2023 NHL All-Star Skills: Flyers’ Kevin Hayes holds his own; Connor McDavid wows
Kevin Hayes couldn’t crack the final four in the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills accuracy shooting competition.
The Flyers’ forward finished off the four targets in 22.377 seconds, good for sixth out of 10 shooters Friday night at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Hayes, a first-time All-Star, enjoyed the night alongside his 3-year-old nephew Beau.
“It’s crazy, he’s a hockey genius right now for a 3-year-old,” Hayes said a week and a half ago. “You ask him about a player, he’ll tell you what team he’s on.”
As the final shooter, Oilers superstar Connor McDavid stole the show by going a perfect 4 for 4 in a mere 9.497 seconds.
Along with McDavid, Brock Nelson, Artemi Panarin and Nazem Kadri advanced to the semifinal round.
Nelson got the best of Kadri in the championship round to win the event.
Here’s how all 10 shooters fared in the opening round:
- 1. Connor McDavid, Oilers 9.497 seconds
- 2. Brock Nelson, Islanders 12.126 seconds
- 3. Artemi Panarin, Rangers 13.235 seconds
- 4. Nazem Kadri, Flames 13.459 seconds
- 5. Nikita Kucherov, Lightning 18.147 seconds
- 6. Kevin Hayes, Flyers 22.377 seconds
- 7. Vladimir Tarasenko, Blues 25.062 seconds
- 8. Aleksander Barkov, Panthers 25.297 seconds
- 9. Jack Hughes, Devils 32.324 seconds
- 10. Leon Draisaitl, Oilers 36.956 seconds
Hayes has scored at a career-best pace this season with 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) through 50 games.
His first All-Star experience holds extra meaning.
“It’s pretty special for him,” Travis Konecny said last month.
The All-Star Game is Saturday (3 p.m. ET/ABC). Hayes will play for the Metropolitan Division team, which won the 3-on-3 tournament last season. In his final All-Star appearance with the Flyers, Claude Giroux took home the MVP honors.
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