Auston Matthews also admitted to likely being one of the 12 players that will compete for the winner-take-all $1 million Skills competition prize.

IRVINE, Calif — While the word is out that Auston Matthews will captain one of the four teams for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game set to be held in Toronto, the Toronto Maple Leafs' star forward admitted to being one of the 12 players expected to take part in the skills competition.

"I think so, but I haven’t looked at the full shebang," Matthews said following Leafs practice at the Great Park Ice & Fivepoint Arena in Irvine, California on Friday. 

This year's edition of the skills competition will feature 12 NHL All-Stars competing for points in eight events, with the winner that accumulates the most points taking home a prize of $1 million.

"I think it will make for a better experience for the players and the fans and that is what it’s all about," Matthews said of the event.

The NHL also brought back the popular draft format and is applying it to their existing four-team 3-on-3 format that will see captains draft players along with a celebrity captain.

With Justin Bieber's regular involvement in Leafs-related activities, Matthews was asked if Bieber would join him as one of the celebrity co-captains in the selection process.

"You're asking me?" Matthews questions. "I don’t want to give away anything I’m not supposed to."

Matthews was named as one of the first 32 players for this year's edition of the All-Star Game. Another round of players that are set via social media fan vote.

The 26-year-old Matthews leads the NHL with 30 goals this season.

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