouver Canucks (Pacific).[4]

On January 22, Kyle Connor and Vincent Trocheck were added as replacements for Connor Bedard and Jack Eichel who were unable to play due to injury.[5] On January 30, Jesper Bratt was added to replace the injured Jack Hughes.[6] [7]

NHL's selections

The league announced its 32 selections on January 4:[8]

PlayerTeam
F
F
F
D
F
F
F
F
F
G
F
F
F
G
F
F
F
F
F
G
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
Vancouver CanucksD
F
F
G
F
F
F

Fan vote

The fan vote ran from January 4 to January 11 to determine the final 12 players (8 skaters and 4 goalies).[8] The results were announced on January 13.[9]

PlayerTeam
G
G
D
F
G
F
F
D
Vancouver CanucksF
G
F
F

Draft

The draft of the NHL players took place on February 1, 2024.[8] On January 4, the league announced that two of the captains would be Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs.[10] The league then announced on January 20 that Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche would captain the third team, and brothers Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks would co-captain the fourth team. For alternate captains, Morgan Rielly joined Toronto teammate Matthews, Leon Draisaitl joined Edmonton teammate McDavid, and Cale Makar joined Colorado teammate MacKinnon. Although Jack Hughes was unable to play due to injury, he still participated in helping his brother Quinn in the players draft,[6] and Elias Pettersson was named alternate captain of the fourth team in his place.[7] Each team was also joined by a celebrity co-captain to help select their roster: singer Justin Bieber on Team Matthews, actor and comedian Will Arnett on Team McDavid, singer Tate McRae on Team MacKinnon, and singer Michael Buble on Team Hughes.[11]

Hughes won the first pick in the draft, Matthews received the second pick, MacKinnon was awarded the third pick, and McDavid got the fourth pick. The teams selected in reverse order during even-numbered rounds. For the final round, Hockey Hall of Famer Dave Keon conducted a random draw of envelopes with the four remaining unselected players.[12]

Team Matthews

Head coach: Jim Montgomery, Boston Bruins[13] / Celebrity captain: Justin Bieber
Entry/Pick no.PlayerTeam
29
8
3 F87
6 G40
11 F97
14 F20
19 F43
22 G1
27 F11
30 F23
F22

Team Hughes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New NHL All-Star Thursday to feature player draft, PWHL 3-on-3 . NHL.com . November 28, 2023 . November 28, 2023.
  2. Web site: Rosen . Dan . NHL to hold 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in 2025 . NHL.com . February 2, 2024 . February 2, 2024 . The NHL will not hold an All-Star Game next season... Commissioner Bettman also announced the NHL will return to Olympic participation, starting in 2026 in Milan, Italy, and again in 2030..
  3. Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs to Host 2024 NHL All-star Weekend . NHL.com . February 4, 2023 . February 4, 2023.
  4. Web site: NHL announces coaches for 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend. NHL.com. January 4, 2024 . January 4, 2024.
  5. Web site: Trocheck, Connor added to NHL All-Star Weekend roster . nhl.com . January 22, 2024.
  6. Web site: Jack Hughes won't be in action All-Star Weekend, will remain co-captain . nhl.com . January 22, 2024.
  7. Web site: Bratt to replace Devils teammate Hughes on 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend roster . nhl.com . January 30, 2024.
  8. Web site: NHL All-Star Game rosters unveiled; Matthews to represent host Maple Leafs . NHL.com . January 4, 2024 . January 4, 2024.
  9. Web site: Nylander, Marner, Rielly of Maple Leafs, 4 Canucks added to All-Star roster . NHL.com . January 13, 2024 . January 13, 2024.
  10. Web site: McDavid, Matthews to serve as two of the NHL All-Star Game captains . Sportsnet . January 13, 2024 . January 4, 2024.
  11. Web site: Bieber, Arnett, McRae, Buble named All-Star celebrity captains. Sportsnet . January 20, 2024 . January 20, 2024.
  12. Web site: NHL All-Star Player Draft Blog: What the final rosters look like. Sportsnet . February 3, 2024 . February 2, 2024.
  13. Web site: 2024 NHL All-Star Game weekend: Live stream, TV, draft, skills competition, rosters . Brehm . Mike . usatoday.com . January 31, 2024.