While there's no All-Star Game this season, who would've represented the Hurricanes?

Usually around this time in the season, we're preparing for the All-Star Game, with most of the roster already decided, and a fan vote to name the final few participants coming to a close. However, during the last two seasons, the All-Star Game has been pushed aside for a few best-on-best tournaments. Last year, it was the 4 Nations Face-Off. This season, it's the Winter Olympics

Truthfully, it's for the best. The league has done plenty of things to make All-Star weekend more appealing for the fans. More often than not, it misses and fails to satisfy. If you're a fan of the Carolina Hurricanes, it also means your team is reduced to just one participant, despite usually being near the top of the division over the past eight years.

Without an All-Star Game for the second season in a row, it's fun to consider what it could've looked like. Using the divisions format last used for the 2023 game, I did my best to theorize what the team of Metropolitan Division All-Stars would've been. To give myself a template, I made it six forwards, three defensemen, and two goalies, with each team getting at least one representative.

For the Hurricanes, there were only four players that I really considered to make this imaginary team. Not included in this group were Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers. While they sit second and third in points, respectively, on the Hurricanes, I felt a better case could be made for two other forwards. Honestly, these names shouldn't come as a shock.

Injuries prevented Jarvis and Gostisbehere from making definitive cases

If there is one thing that we're tired of talking about, it's injuries. The Hurricanes have endured more than their fair share of carnage this season, having injury after injury ravage their team for most of the season. For Seth Jarvis and Shayne Gostisbehere, in particular, it has cut into what have otherwise been excellent seasons.

When he has been in the lineup, few defensemen in the league have produced like Gostisbehere. A quartet of injuries has cost him 17 games this season. He has flirted with the Top 10 in defenseman scoring throughout the season, but Gostisbehere can't stay in the lineup. While there are plenty of worthy defenders in the Metro this season, Gostisbehere would be in the mix if he were healthy.

The same goes for Jarvis. When he got hurt on December 19, Jarvis was tied for 9th in goals (19). He lost almost three weeks because of his injury. Otherwise, he could've potentially hit 30 goals before the break. To his credit, he has ten points in ten games since returning, maintaining his team lead in goals with 23. Still, getting hurt might've cost him a bid in a normal year.

Bussi would've been in contention against tough competition

For my money, there are four goalies in the Metropolitan Division fighting for two goalie spots on this fake All-Star team. Brandon Bussi is one of those four. The other three are Logan Thompson, Igor Shesterkin, and Ilya Sorokin, all of whom are just as worthy. The baseline comparison between the four doesn't provide much help.

If we're going off stats alone, Bussi would likely be one of the two goalies. He clears all three of his competitors in two of the three major stats, wins and GAA. Even the save percentage numbers aren't that far behind the other three. However, the biggest argument against him would be how much he has played, relative to the others in the division.

Right now, Sorokin and Thompson are two of the top contenders to win the Vezina Trophy this season. Bussi should be in the conversation, but he's not threatening for the top spot just yet. I don't think there is an incorrect combination of goalies to take to this hypothetical All-Star Game, but Sorokin and Thompson probably edge out Bussi, despite the history he is making.

Ultimately, Aho is the most likely representative

I could use this platform to denounce the voting system and how putting the rosters in the hands of the fans is a terrible idea. I won't, even if I believe that to be the case. Maybe I'm just bitter that the Hurricanes have only sent multiple All-Stars just four times since 1997, and only once under Rod Brind'Amour (2022), despite seven straight postseason appearances.

To keep it somewhat realistic, I'm only sending one Hurricane to the All-Star Game. It shouldn't come as a surprise that it's Sebastian Aho. Frankly, Jarvis would've been my pick until he got hurt, but Aho has been excellent over the last month and change. Heading into Nashville on December 17, Aho had just nine goals and 26 points in 32 games. That night turned his season around.

Since that game against the Predators, Aho has 26 points in 20 games, putting him at exactly a point-per-game this season. You almost forget that he hasn't scored a goal since January 3 because he has ten assists since then. In typical Carolina fashion, no one will dominate on the scoresheet, but Aho is getting it done at all strengths as the top-line center.

This fake honor would've given Aho his fourth All-Star appearance, tying him for the franchise record with Ron Francis and Eric Staal. He's almost certain to reach that number for real in the future, potentially as early as 2027, when the All-Star Game returns. I'm sure Aho would much rather represent Finland at the Winter Olympics, though.

My Metropolitan All-Star Team

With three of my roster spots already announced (Aho, Sorokin, Thompson), this is how the rest of my roster looks. Some of the decisions were a little easier to make than others. Zach Werenski and Sidney Crosby were immediately the first two players I thought of for Columbus and Pittsburgh, respectively, crossing two more teams off the list.

The competition for the remaining spots was tight. Most teams have multiple worthy players. For Philadelphia, I'd take Trevor Zegras over Travis Konecny. For the Rangers, Artemi Panarin feels like the most likely candidate with Shesterkin out. New Jersey doesn't have a standout, but I opted for Nico Hischier over Jack Hughes.

At this point, every team would be represented, so the final three spots could be anyone. For the final forward spot, I picked Tom Wilson over Alex Ovechkin and several others. The defensive spots were tougher. I've been impressed with Matthew Schaefer, whose numbers are easily the best among rookie defensemen, and Jakub Chychrun can't stop putting the puck in the net.

Is this team perfect? Probably not. Could half of this team be interchanged with equally deserving players? Without a doubt. Is three Capitals too many, considering they aren't in the playoffs right now? Maybe. The good news is that this is purely hypothetical, so it ultimately means nothing. It's just meant to be a good bit of fun.

I much prefer best-on-best over the All-Star Game, which is why I'm looking forward to the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028. Until then, we'll have the current Olympic cycle and an All-Star Game next season to look forward to. I won't hold my breath for more Hurricane representation, but anything is possible.