Seven years have passed since the Canes sent a forward to an All-Star Team. Staal and Skinner, in 2011, are the last Carolina forwards named All-Stars. Second-year left winger Sebastian Aho had a good shot at getting that honor this year, but strong offensive production across the Metro blocked that from happening.
As a result, Hanifin is the only Canes player to play in this year’s contest, at Amalie Arena (home of the Tampa Bay Lightning). The Metro’s three-goal defeat in their first game of the tournament, against the Atlantic Division was by no fault of Hanifin individually.
If not for Caps star goalie Holtby allowing five goals on 10 shots against the Atlantic, the Metro could have played in both tournament matchups. While Faulk and the Metro squad took down the Pacific Division All-Stars, from the Western Conference in 2017, Hanifin’s group did not have the same luck.
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The Pacific Team got their revenge and won the 2018 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament, by defeating the Central Division and Atlantic by a combined six goal margin. All three of the games in the tournament were decided by three goals. Hanifin and Brian Boyle, of the New Jersey Devils, were the only two Metro All-Stars held without a point.