NHL All-Star Game Betting

Betting on the NHL All-Star Game is a great way to mix things up in the middle of the hockey season.

If you’re going to enjoy watching an event, why not enjoy wagering on it as well? NHL All-Star Weekend offers several different ways to get your money in on one of the most exciting events in sports.

Here’s an overview of all the weekend has to offer, breaking down the various competitions included in the festivities and how you can make smart and potentially very profitable wagers on each of them.

Betting on the NHL Skills Contest

Many fans think the Skills Contest the day before the All-Star Game is actually the most important part of the weekend. While fans critique the effort level of players in the all-star game in pretty much every sport (have you ever watched the Pro Bowl?) the Skills Contest tends to bring out top performances because everyone wants the bragging rights that come with winning the event, as well as a lot of money.

Many online sportsbooks are available for those of you in Canada, with Ontario online sportsbooks the first to launch in the Great White North!

In 2027, the All-Star Skills competition is taking on a new format, as 10 stars aged 25 or younger will compete for a $1 million prize.

The three-round format includes all 10 players first competing in fastest skater, hardest shot, passing challenge, one timers, stick handling and accuracy shooting.

Round 2 includes the top four competing in a shootout against four All-Star goalies, with the final two advancing to the finale which is an obstacle course.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid famously dominated a similar competition at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, topping Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews and others, in case there was any confusion on whether the best players shine in this event.

Betting on the All-Star Game

The All-Star Game itself has evolved over the years from the standard Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format, and the competition is now more complicated than ever. This is actually good news for bettors, as the new format opens up way more opportunity to get some money in.

There will be five teams in the 2027 All-Star game, representing Canada, the USA, Sweden, Finland and “The World.” Each team will have nine skaters and two goalies, who will be selected by a fan vote and NHL/NHLPA choices.

A round-robin tournament will open the competition, with each game being a 5-minute 3-on-3. The top two teams will advance to the championship game, which is a 10-minute game, and the winner will receive a $2 million prize pool.

There are two ways to bet on wins and losses. You can pick an individual game and take the team you think will come out on top, which is essentially like betting the money line in any other sporting event. Pick the winning team and you’re good to go. You can also make an over/under bet on a single game, or a goalscorer bet, just like you’d find with typical NHL odds.

The alternative to that is picking a winner for the tournament. This is essentially an NHL futures bet.

Betting on a team to win the tournament is the best way to connect with the stars from your favorite team. Often times the best teams in the league have 3 or 4 players on a team and you can try and hope their chemistry and skill nets you a healthy pay day.

Picking the MVP Can Be Tough But Profitable

As was mentioned earlier, All-Star Weekend is the only time all of the best players in the world share the same ice. With that saturation of talent comes a laundry list of MVP candidates all worthy of your attention. The good news with all that talent in single competition is that every option comes with incredible odds.

Sidney Crosby won the MVP in 2019 after the Metropolitan Division captured the tournament crown. His payout? A whopping +1000. When you can get that price on one of the game’s top talents, you can only imagine the payouts available if you want to be a little more risky and take a so-called “underdog.”

One important thing to consider when wagering on the All-Star MVP is that it’s a separate award from that of the regular season. Due to the nature of the All-Star tournament, a goalie isn’t going to capture this award. Defensemen also face long odds unless they’re contributing serious points. When it comes to picking All-Star Weekend MVPs, don’t worry about size or how a player performs without the puck – always weight skill and scoring potential over everything else.

Final Advice for NHL All-Star Game Betting

Here’s something you won’t hear us say very often:  just have fun when it comes to handicapping the Skills Competition. Bet the superstars representing your favorite team or the ones you think have the best shot at coming home with a victory. There’s no other way to put it – these competitions are a total toss up. It’s one of the only times when gambling with your heart actually makes the most sense. If you’re sole motivation to bet on hockey is making money, sticking to regular season hockey betting or learning to bet on the NHL Playoffs are safer bets.

When it comes to the game itself, try to pair bets together in a parlay to maximize your pay outs.

Chemistry and skill count more than anything in these games. Picking rosters with multiple pairs and trios is important, as is finding the shifty scorers who can take advantage of the 3 v 3 format. The All-Star Weekend may be quirky in comparison to years past, but it certainly isn’t short on ways for you to get your money in the middle.