Connor McDavid helped the NHL revamp its sagging abilities competitors, then the Edmonton Oilers captain went out and gained the US$1-million prize.
McDavid gained the quickest skater, stickhandling, taking pictures accuracy and impediment course occasions Friday after aiding the league in re-imagining part of the all-star weekend that had misplaced a lot of its lustre in recent times.
Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar completed second. David Pastrnak (Boston), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado), Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton), Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay), Auston Matthews (Toronto), William Nylander (Toronto), Elias Pettersson (Vancouver), Mathew Barzal (New York Islanders), J.T. Miller (Vancouver) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver) made up the remainder of the sector.
Final yr’s disappointing abilities competitors in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., featured occasions on each a golf course and the seashore — an total flop that pushed the NHL to look to rekindle curiosity from each gamers and followers.
The abilities competitors adopted Thursday’s all-star participant draft forward of Saturday’s four-team showcase.
The 12 gamers took half in 4 of the primary six occasions — the quickest skater, hardest shot, stick dealing with and one-timers, plus passing and taking pictures accuracy — with factors awarded to every competitor.
The sector was then lower right down to eight as soon as goaltenders have been launched for the one-on-one showdown.
Two extra rivals have been shed heading into the ultimate occasion — an impediment course.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was additionally on the ice together with injured Chicago Blackhawks centre and 2023 No. 1 choose Connor Bedard.
McDavid gained the quickest skater for a fourth time, ending his blazing lap of the Scotiabank Area ice in 13.408 seconds to prime Barzal (13.519), who beat the three-time NHL MVP in the identical occasion in 2020.
MacKinnon gained the brand new one-timer occasion, which noticed factors awarded for the place the puck hit the online.
Pettersson took the passing accuracy problem after some followers began to boo Kucherov with the ahead showing to not give sufficient effort within the occasion.
Makar gained the toughest shot with a 102.56-mile-per-hour blast. Zdeno Chara’s file of 108.8 miles per hour from 2012, nevertheless, is secure for a minimum of another yr.
McDavid gained the stickhandling occasion with a time of 25.755 seconds. The NHL’s factors chief this season, Kucherov once more ambled by way of the course, resulting in extra boos from the gang.
McDavid, a local of close by Richmond Hill, Ont., competing in his de facto hometown in a rink the place he watched the Maple Leafs rising up, then picked up one other win within the taking pictures accuracy by going 4-for-4 in simply 9.158 seconds after ending second final yr.
The highest eight — McDavid, Makar, Barzal, Pettersson, Matthews, Miller, MacKinnon, Nylander — superior to the one-on-one shootout occasion.
Nylander took that competitors with a terrific exhibiting that included a one-handed breakaway transfer from the Swede that was harking back to countryman Peter Forsberg’s shootout transfer within the 1994 Olympics, whereas Colorado’s Alexandar Georgiev gained $100,000 for the most effective goaltending efficiency.
Petterson and MacKinnon have been eradicated, leaving six remaining gamers for the ultimate impediment course, with McDavid successful in a time of 40.606 seconds — and the $1-million payday.
