NHL All-Star Skills Competition

The NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition, originally known as the National Hockey League All-Star Skills Competition, is an event on the night preceding the 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. Events include accuracy shooting, fastest skater, Skills Challenge Relay, hardest shot, Breakaway Challenge, and an Elimination Shootout. The All-Star teams select representatives for each event, with points awarded to the winning team.

Current events

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. In 2016, Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin broke the previous record set by Carl Hagelin (13.2) with a time of 13.172; however, he had a running start. It should be also noted that modern technology in skates are more advanced in performance than skates that Mike Gartner used, especially in weight.[1]

Winners

Season Player Time (seconds)
1992 Sergei Fedorov 14.363
1993 Mike Gartner 13.510
1994 Sergei Fedorov 13.525
1996 Mike Gartner 13.386
1997 Peter Bondra 13.610
1998 Scott Niedermayer 13.560
1999 Peter Bondra 14.640
2000 Sami Kapanen 13.649
2001 Bill Guerin 13.690
2002 Sami Kapanen 14.039
2003 Marian Gaborik 13.713[2]
2004 Scott Niedermayer 13.783
2007 Andy McDonald 14.03
2008 Shawn Horcoff 14.395
2009 Andrew Cogliano 14.31
2011 Michael Grabner 14.238
2012 Carl Hagelin 13.218
2015 Jonathan Drouin 13.103
2016 Dylan Larkin 13.172
2017 Connor McDavid 13.310
2018 Connor McDavid 13.454

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 Player
2008 Alexander Ovechkin
2009 Alexander Ovechkin
2011 Alexander Ovechkin
2012 Patrick Kane
2015 Ryan Johansen
2016 P.K. Subban

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. Prior to 2011, the object of the event was to hit all four targets in as few attempts as possible. Under this format, three players have gone four-for-four: Ray Bourque in 1992 and 1993, Mark Messier in 1996, Jeremy Roenick in 2004, Tomas Kaberle in 2008, and Daniel Sedin in 2011. 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 were to shoot the puck next.

Winners

Season Team Player Hits/Shots#
1990 Wales Conference Ray Bourque 4/7
1991 Campbell Conference Mark Messier 4/6
1992 Wales Conference Ray Bourque 4/4
1993 Wales Conference Ray Bourque 4/4
1994 Western Conference Brendan Shanahan 4/5
1996 Eastern Conference Mark Messier 4/4
1997 Eastern Conference Ray Bourque 4/7
1998 North America Ray Bourque
Peter Forsberg
Brendan Shanahan
4/6
1999 North America Ray Bourque
Keith Tkachuk
Jeremy Roenick
4/6
2000 World Ray Bourque
Viktor Kozlov
4/5
2001 North America Ray Bourque 4/6
2002 North America Jarome Iginla
Markus Naslund
4/6
2003 Eastern Conference Jeremy Roenick 4/6
2004 Eastern Conference Jeremy Roenick 4/4
2007 Eastern Conference Eric Staal
Marian Hossa
4/5
2008 Eastern Conference Tomas Kaberle 4/4
2009 Eastern Conference Evgeni Malkin 3/4
2011 Team Staal Daniel Sedin 4/4 in 7.3 seconds (Record)
2012 Team Chara Jamie Benn 10.204
2015 Team Foligno Patrick Kane 13.529
2016 Eastern Conference John Tavares 12.294 (4/5)
2017 Metropolitan Division Sidney Crosby 10.73 (4/5)
2018 Pacific Division Brock Boeser 11.136

^ #:Score in final round is listed

Skills Challenge Relay

This event consists of the following relays:

  • One timers – three shooters must each score three goals from various locations in the offensive zone
  • Passing – one passer must complete a pass into six small nets
  • Puck Control Relay – one skater with the puck skates through a series of cones
  • Stick Handling – one skater controls the puck through a series of pucks
  • Accuracy Shooting – one shooter must hit four targets

Two groups of each team participate: one-timers having left-hand shooters in one group and right-hand shooters in another.

