Svechnikov wins Fastest Skater at All-Star Skills

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Andrei Svechnikov kept saying he was lucky to win the Upper Deck NHL Fastest Skater at the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills at FLA Live Arena on Friday.

"I do believe that," the Carolina Hurricanes forward said after defeating Los Angeles Kings forward Kevin Fiala in the final round. "It's a little bit of luck and also I just try to go out there and go as fast as I can."

Svechnikov did that and posted a winning time of 13.699 seconds after Fiala completed the course in 14.114 seconds.

"It was lots of fun, to be honest," Svechnikov said. "In the beginning, you are kind of nervous about it, but after the boys make it easy, and you kind of just chill with everyone and talk with everyone. It was a fun day."

It was an enjoyable start to the weekend for Svechnikov. The 22-year-old will be a first-time participant in the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS).

Svechnikov is the Hurricanes' lone player at the All-Star Game, but Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour will be behind the Metropolitan Division bench for the 3-on-3 tournament Saturday.

The Hurricanes (34-9-8) rolled into the All-Star break with seven straight wins, have points in 10 consecutive games (9-0-1) and lead the Metropolitan with 76 points, eight ahead of the second-place New Jersey Devils.

Svechnikov, who is third on Carolina with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 51 games, is looking forward to the 3-on-3 competition and getting to play alongside players who are usually his rivals.

"It's going to be another exciting day and I can't really wait for that," he said. "It's going to be fun playing 3-on-3."

Svechnikov said he was "pretty pumped" when he found out earlier this week that he would be competing in the Fastest Skater event. But there were also some nerves before skating in the preliminary round.

"It's hard at the time because you don't warm up really well and it's kind of scary too," he said. "You can pull something, but thank God I was fine and I was just hoping I would not fall out there. That was the one thing I was worried about."

Svechnikov and Fiala advanced to the final after being the fastest two skaters in the preliminary round. Svechnikov also had the fastest time in the preliminary round at 13.757 seconds. Fiala posted a time of 13.997 seconds in the preliminary round.

"I was kind of a little nervous in the beginning the first time," Svechnikov said. "But when I went there and just skated a little bit, I was actually fine after that."

Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson, who was a late replacement for injured Seattle Kraken rookie forward Matty Beniers, finished third with a time of 14.197 seconds.

Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, who set the record when he won the event in 2016 (13.172), finished fourth by completing the course in 14.558 seconds.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar went first, fell while making the final turn and finished fifth with a time of 22.304 seconds. Makar had a laugh about it afterward.

"It happens," Makar said. "You can't really do much about it in the moment. I just caught a little edge or slipped there, and it is what it is. … It's tough when it happens, but you've just got to live with it and have fun with it."

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who won the Fastest Skater in 2017, 2018 and 2019, is representing them at the All-Star Game, but did not participate in the Fastest Skater event this year.

"He would definitely beat me," Svechnikov said. "That's for sure. So, that's where I got lucky."

RESULTS

Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes, 13.699

Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings, 14.114

Chandler Stephenson, Vegas Golden Knights, 14.197

Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings, 14.558

Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, 22.304