2016 National Hockey League All-Star Game

On November 18, 2015, the NHL announced significant changes to the All-Star Game format, replacing the previous two-team format with a 3-on-3 tournament between All-Star teams representing the league's four divisions; the Atlantic division played the Metropolitan, while the Central played the Pacific. Each game was played in two 10-minute halves, and went directly to a shootout in the event of a tie. The winners of the two semi-final games played in a championship game to determine the winner of the competition.[4]

National Hockey League staff and associates voted internally to determine the rosters. Fan voting was altered to match the new divisional format. Voting determined the captains of each division, with the condition the player plays in the division they captain. This change was likely due to recent exploitation of the older method. For example, the fan votes in the 2015 All-Star Game were dominated by Chicago Blackhawks players and Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons, who was voted in following a heavy campaign in his native country of Latvia.[5][6][7][8]

Bridgestone Arena during the game

Florida Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr tried to get fans to not vote for him; at age 43, he stated that he preferred to rest during the All-Star break rather than play in the 3-on-3 format.[9] Girgensons also stated that he did not believe that he deserved an All Star spot this year since he only recorded four points up to that point in the season.[10]

Following weeks of fan voting, the four captains were announced on January 2, 2016. Jagr was selected to lead the Atlantic, along with Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (Metropolitan), Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks (Central) and John Scott of the Arizona Coyotes (Pacific).[11]

Scott received the most votes of any player, despite having only recorded one point in 11 games played with the Coyotes (Scott spent much of the season in the AHL, or as a healthy scratch) and scoring five goals in his entire career up to that point. The situation was compared to Rory Fitzpatrick's All Star campaign in 2007, in which fans vote for a player who would not conventionally be chosen as an All-Star. Despite this, both Scott and the NHL honoured the results.[7][12] Scott was traded out of the Pacific Division and demoted out of the league on January 15, 2016 in a move that sent Scott to the Montreal Canadiens, who in turn assigned him to the American Hockey League's St. John's IceCaps; the trade was expected to make him ineligible to serve as captain in the All-Star Game,[13] but the NHL announced shortly after the trade that he would be permitted to participate as a free agent for the Pacific Division.[14]

The rest of the rosters were revealed on January 6, 2016, with each of the NHL's 30 teams being represented by at least one player at the time the rosters were set (Arizona, whose lone All-Star was Scott, would ultimately not be represented).[15] The coaches for each division's team were determined by the teams with the highest point percentage in each division following the completion of games on January 9, 2016.[4] The coaches with each distinction included: Gerard Gallant (Florida Panthers) for the Atlantic Division, Lindy Ruff (Dallas Stars) for the Central Division, Darryl Sutter (Los Angeles Kings) for the Pacific Division, and Barry Trotz (Washington Capitals) for the Metropolitan Division. On January 21, 2016, the NHL announced the addition of country music stars Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelley, and Chris Young as celebrity coaches to each team; Amy Grant replaced Kelley before the game.[16][17]

Injury replacements were announced on January 28, 2016, with Evgeny Kuznetsov replacing teammate Ovechkin, who was out with a lower-body injury, and James Neal replacing Jonathan Toews, who was out due to illness. To replace Ovechkin's captaincy, John Tavares was awarded the "C".[18]

Atlantic Division[15] Head coach: Gerard Gallant, Florida Panthers[19] Celebrity Coach: Amy Grant[17] Nat. Player Team Pos. # Roberto Luongo Florida Panthers G 1 Ben Bishop Tampa Bay Lightning G 30 Patrice Bergeron Boston Bruins F 37 Leo Komarov Toronto Maple Leafs F 47 Jaromir Jagr (C)[11] Florida Panthers F 68 Dylan Larkin Detroit Red Wings F 71 Ryan O'Reilly Buffalo Sabres F 90 Steven Stamkos Tampa Bay Lightning F 91 Aaron Ekblad Florida Panthers D 5 Erik Karlsson Ottawa Senators D 65 P. K. Subban Montreal Canadiens D 76 Metropolitan Division[15] Head coach: Barry Trotz, Washington Capitals[20] Celebrity Coach: Vince Gill[16] Nat. Player Team Pos. # Cory Schneider New Jersey Devils G 35 Braden Holtby Washington Capitals G 70 Evgeny Kuznetsov[18] † Washington Capitals F 92 Nicklas Backstrom Washington Capitals F 19 Claude Giroux Philadelphia Flyers F 28 Brandon Saad Columbus Blue Jackets F 20 Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins F 71 John Tavares (C)[18] New York Islanders F 91 Justin Faulk Carolina Hurricanes D 27 Ryan McDonagh New York Rangers D 27 Kris Letang Pittsburgh Penguins D 58 Alexander Ovechkin (injured) † Washington Capitals F 8

