The NHL and NHLPA released the format for the 2027 Honda NHL All-Star Game and 2027 NHL All-Star Skills, taking place Feb. 5-6 at UBS Arena on Long Island, N.Y. The All-Star Game will feature five teams in a three-on-three round robin, with fans choosing eight
The buzzer will sound on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6 at UBS Arena on Long Island, N.Y., but this time the big change is how the game is actually played.
The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced the format for the 2027 Honda NHL All-Star Game and the 2027 NHL All-Star Skills. with the weekend set for Feb. 5-6. The competition will include a five-team. three-on-three round-robin exhibition culminating in a short final. while the Skills event will run through a sequence of head-to-head and scored challenges for a $1 million champion’s prize.
In the All-Star Game, five teams will compete: Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a “World” team made up of international players from countries outside of the other four teams. Each team will have 11 players—nine skaters and two goaltenders.
The roster-building process mixes fan input with league and players’ decisions. The NHL and NHLPA will select 30 players from each participating team—Canada. Finland. Sweden. the United States and the World team—for the 2027 NHL All-Star Fan Vote. which opens in December. Fans will then be able to choose eight players from each team. The remaining three roster spots for each team—one forward. one defenseman and one goaltender—will be selected jointly by the NHL and NHLPA.
Once the teams are set, the tournament moves fast. Each team will play four five-minute games during the round-robin portion. If a game ends in a tie, there will be no overtime period and no shootout.
Advancement will be determined by points: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. The top two teams from the round robin will move on to a 10-minute final, and the winning team will claim a $2 million (USD) prize.
The skills competition is built around both youth and variety. The 2027 NHL All-Star Skills will spotlight 10 young stars ages 25 or younger, competing across eight events. The NHL and NHLPA will jointly select the participants.
In the first stage, each player will take part in four of the first six events: Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Passing Challenge, One Timers, Stick Handling and Accuracy Shooting. Players will earn points based on where they finish in each event.
The top four players then will advance to a Shootout, facing one of four All-Star goaltenders. The top two performers from the Shootout will go to the final event: the Obstacle Course Finale. The player with the highest cumulative score will be crowned the All-Star Skills Champion and will take home a prize of $1 million (USD).
Broadcast plans are also in place. ESPN in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada will present the 2027 NHL All-Star Skills on Friday, Feb. 5. ABC in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada will deliver live coverage of the 2027 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 6. Event times will be announced in the coming months.
For the New York Islanders, the weekend adds another local milestone. It will be the second time the Islanders have hosted NHL All-Star festivities, following the 1983 event. Fans can sign up to receive news and updates on the 2027 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend here.
NHL NHLPA 2027 Honda NHL All-Star Game 2027 NHL All-Star Skills UBS Arena Long Island NHL All-Star Fan Vote Canada Finland Sweden United States World team ESPN ABC Sportsnet
So fans pick 8 players but then NHL/NHLPA picks the other spots? That seems like a weird middle ground lol.
I don’t get it… 5 teams but it’s 3-on-3 round robin and “short final”?? Sounds like they’re trying to make it like the NBA All-Star dunk stuff. Where’s the actual hockey?
Wait the tie games have no overtime or shootout?? That’s kinda garbage, like why even play if it can end flat. Also $1 million prize for skills is cool but I bet the game format still makes no sense.
They’re saying teams are Canada Finland Sweden US and “World” made of international players… so basically Canada’s just gonna be replaced by Europe players? Idk. And fan vote opens in December like anyone’s gonna care this far out. I swear NHL All-Star weekends used to be way more fun.