Winners

Season Team
2011 Team Lidstrom
2012 Team Alfredsson
2015 Team Foligno
2016 Western Conference
2017 Metropolitan Division

Hardest Shot

The purpose of the event is to have the hardest shot. Zdeno Chara owns the record for the hardest shot with 108.8 mph (175.1 km/h) in 2012, besting his own previous record of 105.9 in 2011. Prior to 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 108.5 mph (174.6 km/h) in 2015, 108.1 (174 km/h) and 107.8 (173.5 km/h) on his post-match gala shot.

Winners

Season Player Speed (mph)
1990 Al Iafrate 96.0
1991 Al MacInnis 94.0
1992 Al MacInnis 93.0
1993 Al Iafrate 105.2
1994 Al Iafrate 102.7
1996 Dave Manson 98.0
1997 Al MacInnis 98.9
1998 Al MacInnis 100.4
1999 Al MacInnis 98.5
2000 Al MacInnis 100.1
2001 Fredrik Modin 102.1
2002 Sergei Fedorov 101.5
2003 Al MacInnis 98.9
2004 Sheldon Souray
Adrian Aucoin
102.2
2007 Zdeno Chara 100.4
2008 Zdeno Chara 103.1
2009 Zdeno Chara 105.4
2011 Zdeno Chara 105
2012 Zdeno Chara 108.8 - Record
2015 Shea Weber 108.5
2016 Shea Weber 108.1

107.8 (gala shot)

2017 Shea Weber 102.8
2018 Alexander Ovechkin 101.3

NHL Shootout

The purpose of this event is for individual shooters to try and score on a breakaway against an opposing goalie. It is similar to the past event, Elimination Shootout, however, the shooter is not eliminated. The contest continues for three 2 minute rounds as six skaters from each team per round gets a chance to score on the opposing team's goalie, gathering enough points until time runs out. Goals scored with game pucks equal 1 point, while Discover shootout pucks equal 2 points.

Winners

Season Team Score
2016 Eastern Conference 17–4
2017 Atlantic Division 4–1

Four Line Challenge

This event made its debut in 2017. The purpose of this event is for four skaters from each team to earn points by scoring goals from each line on the ice.

  • 1st skater - two shots from near blue line. Goal in upper corners of the net = 1 point.
  • 2nd skater - two shots from center ice. Goal in lower corners = 1 point. Goal in upper corners = 3 points.
  • 3rd skater - two shots from far blue line. Goal in lower center corner ("five hole") = 1 point. Goal in upper corners = 5 points.
  • 4th skater - two shots from far goal line. Goal in "five hole" = 10 points. If goalie scores = 20 points.

Winners

Season Team Score
2017 Pacific Division 23 points

Passing Challenge

This event made its debut in 2018. 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 successfully 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

Season Player Time
2018 Alex Pietrangelo 46.610 seconds

Save Streak

This event made its debut in 2018. The purpose of this event is for goaltenders to earn points for their division by saving as many pucks as possible against an opposing division's shooter in NHL shootout fashion. The goaltender with the longest "save streak" and most saves wins the competition. Note: the winning goaltender receives $25,000.

  • Each scoring attempt is officiated in accordance with NHL shootout rules and begins on the referee's whistle.
  • Each goalie will face all players from an opposing division.
  • Players from each division will shoot numerally with the division captain shooting last.
  • If a goalie saves the divisional captain's shot, he will continue to face shooters until a goal is scored.
  • If there is a tie for the longest "save streak", the winner will be determined by the total number of saves made in their round.

Winners

Season Team Saves
2018 Marc-Andre Fleury 14 consecutive saves

Puck Control Relay

The purpose of the event is to be fastest skater over the course while also maintaining control of the puck through a series of pylons. There are two races; the first where each team has three skaters in a race against each other and the second for the best individuals of each conference. One goal awarded to the winning team of each competition.

This event returned in 2018. Skaters from each division earn points on their skills with puck handling in the fastest time possible. Note: each still must be completed before moving on to the next station.

