Team USA is potentially getting a huge shot in the arm ahead of their 4 Nations Face-Off final matchup against Team Canada on Thursday night.
Quinn Hughes, who previously withdrew from the tournament due to injury, is coming to Boston as an injury replacement after Charlie McAvoy was ruled out of the final by the Bruins. Head coach Mike Sullivan revealed the news during his media availability on Tuesday morning.
“Quinn Hughes is coming,” Sullivan said.
🚨🚨🚨 "Quinn Hughes is coming." 🚨🚨🚨
USA head coach Mike Sullivan on replacing Charlie McAvoy.#4Nations pic.twitter.com/w9wBxzVU2i
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 18, 2025
Hughes is arguably the NHL’s top defenseman this season, posting 59 points (14g, 45a) in 47 games for the Vancouver Canucks. He has not played in a game since January 31 due a lower-body injury and was ruled out of the tournament by the Canucks nine days ago.
The NHL has been lenient with roster replacements due to injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Team Canada saw the Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley called into action after Shea Theodore suffered an upper-body injury and Cale Makar came down with an illness.
However, Sullivan was non-committal when asked if Hughes could step right into the team’s lineup without another defenseman becoming unavailable. Jake Sanderson, the team’s seventh defenseman on the roster, replaced McAvoy against Team Sweden on Monday night.
“We’re going to take each day as it comes,” Sullivan said. “We’ll see what we have available to us. We’ll make decisions accordingly. I wish I could offer more on it – I just can’t.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that he has been told another injury would need to occur for Hughes to play. Quinn’s brother, Jack Hughes, has played in all three games for the USA.
The USA took the ice against Sweden with just 17 healthy skaters after McAvoy, Auston Matthews, and Matthew Tkachuk missed out with injuries. Brady Tkachuk later left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return.
Sullivan told reporters Monday that he expects Matthews and both Tkachuk brothers to play against Canada in the final.
Update (2/19): Quinn Hughes will not be joining Team USA after all as he is not medically cleared.
Team USA has been informed Quinn Hughes is not travelling here to Boston to join the team. Wasn’t medically cleared.
Sounds like Team USA looking at bringing in a couple of other players just as insurance, because of illness going around.— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 19, 2025
