What year did the first NHL All-Star Game take place?

The first NHL All-Star Game took place in 1947. This event was organized as a way to showcase the league's top talent and celebrate the sport. It was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, featuring the league’s best players at the time, who competed against a team of all-stars from the other teams within the NHL.

The significance of this event lies in its role in promoting hockey and allowing fans to witness the elite players on a single stage. The All-Star Game has since become a staple of the NHL season, evolving in format over the years but maintaining its core purpose of celebrating hockey’s best talent.

The other years listed, although significant in NHL history, do not correlate with the establishment of the NHL All-Star Game. 1940 did not have any major events that tied to the All-Star Game's inception, while 1955 and 1962 also predate or postdate the initial event without being specifically related to it.