NHL Names First Western Conference 2024 All-Star Selections

Jim Parsons January 4, 2024 in Featured, NHL Tagged Connor McDavid, NHL All Star Game - 2 Minutes

In his debut NHL season, 18-year-old Connor Bedard will play in his first-ever All-Star Game, joining captain Connor McDavid and 14 other players chosen to represent the Western Conference in Toronto from Feb. 1-3. Bedard is the youngest player ever to be selected an NHL All-Star, and there’s a solid chance he steals the show.

Introducing your second batch of players headed to #NHLAllStar Weekend! 🌟

You get to vote in the final 12 NOW in the #NHLAllStarVote at https://t.co/JOMxUndKd8 & on X. pic.twitter.com/HW1mUqtmcP
— NHL (@NHL) January 5, 2024

Bedard, along with standout names like Elias Lindholm, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes, and Connor Hellebuyck, make up the Western Conference roster. The rest of the squad will now have to be made up from fan votes. Voting is open now and lasts through Jan. 11.

This Western Conference team was announced shortly after the first group from the Eastern Conference, led by Auston Matthews. With 32 of the 44 names selected on Thursday, the final 12 players will be voted in. From there, designated team captains, accompanied by celebrity captains, will draft the tournament’s four rosters.

As was the case with the Eastern Conference team, there are fans that aren’t happy with names that were left off the list because of the rule that one player must represent each team. There is undoubtedly going to be a case where one or more deserving NHLers are not going, but are in the top-10 in scoring this season.