NHL Announces Unprecedented Cash Prize for All-Star Skills Competition

The NHL’s annual All-Star Skills competition is set to be significantly revamped in 2024. 

The league announced on Tuesday that there would be a new format for the skills competition, in which 12 skaters would compete in eight events, with the winner receiving a staggering $1 million prize. 

NHL senior vice president and chief content officer Steve Mayer told ESPN that he relied on input from Oilers star and reigning Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid when coming up ideas for the event’s new format.

Events within the new competition include Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Stick Handling, One Timers, Passing Challenge, and Accuracy Shooting. All 12 players will compete in four of those six events, and the four-lowest points scorers will be eliminated.

The remaining eight players will then compete in The NHL Shootout, a penalty shot against a panel consisting of eight All-Star goaltenders. The top six from that event will advance to the finale, The NHL Obstacle Course, the winner of which will take home the $1 million prize.

Only the NHL’s 44 All-Stars will be eligible to be selected for the event, which will take place on Feb. 2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Mayer said the league intends to maintain this updated format for multiple years, barring it being “a failure” during this season’s All-Star Weekend.