Charlie McAvoy is out with a shoulder infection and Quinn Hughes isn’t likely to be, also.
The Vancouver Canucks captain — sidelined with an oblique injury since Jan. 31 — practiced for the second straight day on Wednesday in Vancouver, but he will not join Team USA in Boston for the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada.
Hughes — one of six players initially named to the U.S. side in June — was held out of the Canucks’ final four games before the tournament and was eventually replaced by Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson. With six defenders still available to play on Thursday night, Hughes would be ineligible unless another blue-liner is injured.
“The rules are the rules. I can’t play unless anyone else gets injured, and I obviously don’t want to see anyone get injured,” Hughes said on Tuesday. “It’s been fun to watch. Hard for me to watch. I’m close with a lot of those USA guys and proud of how they’ve been playing. And the six (defensemen) that have been there, of course, I want them to play. They’ve gotten us to the point where we’re in a championship game now, and those guys also deserve to play.
“But in saying that, it’s obviously been hard for me. I’m a competitor, and I feel like I want to play and need to be there.”
After leading all NHL defensemen with 92 points (17 goals and 75 assists) last season, Hughes won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defender and was poised to play a major role for Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Not to be dramatic, but it was extremely hard. I mean, it’s been something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” Hughes said.
The 25-year-old has kept up his scoring pace this season with 14 goals and 45 assists (59 points) in 47 games, helping the Canucks hold the Western Conference’s second wild-card berth.
The face of the franchise is expected to return to NHL action this weekend, according to Canucks assistant coach Adam Foote.
“Our therapists who work with him day to day probably report back to the doctor, and they walk through a protocol to protect him for the long run with the Canucks,” Foote said. “There’s a back-to-back (Saturday and Sunday) coming up for us as well, and we’re just going to do video tomorrow, have workout and not practice.
The hope is that Hughes will play Saturday in Las Vegas. Friday is a travel day, and Hughes sounded confident that he can compete.”
In the final game of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Americans are seeking their second win over Canada after earning a 3-1 victory on Saturday during the preliminary round.
