Here’s the full 2017 NHL Draft order of selections

By Mike HalfordJun 24, 2017, 11:56 PM EDT

Getty

Here they are, all 217 selections from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft from the United Center in Chicago. For the entire Round 1 recap, complete with analysis, click here.

Round 2

32. Colorado — Conor Timmins, D, OHL Sault Ste. Marie

33. Vancouver — Kole Lind, RW, WHL Kelowna

34. Vegas — Nicolas Hague, D, OHL Mississauga

35. Philadelphia (from Arizona) — Isaac Ratcliff, LW, OHL Guelph

36. New Jersey — Jesper Boqvist, C, SHL Brynas

37. Buffalo — Marcus Davidsson, C, SHL SJurgarden

38. Detroit — Gustav Lindstrom, D, SHL Almtuna

39. Dallas — Jason Robertson, LW, OHL Kingston

40. Florida — Aleksi Heponiemi, C, WHL Swift Current

41. L.A. — Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C, WHL Spokane

42. Carolina — Eetu Luostarinen, C, SM-liiga Kalpa

43. Winnipeg — Dylan Samberg, D, Hermantown (Minnesota HS)

44. Arizona (from Philadelphia) — Filip Westerlund, D, SHL Frolunda

45. Columbus (from Tampa-Vegas) — Alexander Texier, C, France

46. New York Islanders — Robin Salo, D, SM-liiga Sport

47. Ottawa (from Calgary) — Alex Formenton, LW, OHL London

48. Tampa Bay (from Toronto) — Alexander Volkov, RW, KHL SKA St. Petersburg

49. San Jose (Boston-New Jersey) — Mario Ferraro, D, USHL Des Moines

50. Anaheim (San Jose-Toronto) — Maxime Comtois, LW, QMJHL Victoriaville

51. Pittsburgh (St. Louis) — Zachary Lauzon, D, WMJHL Rouyn-Noranda

52. Carolina (New York Rangers) — Luke Martin, D, NCAA Michigan

53. Boston (Edmonton) — Jack Studnicka, C, OHL Oshawa

54. Buffalo (Minnesota) — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, SM-liiga HPK

55. Vancouver (Columbus) — Jonah Gadjovich, LW, OHL Owen Sound

56. Montreal — Josh Brook, D, WHL Moose Jaw

57. Chicago — Ian Mitchell, D, AJHL Spruce Grove

58. Montreal (Washington) — Joni Ikonen, C, SHL Frolunda

59. Toronto (Ottawa) — Eemeli Rasanen, D, OHL Kingston

60. Anaheim — Antoine Morand, C, QMJHL Acadie-Bathurst

61. Nashville — Grant Mismash, LW, US U-18 NTDP

62. Vegas (Pittsburgh-Carolina) — Jake Leschyshyn, C, WHL Regina

Round 3

63. New Jersey (Colorado) — Fabian Zetterlund, LW, SHL Farjestad

64. Vancouver — Michael DiPietro, G, OHL Windsor

65. Vegas — Jonas Rondbjerg, RW, SHL Vaxjo

66. Florida (Arizona) — Maxwell Gildon, D, USA U-18 NTDP

67. Carolina (New Jersey) — Morgan Geekie, C, WHL Tri-City

68. Montreal (Buffalo) — Scott Walford, D, WHL Victoria

69. Arizona (Detroit-San Jose) — MacKenzie Entwistle, RW, OHL Hamilton

70. Chicago (Dallas) — Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW, KHL Lvy St. Petersburg

71. Detroit (Florida) — Kasper Kotkansalo, D, USHL Sioux Falls

72. L.A. Matt Villalta, G, OHL Sault Ste. Marie

73. Carolina — Stelio Mattheos, RW, WHL Brandon

74. Winnipeg — Jonathan Kovacevic, D, NCAA Merrimack

75. Arizona (Philadelphia) — Nate Scharr, C, OHL Guelph

76. Tampa Bay — Alexei Lipanov, C, KHL Balashikha

77. New York Islanders — Benjamin Mirageas, D, USHL Chicago

78. Edmonton (Calgary-Arizona) — Stuart Skinner, G, WHL Lethbridge

79. Detroit (Toronto) — Lane Zablocki, RW, WHL Red Deer

80. Philadelphia (Boston) — Kirill Utimenko, G, KHL Dynamo St. Petersburg

81. New Jersey (San Jose) — Reilly Walsh, D, Proctor Academy (New Hampshire HS)

82. Arizona (St. Louis-Edmonton) — Cameron Crotty, D, CCHL Brockville

83. Detroit (New York Rangers) — Zach Gallant, C, OHL Peterborough

84. Edmonton — Dmitri Samorukov, D, OHL Guelph

85. Minnesota — Ivan Lodina, RW, OHL Erie

86. Columbus — Daniil Tarasov, G, KHL Ufa

