Feb. 19: Team USA has been informed that Hughes was not medically cleared to join the roster before Thursday, per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. LeBrun shares that USA is looking into adding another defender to the lineup as an insurance option, given the illness circulating the 4-Nations tournament. Team USA would need to have less than six healthy defenseman to ice a player not currently on the roster.
Feb. 18: The United States may have reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes available for Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship against Canada, head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Tuesday (including Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic). He’s traveling to meet the team in Boston in the wake of an upper-body injury to Charlie McAvoy, but NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic that Hughes won’t be able to practice or play unless the Americans sustain another injury on defense ahead of the championship.
After being named as one of the first six players on the team last offseason, Hughes was on the Americans’ roster for the tournament up until last week, when he was ruled out after missing the Canucks’ final four games before the break with an oblique injury. Initially replaced by Jake Sanderson, he’s evidently now healthy and will be available if needed as the United States goes for its first best-on-best title since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Luckily for the United States, they’re unlikely to need any more injury replacements. Star sniper Auston Matthews is expected to play in the championship after serving as a late scratch in last night’s loss to Sweden because of upper-body soreness, Sullivan said (via Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet). He added both Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk will likely play after the former left Monday’s loss and the latter left Saturday’s win over Canada.
The Americans’ roster situation mirrors that of Canada’s after they lost defenseman Shea Theodore to an upper-body injury in their opening game against Sweden. Thomas Harley was allowed to fly out and meet the team but couldn’t practice or play unless they were unable to ice six defensemen. When Cale Makar was ruled out of their game against the U.S. due to illness, only then was Harley eligible to enter the lineup. He was not dressed when Makar returned to play yesterday against Finland.
At the very least, it’s a strong sign the Canucks will have their captain back when they return to play in Vegas on Saturday. The 25-year-old Hughes has improved further on last season’s elite two-way showing, bumping his points per game up to 1.26 from 1.12 and has posted career-highs in even-strength CF% (57.8) and relative CF% (+15.7).
There are three clear-cut Norris nominees in him, Makar, and Team USA teammate Zach Werenski. If Hughes takes home the hardware, he’d be the first back-to-back winner since the Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidström won three straight from 2006 to 2008.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Should have said yes the first time bruh.
should really read the article before posting, he was injured at the start of the tournament.
Hughes dropped out originally because of injury. Unfortunately though, he got better too late into the tournament.
It’s really pointless to have Quinn Hughes travel all the way to Boston when there is no other defenseman injured as he can’t play as it stance. Unless Team USA convinces like Jake Sanderson to claim to be injured or ill or something lol just to get Hughes eligible to practice & play.
It looks positive that Matthews & the Tkachuk brothers will play though.
* Jake Sanderson trips down the stairs *
He’s getting Nancy Kerrigan’d
If a player is declared out of the lineup (in this case, the tournament), why not allow the injury replacement to join the roster? Seems arbitrary.
Gary stupid rule. These are hockey players most guys only sit out if the have real injury. They play hurt all the time.
Wouldn’t it be smart to have Quinn in Boston in case someone gets sick like Makar did?
One would think that the NHL would want its best talent on the ice to showcase for this all-time matchup. I have to imagine if Bettman isn’t a complete moron, Quinn will be in the lineup come Thursday with Sanderson taking a seat thanks to the “flu”…
Say Mathews is sick. Play Hughes Canada sit out Mariner . How toronto ever expects to win with these Leaders LMAO
So IOW, Quinn will be on a flight tonight.
Wasn’t cleared so no?
Not cleared before Thursday. Take the red eye to Boston. ;)