Charlie McAvoy is out and Canucks' D Quinn Hughes 'is coming' for US in 4 Nations final vs. Canada

 

[February 19, 2025]  By JIMMY GOLEN

BOSTON (AP) — The United States didn't have to sacrifice much when looking for a replacement for injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy in the 4 Nations Face-Off final: Reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes was ready to step in.

American coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday “Quinn Hughes is coming” when asked about reinforcements for the championship game against Canada. But Hughes was at the Canucks' practice in Vancouver on Tuesday afternoon, according to videos posted on social media.

Hughes, who has missed the Canucks’ last four games and was a last-minute scratch from the United States' 4 Nations roster, was wearing a non-contact jersey. Vancouver plays the Golden Knights in Las Vegas on Saturday night, when the NHL returns after the tournament that brought the world’s best players back to the international stage after they missed the last two Winter Olympics.

Hughes, 25, was a first-round draft choice who joined the Canucks after two years at Michigan, where he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as a sophomore. He had career highs of 17 goals and 75 assists for Vancouver last season, when he was the runaway winner of the award for the NHL's top defenseman and finished seventh in voting for the Hart Trophy that goes to the league MVP.

According to the 4 Nations rules, the Americans can only add him to the roster if they drop below six “able-bodied” defensemen; that would mean one more U.S. defenseman would have to be ruled out. The rules allow them to apply for emergency relief on an “as-needed” basis, an application that would be considered by tournament chairs Bill Daly and Rob Zepp.

Canada's Connor McDavid (97) scores on United States goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) as United States' Charlie McAvoy (25) looks on during first period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

“Right now, we’re just taking each day as it comes,” Sullivan said. “We’ll see what potential options might be available for us for the championship game and then we’ll make decisions accordingly from there.”

A 27-year-old Boston University product and top Bruins defenseman who has twice finished in the top five of the Norris Trophy voting, McAvoy had been a key contributor to the American team whose big hits on Canadian stars Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby were credited with setting a tone in the round-robin matchup between the North American rivals. Thursday's championship will be at the TD Garden, the Bruins' home ice.

The Bruins announced on Tuesday that McAvoy was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday night with an unspecified upper-body injury.

“He’s obviously disappointed that he won’t have the ability to participate in the championship game. This tournament means a lot to him,” said Sullivan, who is also McAvoy’s father-in-law. “I’m disappointed for him because first and foremost, he’s a great kid and he’s a terrific hockey player, and I know this meant a lot to him.”

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