MacKinnon, Kucherov highlight NHL’s all-star teams

Some of the best players in the league are being recognized for their work this past season.

On Thursday night, shortly after the 2025 NHL Awards show, the league revealed the 2024-25 First and Second All-Star Teams.

The Winnipeg Jets are heavily prevalent on the First Team. Forward Kyle Connor and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck are on the squad, as are Colorado Avalanche teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

Rounding out the first team are Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Kucherov.

The Jets are coming off the best season in franchise history, winning the President’s Trophy for the first time. Hellebuyck and Connor were huge parts of the team’s success. Hellebuyck became the eighth goaltender to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP, as well as the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender. Connor led the team with 41 goals and 97 points.

Kucherov was in the running for the Hart Trophy but still took home the Ted Lindsay Award as the player’s choice for MVP, as well as the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer following a 121-point season.

MacKinnon was another candidate for the Ted Lindsay after finishing second in the NHL with 116 points. Makar won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defender for the second time in his career, leading all blueliners with 92 points.

Werenski was a key player on a Blue Jackets team that valiantly pushed for a playoff spot, despite dealing with unimaginable adversity following the tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau back in August.

On the Second Team, Kucherov’s teammates Brandon Hagel, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Victor Hedman are being honored, along with Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes.

Hedman, Vasilevskiy and Hagel each played crucial roles in helping the Lightning move back up the Atlantic Division standings. Hagel had the best performance of his career, scoring 35 goals and 90 points in 82 games. Hedman led all Lightning blueliners in scoring with 66 points.

Vasilevskiy finished behind Hellebuyck in voting for the Vezina Trophy, finishing right behind the Jets netminder in almost every statistical category.

Draisaitl was also close to Hellebuyck in voting for the Hart Trophy after an excellent year for him. The German star was the only player in the league to reach the 50-goal mark this year, winning the Rocket Richard Trophy after scoring 52 goals, finishing tied for third in scoring with 106 points.

The man Draisaitl finished tied for in points was Pastrnak. Though the Bruins had a rough season, the Czech sniper continued to produce, finishing fifth in the NHL in goals with 43.

Even though he missed time considerable time due to injury, Hughes once again showed why he was one of the best defensemen in the league, finishing third among blueliners in points behind Makar and Werenski with 76 points in 68 games.