Report: 2016 NHL All-Star Game will have new 3-on-3 tournament format

Rather than consist of one 60 minute, five on five game, the All-Star Game in Nashville this coming January will instead feature three 20 minute, three on three divisional tournaments.

The 2016 NHL All-Star Game will take on a different format than in previous years, reports Bob McKenzie of The Sports Network.

Rather than consist of one 60-minute, five-on-five game, the All-Star Game in Nashville this January will instead feature three 20-minute, three-on-three tournaments based on NHL division.

Each of the NHL’s four divisions (Metropolitan, Central, Pacific and Atlantic) will be represented by nine to 10 skaters and two to three goalies. The Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions will compete against the Pacific and Central divisions in 20-minute, three-on-three games. The winning division from the Eastern Conference and the winning division from the Western Conference will then face off in one final game to determine the All-Star Game champions.

McKenzie also reports that the NHL will do away with the fantasy player draft run by a group of individual team captains. 

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The Players’ Association has reportedly signed off on the changes, and the NHL is expected to make an official announcement on Wednesday.

- Xandria James