BOSTON — The United States said Wednesday it is still planning on having extra players available for the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; Disney+, ESPN+, ESPN, SN, TVAS).
Quinn Hughes, however, may not be one of them.
If the U.S has less than six healthy defensemen or 12 forwards due to injury or illness, a player could be added. There has been a stomach bug going around the tournament, so the players would come to Boston to play only in case of an emergency.
On Wednesday morning, United States general manager Bill Guerin said he was still trying to figure out a way to get Hughes to Boston, but it appears unlikley that will happen with Hughes practicing on the other side of the continent in Vancouver on Wednesday.
In fact, NHL.com has learned that Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce will be in Boston on Thursday just in case, seemingly ruling out Hughes.
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.
“Today we did a little bit more,” Canucks assistant Adam Foote said Wednesday. “He didn’t have the red jersey on, so he participated in the contact, and he pretty much stayed out and finished all the drills and I think he looked good and he challenged himself and they’re going through that process (of getting medically cleared) they always do of the medical team and to see when he’s going to be ready to play.”
Foote said it’s been hard on Hughes, who was on the original U.S. roster.
“It’s tough when you want to represent your country but there’s a big picture there too and he’s still young in his career,” Foote said. “I’m sure whether he goes or not, or when he does get cleared, whether it’s this time or there will probably be another time, he’s a young player, and hopefully one day he can represent.”
