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2022 NHL All-Star Game Odds, Prediction

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After a year off because of the COVID pandemic, the biggest stars in the NHL are returning to Las Vegas for the the 2022 NHL All-Star Game on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.  For the sixth consecutive all-star event, teams representing the four NHL divisions will compete in a three-on-three, single-elimination tournament that features two 20-minute mini games, with the winners facing off in the final.

Led by Edmonton’s superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Pacific Division enters the tournament as +220 favourites to win it all.  The Atlantic and Central divisions aren’t far behind at +250 each, while the Metropolitan Division is +320.

Why the Atlantic can win

X-factor: Auston Mathews and Jonathan Huberdeau

The Atlantic Division boasts last year’s Rocket Richard Trophy winner, Matthews, and the NHL’s current leading scorer, Huberdeau.  Matthews, who has 29 goals in 39 games, is heating up with four goals and 10 points over his last four games and he’s a player who thrives on a big stage like all-star weekend.  Huberdeau is one of the most underrated players in the NHL simply because of the team he’s on.  He’s leading the league with 64 points (17G, 47A) in 47 games and he has led Florida to the top of the NHL standings.

Why the Central can win

X-factor: Nazem Kadri

The perennial playoff pest, Kadri is in the middle of what will likely go down as the best season of his career.  Not bad that it’s a contract year for him too.  Kadri is a driving force for an Avalanche offence that is the highest scoring team in the NHL.  Despite having teammates like Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, it’s Kadri that leads the team in both points (60) and goals (19).  Coming into the all-star break, he’s scored in three consecutive games and he amassed 21 points (7G, 14A) in the month of January alone.  Kadri is two points away from besting his previous career-high and he should smash that number by the end of the season.

Why the Pacific can win

X-factor: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl

When you look at how much McDavid and Draisaitl have dominated the NHL over the last two years, it’s baffling to try and understand why Edmonton struggles so much.  McDavid, who won the Art Ross, Hart and Ted Lindsay trophies last year, is tied for third in NHL scoring with 60 points (23G, 37A).  Draisaitl, who won the Art Ross, Hart and Ted Lindsay trophies two years ago, is second in NHL scoring with 63 points (32G, 31A).

Why the Metropolitan can win

X-factor: Chris Kreider

Kreider is easily having the best season of his NHL career and leads the league with 33 goals.  He’s surpassed his previous career-high of 28 goals in a season and he is just six points shy of breaking his career-high of 53.  The 10-year NHL vet also leads the league with 17 power-play goals.  The next closest player is Draisaitl with 13.  The Rangers have benefitted greatly from Kreider’s season and he remains the biggest reason New York is tied for top spot in the Metro.  Kreider has accounted for 23 per cent of the Rangers’ goals this year and he has 15 more than Mika Zibanejad, the next highest scorer on the team.

2022 NHL All Star Tournament Prediction

Nazem Kadri, Kirill Kaprizov, Cale Makar, Juuse Saros.  Those are just a few of the names on the Central Division roster.  In a tournament stacked with the NHL’s biggest stars, the Central team stands out above the rest.  The big difference for this team is that they not only have the offensive talent needed for a skill tournament like this, but they also have one of the top goalies in the world in Saros.  Bank on the Central Division winning this tournament.