NHL All Star Game In Nashville Will Be Unique

NHL All Star Game In Nashville Will Be Unique

When the NHL All-Star Game is played in Nashville in January, the star-studded proceedings will have a significantly altered look.

For the first time, there will be a four-team, three-game mini-tournament played at three-on-three. Two Eastern Conference teams — the Metropolitan Division and Atlantic Division — and two Western Conference teams — the Central Division and Pacific Division — will face each other in 20-minute games, with the winners advancing to play in a 20-minute championship round.

“The concept of creating perhaps multiple all-star teams and going with a more skilled format and giving players some room to operate and a chance to show off their skills was something we kicked around a couple times over the last couple of years,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said during a Wednesday phone interview.

Each divisional team will feature 11 players: six forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders. Four players — one from each division — will be selected via fan ballot, and the top vote-getter from each division will be designated team captain. The other 40 All-Stars will be chosen by the league’s hockey operations department, with the coaches being determined by the first-place teams in each division following games played Jan. 9.

All 30 teams will have at least one representative. There will be a $1 million prize for the winning club. (continue reading at Tennessean)

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