87. Montreal — Cale Fleury, D, WHL Kootenay

88. Detroit (Chicago-Carolina-Chicago) — Keith Petruzzelli, G, USHL Muskegon

89. Buffalo (Washington) — Oskari Laaksonen, D, SM-liiga Ilves

90. Chicago (Ottawa-Carolina) — Evar Barratt, C, US U-18 NTDP

91. Anaheim — Jack Badini, C, USHL Chicago

92. Nashville — David Farrance, D, US U-18 NTDP

93. Pittsburgh — Clayton Phillyips, D, USHL Fargo

Round 4

94. Colorado — Nick Henry, RW, WHL Regina

95. Vancouver — Jack Rathbone, D, Dexter School (Massachusetts HS)

96. Vegas — Maksim Zhukov, G, USHL Green Bay

97. Minnesota (Arizona) Mason Shaw, C, WHL Medicine Hat

98. New Jersey — Nikita Popugaev, LW, WHL Prince George

99. Buffalo — Jacob Bryson, D, NCAA Providence

100. Detroit — Malte Setkov, D, SHL Malmo

101. Dallas — Liam Hawel, C, OHL Guelph

102. San Jose (Florida-New York Rangers) — Scott Reedy, C, US U-18 NTDP

103. L.A. — Michael Anderson, D, USHL Waterloo

104. Carolina — Eetu Makiniemi, G, KHL Jokerit

105. Winnipeg — Santeri Virtanen, C, SM-liiga TPS

106. Philadelphia — Matthew Strome, LW, OHL Hamilton

107. Philadelphia (Tampa Bay) — Maskim Sushko, RW, OHL Owen Sound

108. Arizona (New York Islanders-Philadelphia) — Noel Hoefenmayer, D, OHL Ottawa

109. Calgary — Adam Ruzicka, C, OHL Sarnia

110. Toronto — Ian Scott, G, WHL Prince Albert

111. Boston — Jeremy Swayman, G, USHL Sioux Falls

112. Chicago (San Jose-Vancouver) — Tom Siderlund, C, SHL Skelleftea

113. St. Louis — Alexey Toropchenko, RW, KHL Balashikha

114. Colorado (New York Rangers) — Petr Kvaca, G, Czech League Budejovice

115. Edmonton — Ostap Safin, RW, Czech League Sparta

116. Minnesota — Bryce Misley, C, OJHL Oakville

117. Columbus — Emil Bemstrom, C, SHL Leksand

118. L.A. (Montreal-Dallas) — Markus Phillips, D, OHL Owen Sound

119. Chicago — Roope Laavainen, D, KHL Jokerit

120. Washington — Tobias Geisser, D, Swiss League Zug

121. Ottawa — Drake Batherson, C, QMJHL Cape Breton

122. Anaheim — Kyle Olson, RW, WHL Tri-City

123. New York Rangers (Nashville-New Jersey-San Jose) — Brandon Crawley, D, OHL London

124. Toronto (Pittsburgh) — Vladislav Kara, LW, KHL Ak Bars Kazan

Round 5

125. Colorado — Igor Shvyrev, D, KHL Magnitogorsk

126. Arizona (Vancouver-Edmonton) — Michael Karow, D, USHL Youngstown

127. Vegas — Lukas Elvenes, RW, SHL Rogle

128. Arizona — Tyler Steenbergen, C, WHL Swift Current

129. New Jersey — Gilles Senn, G, Swiss League Davos

130. St. Louis (Buffalo) — David Noel, D, QMJHL Val-D’Or

131. Detroit — Cole Fraser, D, OHL Peterborough

132. Dallas — Jacob Peterson, C, SHL Frolunda

133. Florida — Tyler Inamoto, D, US U-18 NTDP

134. L.A. — Cole Hults, D, USHL Madison

135. Vancouver (Carolina-Chicago) — Kristoffer Gunnarsson, D, SHL Frolunda

136. Winnipeg — Leon Gawanke, D, QMHJL Cape Breton

137. Philadelphia — Noah Cates, LW, Stillwater (Minnesota HS)

138. L.A. (Tampa Bay) — Drake Rymsha, C, OHL Sarnia

139. New York Islanders — Sebastian Aho, D, SHL Skelleftea

140. Calgary — Zach Fischer, RW, WHL Medicine Hat

141. Toronto — Fedor Gordeev, D, OHL Flint

142. Vegas (Boston-Carolina) — Jonathan Dugan, LW, Northwood School (New York HS)

143. New Jersey (San Jose) — Marian Studenic, RW, OHL Hamilton

144. Chicago (St. Louis) — Parker Foo, LW, AJHL Brooks

145. New York Rangers — Calle Sjalin, D, SHL Ostersund

146. Edmonton — Kirill Maksimov, RW, OHL Niagara

147. Minnesota — Jacob Golden, D, OHL London

148. Columbus — Kale Howarth, LW, BCHL Trail

149. Montreal — Jarret Tyszka, D, WHL Seattle

150. Chicago — Jakub Galvas, D, Czech League Olomouc

151. Washington — Sebastian Walfridsson, D, SHL Modo