  • Stick-handling: each skater must control the puck through a series of eight pucks.
  • Cone Control: each skater with a puck must skate through a series of eight cones.
  • Gates: as a skater approaches each gate, he must shoot the puck through the lit rung.

Winners

Season Team Player Time
1990 Campbell Conference none
1991 Campbell Conference none
1992 Campbell Conference none
1993 Wales Conference none
1994 Eastern Conference Russ Courtnall
1996 Western Conference Pierre Turgeon
1997 Western Conference Geoff Sanderson
1998 World Teemu Selanne
1999 North America Paul Kariya
2000 North America Paul Kariya
2001 North America Paul Kariya
2002 North America Paul Kariya
2003 Eastern Conference Martin St. Louis
2004 Western Conference Rick Nash
2007 Western Conference Rick Nash
2008 Western Conference Shawn Horcoff
2018 Pacific Division Johnny Gaudreau 24.65 seconds

Past Events

Elimination Shootout

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 Player
2008 Dion Phaneuf
2009 Shane Doan
2011 Corey Perry
2012 Steven Stamkos

Breakaway Relay

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 number of goals.

Winners

Season Team Player
1991 Campbell Conference Mike Vernon
1992 Wales Conference Mike Richter
Don Beaupre
1993 Campbell Conference Jon Casey
Mike Vernon
Ed Belfour
1994 Western Conference Curtis Joseph
1996 Eastern Conference Dominik Hasek
1997 World Dominik Hasek
Guy Hebert
1998 World
North America
Dominik Hasek
1999 World Dominik Hasek
Arturs Irbe
2000 World Tommy Salo
2001 World Sean Burke
Evgeni Nabokov
2002 North America Dominik Hasek
Patrick Roy
2003 Western Conference Patrick Roy
2004 Eastern Conference Roberto Luongo
2007 Western Conference Roberto Luongo

Goaltenders Competition

Points are awarded to the goalie allowing the fewest goals against in In the Zone and Shootout/Breakaway Relay Events.

Winners

Season Player Goals Against, Shots
1990 Kirk McLean 4, 27
1991 Patrick Roy 2, 25
1992 Mike Richter 2, 25
1993 Jon Casey 5, 40
1994 John Vanbiesbrouck
Patrick Roy
4, 16
1996 Dominik Hasek 4, 16
1997 John Vanbiesbrouck 2, 16
1998 Dominik Hasek 3, 16
1999 Arturs Irbe 2, 16
2000 Mike Richter 2, 16
2001 Sean Burke 4, 13
2002 Dominik Hasek
Patrick Roy
1, 9
2003 Patrick Roy 1, 9
2004 Roberto Luongo 1, 12
2007 Roberto Luongo 0, 12

SuperSkills Conference winner

Season Team
1990 Campbell Conference
1991 Wales Conference
1992 Wales Conference
1993 Campbell Conference
1994 Western Conference
1996 Western Conference
1997 Eastern Conference
1998 World
1999 World
2000 World
2001 North America
2002 World
2003 Western Conference
2004 Eastern Conference
2007 Eastern Conference
2008 Eastern Conference
2009 None
2011 Team Staal
2012 Team Alfredsson
2015 Team Foligno
2016 Eastern Conference
2017 Atlantic Division
2018 None

In 2009, there was no score kept. In 2016, the winning conference was given the choice of whether to play the first or second mini-game in the All-Star Game the next day. In 2017, the winning division was given the choice of which opponent to play first in the All-Star Game.[3] In 2018, even through there were four divisions, the competition focused on individual player and no score was kept.

References

  1. "Bauer Ice Skate History from the very beginning to the latest models". www.iceskatehistory.co.uk.
  2. NHL.com - 2007 All-Star Game Coverage. NHL.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  3. "NHL All-Star Skills Competition assignments set". NHL.com. January 27, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017. The division team with the most points at the end of the Skills Competition will be able to pick its opponent for the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVA Sports), and whether they play in the first or second semifinal.
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