NHL and NHLPA Reveal New International Format for 2027 All-Star Weekend

For the first time, the All-Star Game will bring together five nationally-based squads — Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States, and a "World" team representing players from all other countries — in a three-on-three round-robin exhibition tournament.

Each squad will carry 11 players: nine skaters and two goaltenders. The selection process will combine fan voting, which opens in December, with joint picks by the league and players' association. Fans will choose eight players per team from a shortlist of 30, while the NHL and NHLPA will fill the remaining three spots on each roster.

During the round-robin stage, every team plays four five-minute games. Ties stand — there's no overtime or shootout. The top two teams by points advance to a ten-minute final, with the winner taking home a $2 million prize.



The Skills Competition, held the evening before, will exclusively feature ten players aged 25 or under. Competitors will take part in four of six events — including Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, and Accuracy Shooting — earning cumulative points. The top four move to a shootout round, and the final two face off in an Obstacle Course Finale. The overall winner receives $1 million.



Coverage in the U.S. will be split between ESPN (Skills, Feb. 5) and ABC (All-Star Game, Feb. 6), with Sportsnet broadcasting both nights in Canada.

This marks the second time the New York Islanders have hosted All-Star festivities, the first being back in 1983.

Source: NHL.com — NHL and NHLPA unveil new format for 2027 All-Star Weekend



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