Each year, from the 1984–85 season onward, at the conclusion of the Hockey East regular season, the head coaches of each team vote for players to be placed on each all-conference team.
If a tie occurs for the final selection of any position, both players are included as part of the greater all-conference team.
While many freshmen have wound up on the Second Team, only eight, Brian Leetch, Paul Kariya, Jon Gillies, Jack Eichel, Cayden Primeau, Devon Levi, Scott Morrow, and Lane Hutson have managed to make the First Team.
Rob Gaudreau is thus far the only player to appear on the All-Star teams in more than one position, forward and defense.
In 2016–17, Hockey East expanded the all-star voting to include a Third team.