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Greg Wyshynski, ESPNDec 12, 2023, 07:15 PM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
The NHL All-Star Skills competition is getting a major overhaul in 2024 thanks to creative input from Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid.
The skills competition will take place at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 2, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto during the NHL’s All-Star Weekend.
Steve Mayer, NHL senior VP and chief content officer, met with McDavid on multiple occasions to get the star center’s thoughts on what the skills competition should look like. McDavid gave feedback on what the players wanted out of the events, and helped the NHL create a skills competition that has more hockey skill testing and less gimmickry than in previous editions.
“He’s a world-class, all-star level of endorsement,” said Mayer of McDavid.
Instead of every all-star participating, the new format will feature just 12 NHL players battling each other in eight events. They’ll receive points for where they place in those events. The individual player who accumulates the most points on the night will win $1 million.
The first eight players will be determined by the NHL’s hockey operations department and the NHLPA. Fans will vote in the final four skaters to compete in the skills competition. Only players who were named to the NHL All-Star Game are eligible to become part of the 12 skills competition participants.
The 2024 NHL All-Star Skills events are:
1. Fastest Skater
2. Hardest Shot
3. Stick Handling
4. One Timers
5. Passing Challenge
6. Accuracy Shooting
7. The NHL Shootout (top 8 players)
8. The NHL Obstacle Course (top 6 players)
Each player will compete in four of the first six events, earning points for their respective finish in each event.
First place receives five points, and then each place receives one fewer point down to sixth place and lower, which receive zero points. The scoring is intended to encourage participation in events that might be less populated than others.
“You have to be very strategic in…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39099524/nhl-alter-all-star-skills-event-help-connor-mcdavid
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2023-12-13 00:25:13
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