February 5, 2024 by Eric Friesen

When the best players in the NHL assembled in Toronto for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid shone the brightest.

It was a weekend of hockey festivities, interactive fan events, live music and celebrity guests. On Friday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also announced that NHL players would be returning to the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics, and that the NHL and NHLPA would be holding the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off next February. The focus, however, kept coming back to the Oilers captain.

For the sixth time in seven All-Star Game appearances (the most by any NHL all-star this year), McDavid was selected as the captain of his team. Team McDavid might have lost in the NHL All-Star Game final, but he stole the show in his hometown this weekend.

McDavid showcases his brilliant skills

McDavid dominated the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills to claim the $1 million prize at Scotiabank Arena on Friday. McDavid, who was one of the players that helped the NHL revamp the skills competition to crown an overall champion for the first time since it started in 1990, was victorious under the new format. While he isn’t running away with the scoring race this season, McDavid’s performance in the All-Star Skills provided a clear reminder to the entire hockey world that he’s still the best player on Earth.

Blessed with unparalleled speed and agility, McDavid completed a lap in a time of 13.408 seconds to win the Fastest Skater and earn five points, positioning him atop the All-Star Skills leaderboard. The 27-year-old became the first player to ever win the Fastest Skater event four times (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024). It was his third-fastest lap in the six times he’s participated in the event since 2017.

There are a few players in the league that can go stride-for-stride with McDavid in a straight-line race. But when it comes to controlling the puck in full flight, there’s no one even close to him. With hands that move as quickly as his feet, McDavid posted a time of 25.755 seconds to win the Stick Handling. In winning his second event of the night, McDavid moved into a tie for second with Elias Pettersson at 10 points, one point back of Cale Makar and Mathew Barzal for the overall lead.

After finishing outside of the top five in the Passing Challenge, McDavid went 4-for-4 in 9.158 seconds to win the Accuracy Shooting. McDavid became the first player to ever start 12-for-12 in this event in a career, and posted the second-fastest perfect score, trailing only Daniel Sedin in 7.3 seconds in 2011. His third event victory vaulted him into first place again, with 15 points.

Then, after earning no points in the One-on-One against goalie Alexandar Georgiev, McDavid trailed Makar by seven points, and needed either a first or second place finish in final event to take home the title. The Newmarket, Ontario native registered a time of 43.435 seconds to win the Obstacle Course and was crowned the first-ever NHL All-Star Skills champion. McDavid was also the first player to ever win four events in a single NHL skills competition.

“[I enjoyed] the obstacle course the most,” said McDavid in his media availability on Friday. “I thought that one was cool. It kind of tied in all different aspects of the game. I thought it was good. I thought it was entertaining. It was fun to be a part of.”

Always a team-first guy, McDavid intends to share some of the $1 million prize with his Oilers teammates who he goes to battle with night after night.

“I haven’t really put much thought into [what I will do with the money]. I know I’m going to have some teammates back home who are going to be very interested in what I’m going to do with it. But I’m going to have to try and figure it out. Obviously, maybe donate some it, give some of it to my teammates. We’ll see. There’s a lot of good options.”

Team McDavid battled until the end

Following an all-time performance in the skills competition on Friday night, McDavid looked to lead his team to victory in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game on Saturday afternoon. McDavid previously captained the Team Pacific to victory in the 3-on-3 tournament in 2018 and 2020.

Trailing 3-1 late in the the All-Star Game semi-final, Team McDavid pulled the goalie, allowing them to get three 50-goal scorers in McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak on the ice. McDavid, the extra attacker, dished a backhand pass to Pastrnak at the end the top of the circle, who fired home a wicked wrist shot to cut the deficit to one with 31.5 seconds to play.

Then, with the goalie still pulled, McDavid found some open ice at the side of the net and tucked home a one-touch pass from Pastrnak to even the score at three with 5.4 seconds left on the clock. After factoring in on both late-game goals to tie the game, McDavid scored in the shootout en route to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Team MacKinnon.

In the All-Star Game final, Team McDavid fell behind 3-1 in the first-half, but Pastrnak and Draisaitl scored 13 seconds apart to knot it up at three. However, Team Matthews responded with three straight goals in the second-half to take a 6-3 lead. McDavid picked up another assist on a Tomas Hertl goal, but that’s as close as Team McDavid would come, as they ultimately dropped a 7-4 decision in the final.

While the NHL All-Star Game won’t be the most thrilling hockey anyone will watch this season, McDavid insists that his team wasn’t mailing it in. They are NHL players with pride and they want to win.

“I thought guys were [trying hard] the whole time,” said McDavid following the 2024 NHL All-Star Game. “That’s what it felt like for me. I was trying. I thought it was a good showing from everybody. I thought it was great.”