As NHL All-Star Weekend continued in Music City, an announcement was made that Los Angeles will host the NHL's 2017 All-Star Game.
It has been set to be Los Angeles’ third time hosting the midseason showcase and first since 2002.
Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement Saturday at his news conference before Sunday's All-Star Game. The Kings will be celebrating their 50th anniversary during the 2016-17 season, while the NHL marks its 100th anniversary.
The Kings will host the skills competition January 28, 2017 with the All-Star Game on January 29. Los Angeles first hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1981.
Ahead of the actual All-Star game Sunday evening in Nashville, there was an array of skills competition scheduled for Saturday evening.
Among the contests were awards for fastest skater, shooting accuracy, breakaway challenge, and hardest shots. There was also a skills challenge relay and shootout challenge.
Shea Weber with a 108.1 blast to repeat as the Hardest Shot champion. #Preds #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/CW3NlbW0uj
— Steve Layman (@SteveLayman) January 31, 2016
The league has been set to introduce its new 3-on-3 All-Star game format Sunday.
The Central stars will meet the Pacific Division stars in a 20-minute semifinal game, with the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions playing in the other. The two winners will meet in a 20-minute championship game.
