NHL reportedly drops Olympic sendoff event; Islanders to host 2027 All-Star Weekend

The NHL has reportedly canceled its Olympic send-off event scheduled for February at the New York Islanders’ UBS Arena and plans to hold the 2027 All-Star Weekend there instead, according to two people familiar with the decision.

Two people familiar with the decision spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league has not yet made an official statement. ESPN first reported the move during its broadcast of Tuesday’s Boston-Florida game.

UBS Arena was originally planned to host the 2026 All-Star Weekend as a launching point for players, coaches and staff to travel to Milan for the Winter Olympics. However, following the success of the 4-Nation Challenge tournament earlier this year, league officials re-evaluated the value of holding a traditional All-Star event this close to the Olympic break, often consisting of skills competitions and 3-on-3 matches.
While the Olympics are expected to return in 2026 and the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, NHL officials stated that the Islanders will likely host All-Star festivities last year. The league is now targeting the weekend of February 5-7, 2027 for the event.