Key Takeaways
- The 2027 NHL All‑Star Weekend will be held Feb. 5‑6 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York and will feature an international format with teams representing Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a “World” squad that may include Russian players.
- Each team will ice nine skaters and two goalies in a 3‑on‑3 round‑robin tournament; wins earn two points, ties one, and the champion will take home a $2 million prize.
- Rosters are built through a two‑step process: the NHL and NHLPA will nominate 30 players per team for a fan vote (opening Dec. 2026); fans will select eight skaters per team, while the league and players’ association will jointly choose the remaining forward, defenseman and goaltender.
- The All‑Star Skills Competition will be reshaped to spotlight the next generation: ten players aged 25 or younger will contest eight events (four mandatory: skating, hardest shot, passing challenge, one‑timer, stick‑handling and accuracy shooting); the top four advance to a shoot‑off against All‑Star goalies, and the final two battle in an obstacle‑course finale for a $1 million award.
- Russian participation remains uncertain for future IIHF events (World Cup of Hockey, Olympics) despite being allowed in the 2027 All‑Star Game; the IIHF will decide on an event‑by‑event basis, and the NHL says it will follow the international hockey community’s lead.
- Additional league notes: Commissioner Gary Bettman defended the current wild‑card playoff format, affirmed the Vegas Golden Knights’ right to block former coach Bruce Cassidy from interviewing with divisional rivals, opposed the NCAA’s proposed age‑based eligibility change, and disclosed that the board has been briefed on a possible succession plan for his eventual retirement.
The NHL’s midseason showcase is getting a global makeover for 2027. Scheduled for February 5‑6 at New York’s UBS Arena, the All‑Star Weekend will no longer be a pure North‑American affair. Instead, five squads will take the ice: Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States, and a “World” team composed of players from nations outside those four blocs. Notably, the World team may include Russian athletes, even though Russia’s status in other international competitions remains unsettled following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The competition will be a 3‑on‑3 round‑robin format. Each team will field nine skaters and two goalies, playing four five‑minute games. A win awards two points, a tie one, and a loss none. The team that finishes atop the standings will claim a $2 million purse, adding a tangible stake to the exhibition spectacle.
Roster construction blends fan democracy with league‑office oversight. Starting in December 2026, the NHL and NHLPA will each nominate thirty players per national team for a public All‑Star Fan Vote. Fans will then choose eight skaters from each list. The three remaining slots—one forward, one defenseman, and one goaltender—will be filled jointly by the league and the players’ association, ensuring a balance of popular appeal and strategic selection.
The Skills Competition is also being retooled to highlight emerging talent. Ten players aged twenty‑five or younger will compete across eight events. Four of those events are mandatory: skating, hardest shot, passing challenge, one‑timer, stick‑handling, and accuracy shooting. The four highest scorers will advance to a shoot‑out where they face off against four All‑Star goalies. The two best performers from that shoot‑out will then meet in an obstacle‑course finale, with a $1 million prize awaiting the victor. This shift aims to showcase the league’s next generation while keeping the skills showcase fresh and engaging.
The decision to make the All‑Star Weekend international stems from recent events. The 2026 All‑Star Game was originally slated for UBS Arena but was re‑designated as an international event after the NHL opted to let its players participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. When travel concerns forced the cancellation of those Olympic plans, the league kept the international concept, turning it into the 2027 All‑Star format. NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh described the 4 Nations Face‑Off as a prelude to the Olympics and suggested the new All‑Star Weekend could serve as a warm‑up for a future World Cup of Hockey.
Russian participation, however, remains a point of uncertainty. While the 2027 All‑Star Game will allow Russian players on the World team, their eligibility for other IIHF‑sanctioned events—such as the World Cup of Hockey or the Olympics—has yet to be determined. The IIHF announced it will evaluate Russia’s status on an event‑by‑event basis for the 2026‑27 season. Commissioner Bettman said the NHL will follow the international hockey community’s lead, acknowledging that clarity is still pending. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly noted that early conversations with the IIHF indicated no anticipated boycott from Sweden, Finland, or the Czech Republic, but stressed that final decisions await the IIHF’s determinations.
Beyond the All‑Star news, the league’s press conference covered several other topics. Bettman defended the current wild‑card playoff format, arguing that it produces more six‑ and seven‑game series than the old 1‑through‑8 seeding and remains entertaining. He also backed the Vegas Golden Knights’ contractual right to prevent former head coach Bruce Cassidy from interviewing with divisional rivals such as Edmonton and Los Angeles. Daly reiterated the NHL’s opposition to the NCAA’s proposal to adopt an age‑based eligibility model that would allow student‑athletes up to five years of play, stating the league has made its position clear to the collegiate body. Finally, Bettman revealed that the board of directors has been briefed on a possible succession plan for his role, noting that while discussions have been underway for a couple of years, no imminent changes are expected and rumors of his imminent retirement are exaggerated.