Central Division[15] Head coach: Lindy Ruff, Dallas Stars[21] Celebrity Coach: Dierks Bentley[16] Nat. Player Team Pos. # Pekka Rinne Nashville Predators G 35 Devan Dubnyk Minnesota Wild G 40 Matt Duchene Colorado Avalanche F 9 Jamie Benn Dallas Stars F 14 James Neal[18] ‡ Nashville Predators F 18 Patrick Kane (C)[11] Chicago Blackhawks F 88 Tyler Seguin Dallas Stars F 91 Vladimir Tarasenko St. Louis Blues F 91 Shea Weber Nashville Predators D 6 Dustin Byfuglien Winnipeg Jets D 33 Roman Josi Nashville Predators D 59 Jonathan Toews (injured) ‡ Chicago Blackhawks F 19 Pacific Division[15] Head coach: Darryl Sutter, Los Angeles Kings[22] Celebrity Coach: Chris Young[16] Nat. Player Team Pos. # Jonathan Quick Los Angeles Kings G 32 John Gibson Anaheim Ducks G 36 Taylor Hall Edmonton Oilers F 4 Joe Pavelski San Jose Sharks F 8 Corey Perry Anaheim Ducks F 10 Johnny Gaudreau Calgary Flames F 13 Daniel Sedin Vancouver Canucks F 22 John Scott (C)[11] No Team[lower-alpha 1] F 28 Mark Giordano Calgary Flames D 5 Drew Doughty Los Angeles Kings D 8 Brent Burns San Jose Sharks D 88

^† Ovechkin was replaced by Kuznetsov due to a lower-body injury.[18]

^‡ Toews was replaced by Neal due to illness.[18]

After the previous game featured black and neon green uniforms with chrome logos, the NHL opted to go with a more traditional design for this game. Once again, the dark uniform was black and the light uniform was white, but the trim colors included dark gray and golden yellow, with the uniform numbers featuring a two-tone beveled design. Both jerseys featured gray upper sleeves and a gray panel on the back containing the nameplate. The three stars of the Flag of Tennessee were featured on the collar of the jersey and the right pants leg.

Because only two jersey designs were used, all four divisional teams were issued jerseys in both colors. In the first game, the Atlantic Division wore black against the Metropolitan Division in white, while in the second game, the Pacific Division wore white against the Central Division in black. For the final game, the Atlantic and Pacific Division teams switched jersey colors, with the Atlantic now wearing white against the black-clad Pacific.

Alongside the 3-on-3 tournament the NHL hosted several other events during the All-Star weekend.

• 2016 NHL Fan Fair[24]
• NHL Mascot Showdown[25]
• 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition[26]
• Live musical performances by Corrina and Vince Gill (U.S. national anthem), Lennon & Maisy (Canadian national anthem), Lee Brice (pre-game performance), Jennifer Nettles (second intermission), Sixwire (house band) and Small Time Rock Stars (house band)[27]
• Colors Presentation during the singing of the Anthems was by the Music City Composite Squadron Honor Guard, Civil Air Patrol (SER-TN-185). Led by C/Lt Col Zachary Divers (U.S. Flag) and also composed of C/CMSgt Liam Howard (C.A.P. Flag), C/CMSgt Patrick May (Right Guard), C/SSgt Teagan Murphy (Left Guard), as well as Capt Eric Howard (Canadian Flag), and Maj Kevin Divers (Tennessee Flag) with Capt Michael May supervising. This was the first time in Civil Air Patrol's 75 year History to have a unit support a Major Professional Sport's All Star Game as a Color Guard or Honor Guard.

• NHL All-Star Game
• 2015–16 NHL season