No NHL All-Star Game in 2025, could return in 2026 prior to Olympics
The NHL will not hold an All-Star Game during the 2024-25 season as the 4 Nations Face-Off that will take place in February 2025, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said on Friday.
However, the league is considering using an All-Star Game in 2025-26 as a “send off” for the players ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Bettman says no All-Star Game in 2025 but using it as a “send off” for the players ahead of the 2026 Olympics is something they’re considering.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 2, 2024
As reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli earlier on Friday, the NHL and NHLPA will host a four-team international tournament in 2025 known as the Four Nations Face-Off.
Sources say #NHL + #NHLPA plan to announce this afternoon 2025 international tournament hosted in Montréal and Boston.
Four nations: Canada, Finland, Sweden and United States.
Not totally clear yet if today also includes confirming Olympic participation, but that is on track.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 2, 2024
Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland will be the four participants, each team being made up of 23-man rosters. The tournament will be played from Feb. 12 to 20. Seravalli also reported that Montreal and Boston are expected to host the event.
Some key info about the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off:
– Canada, USA, Sweden and Finland
– Games will be played from Feb. 12-20.
– NHL rule set
– 23-man rosters
– Players must be on an NHL roster as of Dec. 2.
– Each team will announce their first 6 players this summer, with final…
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) February 2, 2024
The NHL and IIHF also announced on Friday that NHL players would participate in both the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics. It’s the first time the league’s top stars have participated in the Olympics 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
NHL players haven’t participated in a best-on-best competition since Canada won the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.