NHL 'Reevaluating' All-Star Game Format Amid 4 Nations Success, Gary Bettman Says

Following the positive reception for the 4 Nations Face-Off last month, changes could be in store for the NHL All-Star Game.

According to ESPN's Kristen Shilton, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman suggested Wednesday that the league is exploring ways to improve the All-Star experience moving forward, saying: "We're reevaluating how we want to do things, because I think we've raised the bar about as high as you can for an All-Star Game in any sport. And so we want to make sure whatever we do is up to the standards that we've created."

There was no All-Star Game this season, as the NHL instead decided to hold the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, which was a four-team tournament featuring the top players from the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden.

Canada defeated Team USA in a thrilling final that went to overtime, putting the proverbial cherry on top of an exciting and widely praised event.

Given that NHL players had not been permitted to compete at the Winter Olympics since 2014, there was a clear and obvious thirst for high-level international hockey among fans.

The 4 Nations was the first best-on-best international tournament involving NHL players since the World Cup of Hockey back in 2016.

NHL players are returning to the Olympics in 2026 and the next World Cup of Hockey is set for 2028, so there may not be a need on the NHL's part to bring back the 4 Nations.

However, the 4 Nations final did viewership huge numbers for the NHL, as it averaged 9.3 million viewers in the U.S. and 16.1 million in North America, making it the second-most-watched hockey game of the past 10 years, per NHL.com.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Shilton that "everything is on the table" regarding the All-Star Game moving forward, and he suggested that an announcement could be made before the start of the playoffs.

The New York Islanders were awarded the right to host the 2026 NHL All-Star Game, and Bettman re-affirmed that they will host whatever the league comes up with, saying: "We've promised the Islanders an event. We're focused on what we need to do. I don't want to be pinned down in this moment. We're still going through our cycle of what we're doing in the here and now. I don't want to have speculation."

Since the inception of the NHL All-Star Game in 1947, there have been many different iterations and formats.

The most common was the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference, but the league also did North American vs. The World for a five-year stretch.

There was even an All-Star Draft for a period of time, meant to add more excitement, unpredictability and fan engagement.

Since 2016, the NHL has held a four-team, three-on-three tournament with each squad representing one of the NHL's four divisions.

While the games have been a bit more competitive, they still mean little in the grand scheme of things, which is why they have largely been met with apathy by the fans.

Based on the popularity of the 4 Nations Face-Off, it is fair to wonder if the NHL may try something else related to international play in lieu of a traditional All-Star Game next year, particularly since it will take place just before the players head to Italy for the Olympics.