The National Hockey League All-Star Skills Competition, officially the NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition during certain past years, is an event on the night preceding the National Hockey League All-Star Game. Started at the 41st National Hockey League All-Star Game in Pittsburgh in 1990, the NHL uses the event to showcase the talents of its all-star participants. The All-Star teams select representatives for each event, with points awarded to the winning team.
Current events (Through 2024)
Accuracy shooting The purpose of the event is to hit the four targets attached to the four corners of a goal in the fastest time. Before 2011, the object of the event was to hit all four targets in as few attempts as possible. Under this format, seven players have gone four-for-four: Ray Bourque in 1992 and 1993, Mark Messier in 1996, Jeremy Roenick in 2004, Tomas Kaberle in 2008, Evgeni Malkin in 2009, Daniel Sedin in 2011, plus Nazem Kadri, Brock Nelson and twice with Connor McDavid in 2023. Sedin is the current record holder, hitting 4/4 targets in 7.3 seconds. For the 2018 competition, the traditional foam targets were replaced with LED targets that light up to show the player where to shoot the puck next. During the 2019 Skills Competition, the LED light-up targets featured face emojis of four all-star NHL players. The 2020 competition introduced a fifth target in the center of the net, with the targets showing each player's name, team logo, All-Star Game logo, number of All-Star appearances by that player, and uniform number. The 2023 edition reverted to the four foam targets but also introduced a knock-out style to the competition. As a result, while having the best time of the night, McDavid would ultimately be third in the competition, being beaten by Kadri in the semi-finals.
Winners Season Team Player Hits/Shots1990Wales ConferenceRay Bourque4/71991Campbell ConferenceMark Messier4/51992Wales ConferenceRay Bourque4/41993Wales Conference4/41994Western ConferenceBrendan Shanahan4/51996Eastern ConferenceMark Messier4/41997Ray Bourque4/71998North AmericaRay BourquePeter ForsbergBrendan Shanahan4/61999Ray BourqueKeith TkachukJeremy Roenick4/62000WorldRay BourqueViktor Kozlov4/52001North AmericaRay Bourque4/62002Jarome IginlaMarkus Naslund4/62003Eastern ConferenceJeremy Roenick4/62004Jeremy Roenick4/42007Eric StaalMarian Hossa4/52008Tomas Kaberle4/42009Evgeni Malkin3/42011Team StaalDaniel Sedin4/4 in 7.3 seconds 2012Team CharaJamie Benn10.2042015Team FolignoPatrick Kane13.5292016Eastern ConferenceJohn Tavares12.294 (4/5)2017Metropolitan DivisionSidney Crosby10.73 (4/5)2018Pacific DivisionBrock Boeser11.1362019Atlantic DivisionDavid Pastrnak11.3092020Metropolitan DivisionJaccob Slavin9.505 (5/8)2022Metropolitan DivisionSebastian Aho10.937 (4/4)2023Metropolitan DivisionBrock Nelson12.419 (4/5)2024Team McDavid/ArnettConnor McDavid9.158 (4/4) #:Score in final round is listed
Breakaway challenge From the 2007–08 season onwards, the Breakaway Challenge format was changed to a "slam dunk" style challenge, where individual shooters showcase creative and skillful breakaways, with the winner being determined by fan voting via text messaging.
Winners Season Player2008Alexander Ovechkin200920112012Patrick Kane2015Ryan Johansen2016P. K. Subban2022Alex Pietrangelo2023Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby
Fastest skater The purpose of the event is to be fastest skater around a designated course within the rink. The final race each year was originally one full lap around the rink until 2008, when the event was revised to a course, only to be changed back to one full lap after 2015. In 2017, Canadian-born Connor McDavid finished with a time of 13.020, setting the record.
Winners Season Player Time (seconds)1990Mike Gartner28.1 mph1991Paul Coffeyn/a1992Sergei Fedorov 14.3631993Mike Gartner13.5101994Sergei Fedorov13.5251996Mike Gartner13.3861997Peter Bondra13.6101998Scott Niedermayer13.5601999Peter Bondra14.6402000Sami Kapanen13.6492001Bill Guerin13.6902002Sami Kapanen14.0392003Marian Gaborik13.713NHL.com – 2007 All-Star Game Coverage. National Hockey League. Retrieved January 29, 2017.2004Scott Niedermayer13.7832007Andy McDonald14.032008Shawn Horcoff14.3952009Andrew Cogliano14.312011Michael Grabner14.0602012Carl Hagelin*13.2182015Jonathan Drouin*13.1032015 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition results National Hockey League. Retrieved January 27, 2020.2016Dylan Larkin13.1722017Connor McDavid13.020201813.454201913.3782020Mathew Barzal13.1752022Jordan Kyrou13.5502023Andrei Svechnikov13.6992024Connor McDavid13.408
Hardest shot The purpose of the event is to have the hardest shot. Martin Frk owns the record for the hardest shot in hockey with 109.2 mph during the 2020 AHL all-star competition. Zdeno Chara owns the NHL record for the hardest shot with in 2012, besting his previous record of 105.9 in 2011. Before Chara the record was held by Al Iafrate at 105.2 mph. After Chara, Shea Weber holds the 3 hardest shots in 2015 and 2016, with in 2015, 108.1 (174 km/h) and 107.8 (173.5 km/h) on his post-match gala shot. (The world record is held by Denis Kulyash)
Al MacInnis holds the record for the most number of hardest shot wins at seven total (with an * on his speeds, as Al MacInnis always used a wooden stick, rather than the reinforced composite/foam that modern sticks are made out of, because he said he got more accuracy with a wooden stick. He likely would have had a faster shot using the more modern sticks).
