Cheeseman also believes the new All-Star Skills could be a showcase for 18-year-old Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who won the Calder Trophy as the League’s rookie of year this season after getting 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 82 games.
The skills competition will feature 10 young stars (25 or younger) competing in as many as six events, out of eight total selected by the NHL and NHLPA, depending on how far they advance.
“Seeing the young players really shine in the format is really cool,” Cheeseman said. “Obviously, we have one of those young players that I think will be participating. Our fans will get to see Matthew shine, which I think should be exciting for us.”
Cheeseman acknowledged there were some delays while the planning to bring All-Star Weekend to UBS Arena evolved, though he thinks, with the changes the NHL and NHLPA came up with, it will be an exciting way to showcase both the League’s players and the Islanders’ home.
“It’s been a lot of anticipation for our fans,” Cheeseman said. “We’ve had a few starts and stops on this a couple times. So, to see something that was innovative, well thought through — the players, the players’ union, the commissioner, everybody weighed in on it, so everybody had their opinion on it. So, I think it’s well thought out.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said it was important for the NHL to follow through on its commitment to the Islanders and UBS Arena and that the new format for All-Star Weekend will add to the excitement.
“Our fans like (All-Star Weekend),” Commissioner Bettman said. “Our (All-Star Weekend) has worked well. We haven’t had some of the issues that some of the other leagues have had. Yes, we even blew ourselves up with 4 Nations by taking it to a whole new level, but there was never anything wrong with the All-Star format that we’ve been using for the last few years. And we think what we’ve laid out to you today is going to be fun and entertaining, and that’s really what it’s all about.”
The Islanders last hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1983, when the Campbell Conference All-Stars defeated the Wales Conference All-Stars 9-3 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Wayne Gretzky was named the valuable player at that event.
