Players make NHL All-Star Game about bonding with each other

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The fans get to see the best players in one place at Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, and you know what? That includes the players themselves. They are fans too.

Dylan Larkin had six points (five goals, one assist) in the 3-on-3 tournament at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game at FLA Live Arena on Saturday, including a hat trick in the Atlantic Division's 7-5 victory against the Central Division in the final.
But the Detroit Red Wings forward will remember more than that.
He got to meet Wayne Gretzky. He got to share a locker room with Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin. He got to play with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner.
From the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook on Friday to the All-Star Game on Saturday, he got to appreciate his peers, cheer them on and chat with them.
"It was special, very special, probably something I'll remember and tell my kids and grandkids hopefully," Larkin said. "… The mutual respect that guys show at All-Star Weekends are awesome."
The NHL now has an eclectic calendar of other tentpole events: Global Series, Winter Classic, Stadium Series, Heritage Classic, Awards, Draft. The League holds events indoors and outdoors, in traditional and non-traditional markets, at home and overseas.
Each is important in its own way, but the All-Star Game, the original NHL tentpole event, still is too.
The NHL has used different formats over the years to keep the exhibition as competitive and entertaining as possible. This was the seventh time it was played as a 3-on-3 tournament, and by any realistic standard, it was a success.
In the semifinals, the Central Division defeated the Pacific Division 6-4, and the Atlantic Division defeated the Metropolitan Division 10-6.
Among the highlights: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, the NHL's leading scorer, scored on a give-and-go with Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks, the League's top-scoring defenseman.
Crosby scored on two give-and-go plays with Ovechkin, and Ovechkin scored a goal assisted by Crosby.
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk had five points (three goals, two assists) in his home rink, while his brother, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, had four points (one goal, three assists).
"Fall Out Boy" rocked a three-song set between the semis and the final, with flames shooting into the air and the hit "Centuries" accompanying a highlight reel of NHL history on the scoreboard screens.
In the final, Matthew Tkachuk added a goal and assist to clinch the All-Star Game most valuable player award, while his brother added an assist.
"All-Star is an opportunity in the middle of the season to take a break, to bring the NHL family together and have fun," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "And that's what it's about.
"Our guests who come in increasing numbers, no matter where we're playing, have a great time. It's an opportunity to do business. The players have a great time getting together. It's all about having a good time and connecting with our fans in yet another way."
Bettman said All-Star Weekend generates gross revenues, but it doesn't really generate a profit because of the costs involved for travel, fan festivals, parties and entertainers. It's part of a bigger picture for the business and the game.
Sponsors get to come. Players get to come, and they get to bring their families. Fans to get to come, or they get the event to come to their city. Look around at any All-Star Game, and you'll see gear representing teams from across the NHL. You'll see tons of kids. You'll see tons of players' kids. You'll see fans taking picture of players, and players taking pictures of, and with, each other.
"It's a very expensive endeavor, so we don't do this to make money," Bettman said. "We do this as part of an overall reason to be a part of the NHL family as a business partner. … It's all a part of, I guess what they call, branding. This is part of ensuring that people view us in a certain way, which is a big deal as a sports league."
Bettman announced the All-Star Game will return to Toronto next season. The Original Six city has hosted the All-Star Game eight times but hasn't had it since 2000. Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan played in that one as a member of the Red Wings.
"We're really excited to welcome hockey fans from all around the world and the best players in the League to come to Toronto," said Shanahan, standing next to Marner. "As someone like Mitch who grew up in Toronto, we love our hockey, and we love to celebrate the game."
Circle the dates: Feb. 2-3, 2024.
"The city's going to be loving this," Marner said, "getting all the best players in the world in the same place at one time."