152. Pittsburgh (Ottawa) — Jan Drozg, LW, SHL Leksand

153. Anaheim — Olle Eriksson Ek, G, SHL Farjestad

154. Nashville — Tomas Vomacka, G, NAHL Corpus Christi

155. Pittsburgh — Linus Olund, C, SHL Brynas

Round 6

156. Colorado (Colorado-San Jose) — Denis Smirnov, RW, NCAA Penn State

157. New York Rangers (Vancouver) — Dominik Lakatos, C, Czech League Liberec

158. Vegas — Nick Campoli, C, OJHL North York

159. San Jose (Arizona) — Jacob McGrew, RW, WHL Spokane

160. New Jersey — Aarne Talvitie, C, SM-liiga Blues

161. Vegas (Buffalo) — Jiri Patera, G, Czech League Budejovice

162. Detroit — John Adams, RW, USHL Fargo

163. Dallas — Brett Davis, RW, WHL Kootenay

164. Detroit (Florida) — Reilly Webb, D, OHL Hamilton

165. New York Islanders (L.A.) — Arnaud Durandeau, LW, QMJHL Halifax

166. Carolina — Brendan De Jong, D, WHL Portland

167. Winnipeg — Arvid Holm, G, SHL Karlskrona

168. Philadelphia — Olle Lycksell, RW, SHL Linkoping

169. Tampa Bay — Nicklaus Perbix, D, Elk River (Minnesota HS)

170. Columbus (New York Rangers-Chicago) — Jonathan Davidsson, RW, SHL Djurgarden

171. Calgary — D’Artagnan Joly, RW, QMJHL Baie-Comeau

172. Toronto — Ryan McGregor, C, OHL Sarnia

173. Boston — Cedric Pare, C, QMJHL Saint John

174. New York Rangers (San Jose) — Morgan Barron, C, St. Andrews College (Ontario HS)

175. St. Louis — Trenton Bourque, D, OHL Owen Sound

176. Nashville (New York Rangers) — Pavel Koltygin, C, QMJHL Drummondville

177. Edmonton — Skyler Brind’Amour, C, U18 Selects Academy (USMAAE)

178. Minnesota — Andrei Svetlakov, C, KHL CSKA

179. Columbus — Carson Meyer, RW, NCAA Miami (OH)

180. Tampa Bay (Montreal) — Cole Guttman, C, USHL Dubuque

181. Vancouver (Chicago) Petrus Palmu, RW, OHL Owen Sound

182. Washington — Benton Maass, D, Elk River (Minnesota HS)

183. Ottawa — Jordan Hollett, G, WHL Regina

184. Florida (Anaheim) — Sebastian Repo, RW, SM-liiga Tappara

185. San Jose (Nashville-New Jersey Devils) Alexander Chmelevski, C, OHL Ottawa

186. Pittsburgh — Antti Palojarvi, D, SM-liiga Luuko

Round 7

187. Colorado — Nick Leivermann, D, Eden Prairie (Minnesota HS)

188. Vancouver — Matt Brassard, D, OHL Oshawa

189. Vegas — Ben Jones, C, OHL Niagara

190. Arizona — Erik Walli Walterholm, RW, SHL Djugarden

191. New Jersey — Jocktan Chainey, D, QMJHL Halifax

192. Buffalo — Linus Weissbach, LW, USHL Tri-City

193. Detroit — Brady Gilmour, C, OHL Saginaw

194. Dallas — Dylan Ferguson, G, WHL Kamloops

195. Boston (Florida) — Victor Berglund, D, SHL Modo

196. Philadelphia (LA-Tampa Bay) — Wyatt Kalynuk, D, USHL Bloomginton

197. Carolina — Eemeli Rasanen, D, SM-liiga Jokipojat

198. Winnipeg — Skyler McKenzie, LW, WHL Portland

199. Montreal (Philadelphia) — Cayden Primeau, G, USHL Lincoln

200. Tampa Bay — Samuel Walker, C, Edina (Minnesota HS)

201. New York Islanders — Logan Cockerill, LW, US U-18 NTDP

202. Calgary — Filip Sveningsson, LW, SHL HV 71

203. Toronto — Roan O’Connell, D, St. Andrew’s College (Ontario HS)

204. Boston — Daniel Bukac, D, WHL Brandon

205. New Jersey (San Jose) — Yegor Zaitsev, D, KHL Balashikha

206. St. Louis — Lias Andersson, D, SHL Lulea

207. New York Rangers — Patrik Virta, C, SM-liiga TPS

208. Edmonton — Philip Kemp, D, US U-18 NTDP

209. Minnesota — Nick Swaney, RW, USHL Waterloo

210. Columbus — Robbie Stucker, D, St. Thomas (Minnesota HS)

211. Winnipeg (Montreal) — Croix Evingson, D, NAHL Shreveport

212. San Jose (Chicago) — Ivan Chekhovich, LW, QMJHL Baie-Comeau

213. Washington — Kristian Roykas Marthinsen, LW, SHL Almtuna

214. New Jersey (Ottawa-San Jose) — Matthew Hellickson, D, USHL Sioux City

