After that includes a dunk tank in South Florida, and an accuracy contest inside the spray of the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas, the NHL elected to revamp its All-Star abilities competitors for the 2024 version.
The league labored with Connor McDavid to convey the abilities contest again to its roots as a take a look at of precise on-ice hockey abilities, leading to a brand new grand-prix-style format with 12 skaters competing for a $1 million prize.
David Pastrnak, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Leon Draisaitl, McDavid, Mathew Barzal, Nikita Kucherov, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller are the superstars competing within the contest, which options quickest skater, hardest shot, stickhandling, one-timers, passing and accuracy taking pictures. The highest eight from the primary six occasions will go one-on-one with the goalie of their alternative within the shootout, and the highest six after that spherical will full the on-ice impediment course to seal the victory.
Which is our favourite new occasion? What occasions needs to be added sooner or later? And who will win the $1 million prize this 12 months?
What’s your favourite new occasion within the abilities contest?
Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: It is the $1 million prize. That is not a brand new occasion, however that’s the grand prize, which is totally different. Again within the day, we noticed gamers get automobiles and vehicles. However to get $1 million for profitable the abilities contest? Along with no matter efficiency bonuses they get only for making the All-Star workforce? That is the true winner.
Victoria Matiash, NHL analyst: Whereas I am an enormous fan of how this 12 months’s total abilities competitors is laid out altogether, the concluding NHL impediment course goes to be a must-view. Watch the competitors degree bust by way of the roof when solely six gamers are pitted towards each other for a cool million. Straw-poll speak, however some hockey followers in my private circle — a lot of whom have dismissed all issues All-Star previously — are actively trying ahead to this occasion specifically, which speaks volumes.
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Arda Öcal, NHL broadcaster: Give me the one-on-one shootout all day! I like that every participant will get to decide on which goalie they may shoot towards. I wish to see associates grow to be enemies, lifelong grudges shaped. I need these moments referenced in future information conferences. I need Owen Nolan-esque finger factors to the goalie, I need goalies punching the air and winking at gamers after a save. Flip up the petty trolling and theatrics for this one.
Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: I like how they’ve arrange the one-on-one problem! Perhaps it is simply that I like a very good thoughts sport — and that is precisely what occurs if you let the shooter choose which goalie he desires to go towards. As a result of you recognize that the goaltender will probably be questioning, ‘Why me?’ Does this man suppose he has my quantity?! And that simply heightens the competitiveness of their occasion and will probably be actually enjoyable to look at. Particularly once we get to dissect afterward who selected poorly.
Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: The grand finale: The impediment course, which can convey collectively the highest six gamers for a collection of ability checks. It looks like a closing examination, the fruits of all the pieces the gamers have “discovered” within the earlier seven occasions. It is just like the eliminator again within the “American Gladiator” days. It is the ultimate boss for our surviving skate-testants. Deliver it.
What new occasion would you pitch for the following All-Star abilities grand prix?
Clark: Both have forwards and defensemen put on goaltending gear to see how they’ll cease pictures — or if they may cease them in any respect. Or, and we have seen this joke on social media, have a daily fan who thinks they’ll do all of this go towards precise NHL All-Stars.
Matiash: I might prefer to see organizers embody one bodily take a look at, recorded forward of time, particular to the host metropolis. For example, in Toronto, a timed race up the steps of the CN Tower. Not all 1,776 steps, thoughts you — we won’t think about there can be a lot enthusiasm for such a activity from the members — however the closing 100 or so. This can be a means of showcasing a selected municipal landmark, whereas additionally serving as a legit athletic problem.
NHL All-Star Weekend
The NHL All-Star Weekend begins with the draft on Thursday, Feb. 1, adopted by the abilities competitors on Friday, Feb. 2. The All-Star Sport will probably be broadcast stay on Saturday, Feb. 3.
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Öcal: Let me pivot barely for my reply: I need a participant from the house metropolis to have enter each All-Star Sport. If this would be the abilities competitors format transferring ahead, let that participant curate the competitors that occurs throughout one of many rounds. I like the concept of stars being inventive as they devise new occasions for his or her friends to strive yearly.
Shilton: Let’s examine a very shock occasion. And by that, I imply there’s a one secret abilities contest nobody finds out about forward of time however the gamers themselves get to vote on who will take part in it — may very well be a goalie, ahead or defenseman. Now, I do not know precisely what this thriller occasion would entail, however it could be one thing a bit of extra goofy, a bit of extra enjoyable and simply the added issue of it not being identified beforehand can be nice! I might like to see how gamers would deal with a problem like that.
Wyshynski: I admire that Connor McDavid has helped recalibrate the abilities competitors again to its hockey-centric roots after final 12 months’s hockey golf and beachfront dunk tanks. If that is what the gamers need, extra energy to them, as a result of we would like them engaged and entertaining.
However I nonetheless suppose there’s room for the goofy, out-of-their-element occasions we have seen in recent times. So does Steve Mayer, the NHL’s chief content material officer who helped created a bunch of them. My hope for the abilities competitors: That we get 12 gamers competing for the million {dollars} by dangling and taking pictures pucks, whereas gamers who aren’t competing have an opportunity to do the goofball pre-taped occasions, which is an idea Mayer floated to me lately.
Who wins the $1 million prize as the abilities champion?
Clark: Sebastian Aho. Anybody who has watched him through the years is aware of he is one of the vital well-rounded forwards within the sport. May that translate into him discovering success as the abilities champion?
Matiash: Have not all of us watched Nathan MacKinnon play lately? He has been subsequent degree. And there is not any likelihood the present Hart Trophy front-runner dims that fierce aggressive change, even for a so-labeled “enjoyable” occasion. Not with one million banknotes on the road.
Öcal: Auston Matthews will probably be barely within the lead, however on the final second, all of the Hughes brothers (together with injured Jack and a shock look by Luke) will kind collectively just like the Triforce and declare victory for Quinn by way of some kind of interference towards their fellow American star.
Shilton: Giving this one to the (kind of?) hometown participant, Auston Matthews. You simply know he’ll be much more hyped to carry out given it is Toronto, he’s a face/captain of the occasion and he has Justin Bieber and his Maple Leafs teammates round. It is all aligning for an enormous Matthews weekend.
Wyshynski: Are you severe? Let me ask you this: How effectively would you do on a take a look at in case you wrote the questions? Connor McDavid helped the NHL rethink the All-Star abilities competitors. I do not suppose he’d create an occasion that did not cater to his strengths. It is one million {dollars}. My dude’s obtained a marriage to pay for this summer time, in any case.
