The United States and Canada will be playing in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game on Thursday and Team USA will have a bit of unexpected help in the form of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Hughes was named to the U.S. roster in June but bowed out due to an oblique injury. He can't play unless another defenseman is unavailable.

What's best for country isn't always what's best for club, as made clear by this week's dance among the Canucks, Team USA and the NHL.

Hughes is the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defenseman and is putting up stellar numbers in the 2024-25 season. In 47 games played with the Canucks, Hughes has

With Quinn Hughes unavailable for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, the Americans needed someone to step up and help push their offense from the back end.

Team USA will be without Charlie McAvoy in the 4 Nations Face-Off final vs. Canada, but there are several moving parts regarding who’ll replace him.

The Vancouver Canucks defenseman, who had to drop out of the tournament Feb. 9 because of an undisclosed injury, practiced for a second straight day in Vancouver on Wednesday, this time with a regular jersey. He practiced Tuesday in a red, non-contact jersey.

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The Boston Bruins say defenseman Charlie McAvoy won’t be able to play for the United States in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off on his home ice because of an undisclosed upper-body injury.