Connor McDavid thrilled his hometown crowd by dominating the revamped 2024 NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Friday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The Edmonton Oilers superstar took home the $1 million top prize in dramatic fashion, edging out Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar in the final obstacle course event.
“I was huffing and puffing out there trying to put on a good show for the Toronto fans,” said a beaming McDavid after his victory. “Ultimately it was very competitive and I’m happy we could deliver an entertaining night.”
In recent years, the All-Star Skills Competition had drawn criticism for becoming too gimmicky. But this year, after consulting with top players like McDavid, the NHL went back to showcasing hockey fundamentals.
The new format featured a 12-player tournament with competitors earning points in each round. McDavid set the tone early, winning three of the first six events including Fastest Skater (13.408 seconds) and Accuracy Shooting. His consistency carried him to the final round where Makar was hot on his heels.
But with the title on the line, McDavid turned on the jets and blitzed through the obstacle course in 40.606 seconds – nearly three seconds faster than Makar’s time of 43.435. That was enough to clinch the crown in front of McDavid’s home crowd.
Connor McDavid breezes through the obstacle event and WINS the Skills Competition along with $1M 🚨 pic.twitter.com/VOPRwkXR9G
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 3, 2024
“You could see how badly he wanted to win, especially with the event being in Toronto,” said Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl. “Connor is so competitive and he definitely earned it tonight.”
While McDavid took center stage, other All-Stars also shined brightly. Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev denied McDavid multiple times in the One-on-One Challenge to win $100,000. Meanwhile, Nathan MacKinnon and David Pastrnak each earned 10 points in the Premier Passer event.
When all was said and done, the revamped Skills Competition was a smash hit with fans and players alike. McDavid’s inspirational performance capped a thrilling night that has set the stage for an exciting All-Star Game on Saturday.
“I’m proud of the show we put on and I hope the fans were entertained,” said McDavid. With a million-dollar smile, hockey’s brightest star had ensured that they were.
