Gary Bettman addresses fate of the 2026 All-Star Game

Last month’s 4-nations tournament transformed the landscape of the NHL with its phenomenal success. The audience was massive — with 9.3 million viewers, it was the most-watched non-Olympic hockey game EVER in the United States.

And so on Wednesday when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman held a press conference following the GM meetings, he confirmed how the NHL isn’t committed to holding the 2026 All-Star Game. Ongoing discussions about where things go. He says the 4 Nations Face-Off “raised the bar.”

Elliotte Friedman added:

“Lots of brainstorming behind the scenes about what to do with All-Star Game next season.

“Harder to unwrap it now that Islanders have already announced it…but post-4 Nations, can’t have a flat performance in such a showcase.

“So, alternate plans being discussed."

Clearly, everything is on the table after the success of 4 Nations. And we quickly saw that the NHL All-Star Game isn’t exactly USA vs. Canada for the 4 Nations title…

When the players entered the 4-nations break, it had already been announced that the All-Star Weekend would return at the New York Islanders ‘ UBS Arena next February, as a send-off event ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, which mark the return of NHL players for the first time since 2014.

The 2026 Olympics begin what the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association hope will be constant showing in international best-on-best events. Bettman and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh announced last week the next World Cup of Hockey is scheduled for 2028. Then come the 2030 Winter Olympics, and then potentially another World Cup and so on.