215. Chicago (Anaheim) — Joshua Ess, D, Lakeville South (Minnesota HS)

216. Nashville — Jacob Paqutte, D, OHL Kingston

271. Pittsburgh — William Reilly, D, NCAA RPI

Islanders sign Bo Horvat to 8-year deal after trading for him

Associated PressFeb 5, 2023, 5:29 PM EST

Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Islanders signed center Bo Horvat to an eight-year contract less than a week after acquiring him in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.

The team announced the contract Sunday, after their first practice following the All-Star break. Horvat’s deal is worth $68 million and carries a $8.5 million salary cap hit through the 2030-31 season.

General manager Lou Lamoriello joked to reporters at practice on Long Island that Horvat’s contract was “too long and it’s too much money.”

The Islanders sent forward Anthony Beauvillier, prospect Aatu Raty and a protected first-round pick to the Canucks for Horvat on Monday. He was set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season, and the trade was a result of Vancouver and Horvat’s camp being unable to reach a deal last summer.

Lamoriello and Horvat expressed confidence about getting a deal done after the trade. The 27-year-old has scored more than 30 goals for a second consecutive season.

Horvat was chosen as an All-Star and played for the Pacific Division on Saturday despite the trade. He played with longtime Canucks teammate Elias Pettersson and combined on one last goal together before parting ways.

“I want to get going,” Horvat said Saturday after the All-Star 3-on-3 tournament. “That’s enough. Let’s start playing some games and getting to know the guys. I just want to start playing hockey again.”

Horvat was on vacation with his family in Orlando when he was traded. He said coach Lane Lambert wanted him to enjoy All-Star festivities before getting rolling with the Islanders, who play at the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

“Obviously getting my legs under me is going to be No. 1 and getting systems down and obviously chemistry with the new linemates and stuff like that,” Horvat said.

After facing the Flyers and Seattle, Horvat will play against his former team when Vancouver visits UBS Arena on Thursday.

Bruins rolling, rest of NHL making final push for playoffs

Associated PressFeb 5, 2023, 12:40 PM EST

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

SUNRISE, Fla. — Bruce Cassidy’s Vegas Golden Knights lost eight of 10 games going into the All-Star break after leading the Pacific Division at the midway point of the NHL season.

They’re still safely in a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they can’t keep it up.

“We’re still in a good position – that’s the way we look at it,” Cassidy said. “There’s not too many teams that can cruise home the last 30 games in this league, and we’re certainly not one of them.”

Cassidy’s old team, the Boston Bruins, probably could. They’re atop the NHL and running away with the Atlantic Division.

With 39 wins and 83 points through 51 games, Boston is on pace to break the record for the best regular season in NHL history. The Carolina Hurricanes, who beat Boston in seven games in the first round last year, are next in the standings at 76 points.

“Top to bottom, there’s no weaknesses,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

The Bruins are in a class of their own, but the playoff races behind them in the East and West should be hot down the stretch with roughly 30 games to go before the chase for the Stanley Cup begins.

