The NHL and NHLPA have revealed that the 2027 NHL All-Star Game will be hosted by the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. This announcement came just before Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. Contrary to speculation about its cancellation in favor of the Four Nations tournament, Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh confirmed the All-Star Game’s return, emphasizing its role as a precursor to the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.
The 2027 event will adopt an international structure, featuring five distinct teams: the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, and a “World” team composed of top global talent. Notably, Russian athletes will participate in this NHL-sanctioned event.
The tournament format will be a three-on-three, round-robin exhibition. Each team will comprise 11 players (nine skaters and two goaltenders) and will play four 5-minute games. Ties will not be settled by overtime or shootouts. Following the round-robin, the top two teams will advance to a 10-minute final. Points will be awarded as follows: 2 for a win, 1 for a tie, and 0 for a loss. The winning team stands to claim a $2 million prize.
Both the NHL and NHLPA will be responsible for selecting 30 players for the participating teams, while fans will have the opportunity to vote for eight players on each team.
The NHL Skills Competition will also undergo significant changes. While the Young Stars Game will not be revived, 10 “Young Stars” aged 25 and under will compete in eight NHL- and NHLPA-selected events. Players will compete in four of the first six events: Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Passing Challenge, One Timers, Stick Handling, and Accuracy Shooting. Points will be awarded based on performance in these events.
The top four performers will then proceed to a shootout against one of four All-Star goaltenders. The two highest-scoring players from the shootout will advance to the final event: the Obstacle Course. The player with the highest cumulative score will be crowned the All-Star Skills Champion and will receive a $1 million prize.
The decision to host the All-Star Game at UBS Arena was made during the 2024 Stadium Series. While its execution was delayed due to the 2025 Four Nations tournament and the 2026 Olympics, the New York Islanders and UBS Arena will finally take center stage in February 2027.
