Quinn Hughes might not get his shot at the Four Nations finale after all.
Team USA called up the Vancouver Canucks captain following Charlie McAvoy’s injury, but there’s a catch.
Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reports Hughes can’t just step into the lineup – one of the team’s current six healthy defensemen would need to sit out first.
It’s an interesting wrinkle in what’s already shaping up to be a dramatic Canada-USA showdown on Thursday night.
Hughes, who’s been having a stellar season with the Canucks, seemed like the perfect replacement when McAvoy went down. The smooth-skating defenseman has really taken his game to another level this year.
But Team USA’s roster rules are pretty strict. Even with McAvoy out, they’ve still got a full defensive group ready to go.
So now everyone’s wondering: Will Hughes get to suit up for what could be one of the biggest games of the tournament?
The decision could come down to the wire, with coaches weighing their options right up until game time.
Either way, it’s just one more storyline in a matchup that’s already got hockey fans buzzing.