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

The Hurricanes rode a seven-game winning streak into the break, putting some fear into the Bruins in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy and home-ice advantage through the postseason. Winger Max Pacioretty re-tearing his right Achilles tendon five games into his return didn’t slow them down, and if their goaltending holds up, Carolina stands a good chance of reaching the East final.

“This team, it’s a special group of guys,” said Brind’Amour, who captained Carolina to the Cup in 2006 and is in his fifth year as coach. “We kind of show that nightly. It’s just very consistent, and they take their job real serious. They do it right.”

The second-place New Jersey Devils are contending for the first time since 2018. Bottoming out the next season helped them win the lottery for No. 1 pick Jack Hughes, a two-time All-Star who has them winning ahead of schedule.

“Much better than being out of the mix,” Hughes said. “We’re really excited because it’s going to be a lot of important hockey, and it’s going to be really competitive and we’re really pumped to be where we are.”

They’re followed by the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. All three New York-area teams could make it, which was the expectation for the Rangers after reaching the East final last year.

“I think the run last year really taught us a few things and stuff that we obviously could build on for the rest of this year,” 2021 Norris-Trophy winning defenseman Adam Fox said.

ATLANTIC

The Rangers lost to the Lightning in six games last spring, when two-time champion Tampa Bay reached the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season before getting beat by the Colorado Avalanche.

The Lightning are almost certain to face the Toronto Maple Leafs – who haven’t won a playoff series since the NHL salary cap era began in 2005 – in the first round and remain a threat to the Bruins.

But Boston has separated itself despite starting the season without top left winger Brad Marchand and No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins have lost only 12 games under new coach Jim Montgomery.

“You just keep winning,” said All-Star right winger David Pastrnak, who’s tied for third in the league in scoring. “Every single line and every single guy is going and it obviously builds our confidence. It’s funny sometimes what confidence can do in hockey.”

The Islanders should have some more confidence after acquiring 30-goal scorer Bo Horvat from Vancouver, but still need to make up ground to get in.

CENTRAL

Defending champion Colorado climbed in the standings – winning seven of eight going into the break despite an injury-riddled first half of the season. Captain Gabriel Landeskog still has not made his season debut since undergoing knee surgery. It would be foolish to bet against the Avs coming out of the West again.

“It’s up to us: We control our own fate,” All-Star center Nathan MacKinnon said. “We need to definitely keep playing the way we were before the break. No matter who’s in the lineup we were playing well, playing hard, so it would definitely help with healthy bodies.”

They still trail the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild in the Central, and the Nashville Predators are on their heels. Only the Stars and Jets are essentially guaranteed a spot.

“Every point, you grind for it,” Stars leading scorer Jason Robertson said. “Every point’s going to be a dog fight, so it’s going to be a fun 30 games down the stretch.”

PACIFIC

Undisputed MVP favorite Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, who were swept by Colorado in the West final, have a little bit of catching up to do in the Pacific Division.

The top spot is held by the Seattle Kraken, who surprisingly are on pace to make the playoffs in their second season but still need to fend off the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Edmonton – and the Battle of Alberta rival Calgary Flames – have the talent to not only get in but make a run. McDavid leads the league with 41 goals and 92 points, 16 more than No. 2 scorer and teammate Leon Draisaitl, and is producing unlike anyone since Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux in the mid-1990s.

Now he’ll try to carry the Oilers into the playoffs and beyond.

“It hasn’t been easy at all for our group. We’ve kind of had to battle for everything that we’ve got,” McDavid said. “We’ve always been a second-half team for whatever reason. Even since my first year, we’ve always been better in the second half, so we’ll definitely look to continue that. That being said, we’re not going to hang our hat on that and expect that to carry us to the playoffs. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Capitals sign Sonny Milano to 3-year, $5.7 million extension

Associated PressFeb 5, 2023, 12:29 PM EST

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals signed winger Sonny Milano to a three-year extension worth $5.7 million.

General manager Brian MacLellan announced the contract, adding to an already busy All-Star break for taking care of future business. The Capitals extended forward Dylan Strome for five years, $25 million.

Like Strome, Milano has fit in as a new addition for Washington. He’s now set to count $1.9 million against the salary cap through the 2025-26 season.

The 26-year-old Milano has been a near-perfect bargain signing for the Capitals after joining them on an NHL veteran one-year deal after this season got underway. He has eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 40 games since getting called up from Hershey of the American Hockey League.

