What is the NHL All-Star Draft? Full Buffalo Sabres History

NHL All-Star Weekend is bringing back an exciting concept called the NHL All-Star Player Draft. We haven’t seen this format since Team Toews defeated Team Foligno 17-12 on January 25th, 2015, so it’s been quite a while since the Player Draft took centerstage. 

If you are new to the NHL, or if you have followed the league for a while now, but this is your first time seeing the returning format, you may be wondering what the NHL All-Star Draft looks like and which members of the Buffalo Sabres participated. 

This format will look different from the one the NHL used during the 2011, 2012, and 2015 games. Instead of a two-team format, we are looking at four teams taking part for 2024, featuring Team Matthews, Team McDavid, Team MacKinnon, and Team Hughes. 

We will also see celebrities Justin Bieber (Matthews), Will Arnett (McDavid), Tate McRae (MacKinnon), and Michael Buble (Hughes) also have a say in filling their respective teams’ rosters. 

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin will find himself in one of the four lineups when the draft takes place at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, February 1st, at 6 PM. No other Sabres player made the event following the fan vote, so Dahlin will be the sole member representing the Blue and Gold. 

Full Buffalo Sabres history in the NHL All-Star Draft

Back in 2011, the Sabres did not have a veteran player in the event. However, Tyler Ennis was one of 12 rookies to take part, representing Team Staal, but he was not active for the game. Another fun fact about the 2011 event is that current Sabres winger Jeff Skinner took part in the action as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, logging an assist.

In 2012, the Blue and Gold saw two players in the event, with Jason Pominville playing for Team Alfredsson and Luke Adam was one of the rookies for Team Chara. Pominville ended up with two points, scoring a goal and an assist, while Adam was inactive. 

And finally, in 2015, Zemgus Girgensons represented the Buffalo Sabres, playing for Team Foligno. He did not score in the event, and Girgensons finished the game at minus-1 on the stat sheet.