Matthews, McDavid, Bedard among headliners for NHL all-star teams

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews, Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid and Chicago rookie centre Connor Bedard are among the headliners for the NHL’s all-star teams unveiled on Thursday.

Matthews, who was named to the Eastern Conference team, leads the NHL with 30 goals so far this season.

Bedard, the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, leads Chicago and all rookies with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists). The 18-year-old North Vancouver native will become the youngest player in all-star game history.

Montreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki and Ottawa Senators left-winger Brady Tkachuk were also named to the East team. Meanwhile, Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Calgary Flames centre Elias Lindholm made the West squad.

The remaining 12 players, made up of eight skaters and four goalies, will be selected through a fan vote on Jan. 11.

Skills competition

Another fan vote will then be used to select four skaters to take part in the skills competition.

The skills competition, which will be held Feb. 2, will have a new look this year as well. Twelve NHL all-stars will compete for points in eight events, with the one who accumulates the most points taking home a prize of $1 million US.

Each player will compete in four of the first six all-stars skills events, including hardest shot, stick handling, one-timers, passing challenge and accuracy shooting.

All-star weekend runs from Feb. 1-3 in Toronto.

Eastern Conference all-stars:

David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins); Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres); Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes); Boone Jenner (Columbus Blue Jackets); Alex DeBrincat (Detroit Red Wings); Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers); Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens); Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils); Mathew Barzal (New York Islanders); Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers); Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators); Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers); Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins); Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning); Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs); Tom Wilson (Washington Capitals).

Western Conference all-stars:

Frank Vatrano (Anaheim Ducks); Clayton Keller (Arizona Coyotes); Elias Lindholm (Calgary Flames); Connor Bedard (Chicago); Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche); Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars); Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers); Cam Talbot (Los…