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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman delivers crushing news to Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard
Photo credit: NHL.com
The National Hockey League's Gary Bettman has announced the unexpected this past week and it will seemingly play a huge toll in the NHL's future seasons.
The NHL has scheduled an event at the UBS Arena, the New York Islanders' arena, for February 2026, but it won't be the previously planned All-Star Game.
Following the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year, the National Hockey League will be opting for a different approach for next season.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made an announcement regarding the UBS Arena event and claimed that next year's tournament will serve as an ' Olympic kickoff' to mark the return of NHL players to the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place in Milan-Cortina.
This will be the league's first appearance at the Olympics since the 2014 Sochi Games, and Bettman believes this is a great opportunity for the franchise.
« We're in the process of finalizing the schedule and we are comfortable and confident that we will have an event that people will like as a kickoff to going to the Olympics. And then we'll come back and do a more hockey-focused competition event the following year.» Bettman stated.
Details for the upcoming 2026 event are still being finalized as of now, but it is suggested to lead into the Olympic Games, with a larger competition planned for the following year.
This is quite crushing for Bedard, who's only gotten to experience one All-Star Game before they would ultimately be canceled.
Although it is uncertain what the future holds for the former All-Star Game, it looks as though the NHL will most likely be replacing it for good.
Do you think the NHL will ever see another All-Star Game?
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 30 | 279 ANSWERS NHL commissioner Gary Bettman delivers crushing news to Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard Do you think the NHL will ever see another All-Star Game? | ||
| Yes | 75 | 26.9 % |
| Probably | 74 | 26.5 % |
| No | 83 | 29.7 % |
| Probably not | 47 | 16.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
