New York Islanders

Islanders Mathew Barzal To Compete In NHL All-Star Skills Competition

Published

3 months ago

January 30, 2024

Andrew Fantucchio

AP Photo/Stacy Bengs

New York Islanders fans are well aware of the skill that Mathew Barzal possesses.

Now, the forward will get the chance to put those skills to the test after being selected to compete in the All-Star Skills Competition on Friday, Feb. 2, as part of the NHL’s All-Star Weekend.

#NHLAllStar Update: @NYIslanders forward Mathew Barzal will replace injured Jack Hughes in the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook.

Details: https://t.co/5hcYJebmMw pic.twitter.com/nwy1jwRalU

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 30, 2024

Barzal will replace New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, who is currently dealing with an upper-body injury.

The NHL All-Star Skills Competition will feature events to determine skills such as hardest shot, stick handling, one-timers, passing, shooting accuracy and skating speed. In 2020, Barzal won the fastest skater competition.

The winner of the competition will take home a $1 million prize.

Barzal will be part of a 12-person field that includes: David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Auston Matthews and William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks.

With 51 points and 13 goals, Barzal is the lone Islander at the NHL All-Star Game this year in Toronto.

The NHL All-Star Weekend will begin on Thursday, Feb. 1, with a player draft to determine teams, followed by the Skills Competition on Friday and end with the All-Star Game itself on Saturday.