After leaving mid-way through the third period in Vancouver’s 6-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, Hughes was absent at team practice the next day.

There are warning signs on the rocky road to the NHL playoffs. An inability to shoot and actually hit the net can send you into the ditch. So can blowing leads and not having the pace or push to rally from deficits when trailing after two periods.

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.

With defenseman Charlie McAvoy out for the 4 Nations Face-off final against Canada on Thursday, head coach Mike Sullivan reassured everyone that a strong player was waiting in the wings and on the

After days of wondering whether Quinn Hughes will join Team USA against Canada in the 4 Nations championship, a final decision has been made.

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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.

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.

Ottawa Senators captain and USA forward Brady Tkachuk has publicly criticized the Vancouver Canucks for blocking Quinn Hughes from joining the U.S. squad ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada .

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman criticized the rule on Tuesday in a column for Sportsnet and argued that the tournament’s unexpected success should warrant more flexibility. “Let everyone be eligible to play,” Friedman wrote. “I understand the idea going into this event: no additions unless there’s an emergency.

With Hughes unavailable, Team USA has extended invitations to Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce to join the team in Boston as injury replacements. Like Hughes, Thompson and Pesce would only be available to play if another member of the team is unable to play.