NHL to Base Selection of All-Star Coaches on Current Performance

Although the NHL has made no announcement, general managers have voted to change the process that determines the coaches for its All-Star game.

Instead of the duty automatically going to the coaches of the previous season’s conference champions, the coaches whose teams have the best winning percentage in their respective conferences on the day All-Star balloting concludes will be behind the benches Jan. 20 at the FleetCenter in Boston.

If the balloting were to end today, the Western Conference coach would be Marc Crawford of the Colorado Avalanche and the East would be coached by Doug MacLean of the Florida Panthers. Under the old system, the coaches would have been Scotty Bowman of the Detroit Red Wings, who won the Western conference title last season, and Jacques Lemaire, whose New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup.

Balloting will end Dec. 27.