The NHL’s stars have descended upon Las Vegas for the 2022 All-Star Weekend.
The festivities began with the skills competition on Friday night, and included some epic performances. On Saturday, the four divisional squads square off in a tournament to determine bragging rights… and a $1 million payday split between the winning players. Those games begin at 3 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN+.
Before Saturday’s tournament starts, our panel is here to answer some of the most burning questions, like who will win MVP, which line combinations they’re excited to see, and more.
Which combination are you excited to see play together on Saturday?
Victoria Matiash, NHL analyst: Nazem Kadri with another first-timer like Jordan Kyrou, Kirill Kaprizov or Alex DeBrincat. Players bring a different energy to the event when it’s their inaugural visit, and it shows on and off the ice.
Arda Ocal, NHL host: I like the Central forwards — DeBrincat, Kadri, Kaprizov, Clayton Keller, just to name a few. Kyrou and Kyle Connor will be fun additions here too. Lots of interesting combinations with this group.
Kristen Shilton, NHL writer/reporter: My immediate thought was Auston Matthews and Jonathan Huberdeau. Put a unit together featuring those two in 3-on-3 and you’re guaranteed at least one jaw-dropping offensive connection that will fuel our SportsCenter highlight reels for days.
Greg Wyshynski, NHL writer/reporter: Any combination in which Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl aren’t playing together. The novelty of the All-Star Game is to watch unfamiliar combinations of players trying to find chemistry on the ice — or simply find the ice, depending on how the previous night went. We get to watch Connor and Leon all the time with the Oilers. We want to see them skating with Pacific Division rivals.
All of which is another way of saying we want to see Draisaitl skate with Seattle’s Jordan Eberle, whose contract the Oilers had to move in order to hold onto Draisaitl. Intrigue!
Make one bold prediction for the game
Matiash: Auston Matthews will score a lacrosse-style goal. He has potted more goals than anyone — 22 in 22 games — since Nov. 24, and needs to mix it up.
Ocal: Nazem Kadri will win MVP.
Shilton: Adam Pelech will score a goal for the Metropolitan Division.
Wyshynski: For the first time since 2016, the MVP is given to a player from the host team, as Vegas Golden Knights winger Mark Stone takes the honor.
Which division will win the All-Star Game, and who ya got for MVP?
Matiash: The Central Division. Annoyed with being constantly characterized as an ancient (but still capable!) human being — as he inevitably will be throughout the weekend’s broadcasts — Joe Pavelski wins MVP after scoring more goals than all the youngsters.
Ocal: Give me the Central Division too, with Nazem Kadri as the MVP.
Shilton: Riding with the Atlantic Division on this one. Jonathan Huberdeau is the MVP.
Wyshynski: The Pacific Division has won the 3-on-3 tournament three times, and I’ll roll the dice with them in Vegas. Mark Stone, local hero, wins MVP.