Plot Synopsis

Each year since 1947 -- except in recent years because of the Winter Olympics (2006, 2010 & 2014), lockouts (1995, 2005 & 2013), replacement games (1979, 1987), and a pandemic (2021) -- midway through the National Hockey League (NHL) season, the NHL's best players compete in an exhibition hockey game. The NHL ALL-STAR GAME originally featured the Stanley Cup champions playing a team of all stars from all other teams. Then, in 1969, the NHL changed the format of this exhibition game so it featured players from the Wales (Eastern) Conference vs. the Campbell (Western) Conference. From 1999-2002, the game featured teams of World All-Stars playing against North American All-Stars, returning to the Eastern vs. Western Conference format in 2003. During the 2011-2012 season, the NHL again changed the matchups, with two team captains selecting their players from a pool of players comprised of athletes selected by fan balloting and supplemented with selections by the NHL. Starting in 2016, the NHL ALL-STAR GAME featured a three-game tournament, played in a three-on-three format, with teams from each of the four divisions (Central, Pacific, Atlantic, Metropolitan) competing for a $1 million winner-take-all prize. Since 2024, the four-team tournament even continued, but with teams selected by a player draft a few nights earlier.
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On Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 3pm ET/Noon PT, ABC premiered the 2024 NHL ALL-STAR GAME from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The four teams competing in the All-Star Game -- with the game divided into three 20-minute games -- returns as a 3-on-3 tournament this year, showcasing a total of 44 players. Twelve players were voted in by fans in early January and revealed on January 13. The four team rosters were determined Thursday, February 1, during the NHL All-Star Player Draft on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Sean McDonough calls the game with analyst Ray Ferraro between the benches, and Kevin Weekes and Emily Kaplan reporting from the benches. Steve Levy, Mark Messier, P.K. Subban are in studio, providing coverage and analysis throughout the game.

Teams are comprised of two NHL star captains and one honorary celebrity captain, featuring: Team Matthews (Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, Justin Bieber); Team McDavid (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Will Arnett); Team MacKinnon (Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Tate McRae); and Team Hughes (Quinn Hughes, Jack Hughes, Michael Buble).