Originally drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets 16th in 2014, Milano split his first eight seasons in the league with them and the Anaheim Ducks. He went unsigned as an unrestricted free agent last summer despite putting up 34 points in 66 games with Anaheim.

Rivals Crosby and Ovechkin relish being All-Star teammates

Associated PressFeb 4, 2023, 10:52 PM EST

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

SUNRISE, Fla. — Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have played dozens of regular-season and playoff games against each other since breaking into the NHL together in 2005.

The longtime rivals and respective captains of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals have also shared the ice at All-Star Games before. But with each superstar in his mid-30s, they know this trip could be their last together.

They took advantage of it, with Ovechkin setting up Crosby for two goals Saturday in the lone game of the All-Star 3-on-3 tournament their Metropolitan Division team got to play.

“I think we have fun to play together, not against each other,” Ovechkin said, flashing his gap-toothed smile. “Right now, we was on the same team, and it was pretty special, pretty good moment.”

Crosby, who also had the secondary assist on Ovechkin’s goal, did not expect to get the puck back. That’s not unreasonable given Ovechkin has built a career on scoring and is only 82 goals back of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career record.

“I was thinking I just did my job: gave it to him,” said Crosby, whose career numbers are so close to Ovechkin’s that he has just five more points overall. “I thought he was just going finish it, but he was kind enough to send me a couple back. We had some nice goals there.”

Not enough to win the 3-on-3 semifinal against the Atlantic, which beat the Central in the final. Ovechkin lamented not scoring more and took some jabs at his goalie teammates for a day: fellow Russians Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers and Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders.

“Obviously goalie could play better,” Ovechkin said.

Crosby and Ovechkin being together at All-Star weekend for the first time since 2018 was one of the themes of the weekend, given how they shared the stage as faces of the NHL for much of their careers. But they don’t want this to be a Sid and Ovi swan song and could do this again as soon as next year when the festivities are in Toronto.

“You try to go out there have fun and stay in the moment,” Crosby said. “Hopefully, it’s not our last one. That’s the best way to approach it.”

HOMETOWN HEROICS

The introductions for Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk were saved for last.

And of course, the two Florida Panthers stars, representing the Atlantic Division, delivered in their home arena.

“We play regular-season and playoff games here, but with this event, it’s even more special to be here representing the Florida Panthers,” Barkov said.

Tkachuk was clearly comfortable playing in the same arena where has amassed 66 points (sixth in the NHL) this season with the Panthers. He had seven points (four goals, three assists) Saturday, including a goal and an assist in the Atlantic Division’s 7-5 win over the Central Division to take the All-Star game title.

Tkachuk had a hat trick and a pair of assists in the Atlantic squad’s semifinal game against the Metropolitan division – tying a single-game points record for the 3-on-3 All-Star format. Two of those goals were assisted by his Panthers teammate to give their squad a win 10-6 and advance to face the Central division the final.

By the time Barkov and Tkachuk came out for the All-Star game final, “Let’s go Panthers!” cheers were being belted throughout FLA Live Arena.

Barkov, the beloved Panther in his 10th season, has 14 goals this year and 33 assists. He has 234 career goals and 600 points.

BROTHERLY LOVE

Brothers Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk have played against each other plenty over the years. But with both players starting for the Atlantic division, they got to experience playing together as the 11th set of brothers to be All-Star teammates.

The brothers each had a goal in Saturday’s semifinal game between the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions. And Brady assisted on his brother’s goal in the final against the Central division.

Matthew, drafted in 2016 by the Calgary Flames, is a two-time All-Star with 177 career goals and 448 points.

Brady, the younger Tkachuk sibling, was drafted in 2018 by the Ottawa Senators and has 110 career goals and 243 points.

Both were All-Stars back in 2020 in their hometown St. Louis. Brady represented the Atlantic division, while Matthew represented the Pacific squad.

WEATHER WOES

It was 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 Celsius) outside FLA Live Arena when the All-Star 3 on-3 tournament started – more than 50 degrees warmer than 2024 host Toronto. That doesn’t mean this year’s event didn’t have a weather issue.

The NHL All-Star Beach Festival – which had areas where fans could test their hockey skills, get a photo with the Stanley Cup and check out a Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit, among other things – couldn’t open on Saturday.

Rain in the morning delayed the opening on Fort Lauderdale Beach, and then 40 mph (64 kilometers per hour) wind gusts later in the day forced the NHL into keeping it closed and calling off a watch party for the All-Star Game.

It was open Thursday and Friday.