Winners Season Player Speed (mph)1990Al Iafrate96.01991Al MacInnis94.0199293.01993Al Iafrate105.21994102.71996Dave Manson96.01997Al MacInnis98.91998100.4199998.52000100.12001Fredrik Modin102.12002Sergei Fedorov101.52003Al MacInnis98.92004Sheldon SourayAdrian Aucoin102.22007Zdeno Chara100.42008103.12009105.42011105.92012108.8 2015Shea Weber108.52016108.1 107.8 (gala shot)2017102.82018Alexander Ovechkin101.32019John Carlson102.82020Shea Weber106.52022Victor Hedman103.22023Elias Pettersson103.22024Cale Makar102.5
Passing challenge The challenge made its debut in 2018, was named Premier Passer in 2019, and renamed to Passing Challenge in 2024 after a 4-year absence. The purpose of this event is for skaters to earn points for their division by passing the puck to various targets, courses, and nets in the fastest time possible. Note: Each skill must be completed before moving on to the next station.
Target passing: each player must complete four successful passes to the targets that randomly light up. Give and go: each player must complete the four required passes through the course. Mini nets: each player must complete a pass into each of the four mini nets and the game net.
Winners Year Player Time/Points2018Alex Pietrangelo0:46.610 2019Leon Draisaitl1:09.0882024Elias Pettersson25 points
One-timers The purpose of this event, which debuted in 2024, is to score as many timed "one-timer" (passed puck shots) points in the net as possible. The player takes three one-timers from three different designated areas on the ice. Points are rewarded when the puck enters the net. (Scoring: top shelf/upstairs equals 4 points, on each side equals 3 points, down the middle equals 2 points, and ricochets off the pipe equals 1 point) If a puck hits the bottom barrier of the net or the crossbar or misses the net, then it's zero points. Each player gets one minute to fire all nine shots. If a pass is not to their liking, they can let them go, but can only get five total passes at each location. If a stick breaks, the clock stops. The player who earns the most points wins.
Winners Season Player Points Time2024Nathan MacKinnon 23 points 39 seconds
Stick handling This event made its debut in 2024 and its purpose is for the players to showcase their smooth stick work. They must skate forward and backward through an obstacle course on the ice. They have to control the puck around objects in the way they approach the goal, firing the puck on the net to stop the clock. The player with the fastest time wins. Note: This portion was taken from the former Puck Control Relay event last held in 2019.
Winners Season Player Time2024Connor McDavid 25.755 seconds
One-on-one This event debuted in 2024 and showcases the goaltenders. The player in last place goes first and selects the goalie they want to face just as long they're not teammates. Players have 60 seconds to face the netminder as pucks are placed in designated areas on the ice. The first five pucks are worth 1 point (closest to the net) then the unlimited pucks (placed on the blue line) are worth 2 points. Players must carry the puck as they cross the hash marks before firing on the net. They cannot score off a rebound. If the player is carrying the puck when the clock hits zero, they have to take that final shot. The highest total of goals wins. Note: The goaltender who stops the most pucks will take home a $100,000 prize.
Winners Season Player/Goalie Points Goaltender Saves2024William Nylander 12 points Alexandar Georgiev 9 saves
Obstacle course This was a special event that debuted in 2024 as a way to determine the player's point totals to find out the overall winner of the entire Skills Competition. Players will showcase all their skills on the ice with speed (while carrying the puck), stick handling (carrying the through a series of mini light-up bridges), passing precision (shooting the puck in three mini nets), then carrying the puck through a cone course, and shooting accuracy (score a goal through a small hole in the net). The fastest time wins this final event. Tally up the scores and the player with the highest total will win the $1 million prize.
Winners Season Player Points Time2024Connor McDavid 10 points 40.606 seconds
Final standings Season Player Team Points 2024Connor McDavidEdmonton Oilers 25 points 2024Cale MakarColorado Avalanche 20 points 2024Auston MatthewsToronto Maple Leafs 18 points 2024William NylanderToronto Maple Leafs 16 points 2024Matt BarzalNew York Islanders 13.5 points 2024J.T. MillerVancouver Canucks 12 points
Past events The following is a partial list of past events:
Breakaway relay The Breakaway Relay was held from 1991 to 2007. The purpose of the event is to use teamwork to score on a breakaway against an opposing goalie. Points are awarded to the team with the most goals and the individual goalie who lets in the fewest goals.
Winners Season Team Player1991Campbell ConferenceMike Vernon1992Wales ConferenceMike RichterDon Beaupre1993Campbell ConferenceJon CaseyMike VernonEd Belfour1994Western ConferenceCurtis Joseph1996Eastern ConferenceDominik Hasek1997WorldDominik HasekGuy Hebert1998WorldNorth AmericaDominik Hasek1999WorldDominik HasekArturs Irbe2000WorldTommy Salo2001WorldSean BurkeEvgeni Nabokov2002North AmericaDominik HasekPatrick Roy2003Western ConferencePatrick Roy2004Eastern ConferenceRoberto Luongo2007Western ConferenceRoberto Luongo
Elimination shootout The Elimination Shootout was held from 2008 to 2012. The purpose of the event is for individual scorers to try to score on a breakaway against an opposing goalie. Shooters who score stay alive in the contest while those failing to score are eliminated. The contest goes until all shooters are eliminated but one, with that shooter being the winner.
Winners Season Player2008Dion Phaneuf2009Shane Doan2011Corey Perry2012Steven Stamkos
Elite women's 3-on-3 hockey
The Elite Women's 3-on-3 Hockey was held in 2020. Twenty of the best women's players in the world competed in a 20-minute, 3-on-3 game, with ten American All-Stars facing off against ten Canadian All-Stars.