Takeaways from NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto

Team Matthews defeated Team McDavid, 7-4, in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game finals at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, wrapping up an action-packed weekend in Toronto filled with good and bad. 

Here are three takeaways from this year's annual showcase. 

Auston Matthews' MVP win makes history 

Unsurprisingly, the Maple Leafs star earned MVP honors playing in front of the hometown fans in Toronto. Matthews' win, coupled with Matthew Tkachuk's in 2023, marks the first time in All-Star Game history that U.S.-born players won the accolade in consecutive seasons. 

Deserving of the MVP or not, Matthews played a role in the victory, netting two goals in the final. He became the fifth Maple Leaf ever to win the award and the first in 33 years, joining Vincent Damphousse (1991), Bruce Gamble (1968), Frank Mahovlich (1963) and Eddie Shack (1962).

Stunningly, all but Damphousse (Chicago) accomplished the feat in Toronto.  

NHL skills competition gets a lift 

The NHL skills competition underwent a bit of a facelift this year, with mostly positive results. Gone were players taking shots on golf courses and at the beach, and back were basic events that allowed the game's greatest to display their skills in an actual hockey environment. 

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, who helped inspire the changes, took the skills competition crown and the newly added million-dollar prize. 

The revamped look brought a lot of excitement to All-Star weekend, something that'd been lacking in recent years. Pittsburgh Penguins' future Hall of Famer, Sidney Crosby, participating in his ninth event, called this year's competition "awesome," backed by the reception from the players and fans.  

Lightning star's damper behavior spotlights an All-Star problem 

Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning put on a downer on an otherwise positive weekend after giving less than total effort during the skills competition on Friday. 

He received boos from the Toronto crowd, which crept up again during Saturday's All-Star contest after he failed to score on a shootout attempt. 

However, while Kucherov's attitude isn't worthy of celebration, it may highlight a more significant problem with All-Star games. The former Hart Trophy winner obviously didn't want to spend his break in Toronto. 

However, in a way, the NHL has forced players to participate or risk possible fines and a one-game suspension. 

If the league insists on keeping the mandate going, they can expect to see more disinterested players like Kucherov in the future.