All-Star blog: Chandler Stephenson

Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson will be keeping a blog throughout the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend. In his second installment, he talks about finishing third with a time of 14.197 in the Upper Deck NHL Fastest Skater competition at the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook on Friday and what awaits him in his first All-Star appearance at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS).

Tonight was awesome! 

The whole experience was amazing and it is kind of a surreal feeling, just talking to the guys in the dressing room and getting to know my teammates here and building friendships. Being in the dressing room before the skills competition was unbelievable, being with all those talented players. The guys talked about little things that maybe happened during the year or something funny that happened. It is a really special time. I had some expectations, but so far it’s going above and beyond that.

There was so much stuff today that stood out; walking the red carpet, warming up with the guys, the introductions, and hanging out in the room. I think it’s one of those weekends that you’ll remember every minute of it, and that’s kind of how it’s been so far. I never imagined any of this, but it is something you hope for and dream of when you’re little.

This whole weekend has just been pinch-me moments and something that will always put a smile on my face when I think about it.

It’s also special having family here and having my little guy, my 8-month-old son Ford, here. My son came on the ice for a fair bit. Anytime he’s at the rink, even in Vegas, he is kind of mesmerized and he follows everybody, follows everything around, the lights, all of it. He is really into it. He has a lot of fun at the rink for sure.

I didn’t do great in the Fastest Skater competition, but being here and being involved is a win in my book. I hadn’t been on the ice since our last game Jan. 28, and then my first time on the ice, all of a sudden, you’re doing a sprint. It is cool to be out there, but obviously you have nerves. To be in the competition was a win for me.

Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche was the first guy to go, and for a guy who is as fluid a skater as he is to fall, it kind of made us take notice. Nobody was too hard on Cale. We gave him the benefit of the doubt. I mean, I know I would be embarrassed, personally. But the guys were just tapping his leg and supporting him, making him feel better. It’s the kind of situation in that I think all the guys understand what happened. You don’t want to be that guy, but Cale is one of, if not the best defenseman in the League. This doesn’t change anything, and he still has an amazing skating ability.

As far as the All-Star Game, I haven’t heard anything yet about who I might be playing with or whatever. It’ll be interesting because we only have one defenseman (Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks). I am looking forward to it and everyone says to just go out there and have fun, but the spotlight is on you so you are a little nervous too. Once the game gets going, you start moving the puck around and moving yourself around, I know it’ll be a lot of fun.

I would consider playing defense for sure if they needed me to. I played defense when I was a little bit younger, and I would do it. I’d enjoy it for sure.