The Year Without an All-Star Game: NHL Stars Take on the World

While we usually spend early February debating jersey designs and draft picks, the 2025–26 season has been a bit different. For the second year in a row, the NHL moved away from its standard mid-season exhibition to make room for high-stakes international play. Why the 2026 Game was Canceled

The NHL . Instead, the league paused the regular season in February to allow players to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

Don't worry, Isles fans. Commissioner Gary Bettman indicated that is now expected to host the 2027 NHL All-Star Game as a makeup for missing out this year.

Check out the Official NHL Schedule to see when your favorite Olympic stars return to their club teams.

Originally, the were scheduled to host the 2026 All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena . However, in early 2025, the league officially canceled the event to prioritize the return of NHL players to the Olympic Winter Games for the first time since 2014. A New International Calendar