HIGHLIGHTS
- Quinn Hughes is joining Team USA in Boston after Charlie McAvoy ruled out of 4 Nations final
- NHL rules prevent Hughes from playing unless another defenseman is injured or ill
- Read below to learn how the Norris Trophy winner could get into Thursday’s championship lineup
Quinn Hughes is heading to Boston for the 4 Nations Face-Off final, but there’s a catch – he can’t play unless another American defenseman is ruled out.
Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed Tuesday that Hughes, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, is en route to TD Garden for Thursday’s championship showdown against Canada. The news comes after Charlie McAvoy was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital and officially ruled out of the final.
Mike Sullivan said Quinn Hughes is coming to join Team USA
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 18, 2025
Here’s where it gets interesting: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly made it clear Hughes won’t be automatically inserted into the lineup.
“Quinn Hughes is not in unless someone else is definitely out due to injury or illness,” Daly told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
According to NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly,
Just like Harley and Canada, Quinn Hughes “is not ‘in’ unless someone else is definitely “out” due to injury or illness. Can’t practice with the team or play until that happens”— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 18, 2025
The Vancouver Canucks star, who has 59 points in 47 games this season, was originally named to Team USA’s roster back in June. He withdrew before the tournament started after battling both hand and oblique injuries, missing the Canucks’ final four games before the break.
Team USA currently has six healthy defensemen available: Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin, Zach Werenski, Brock Faber, Noah Hanifin, and Adam Fox. Unless one of them goes down with injury or illness, Hughes will be watching from the press box.
Sullivan remained tight-lipped about the situation.
“We’re going to take each day as it comes,” the Penguins bench boss said. “We’ll see what we have available to us. We’ll make decisions accordingly.”
The Americans were already short-handed in Monday’s loss to Sweden, dressing only 17 players with McAvoy, Auston Matthews, and Matthew Tkachuk all out. Brady Tkachuk and Vincent Trocheck picked up knocks in that game, though both are expected to suit up Thursday.
If Hughes does find his way into the lineup, he’ll go head-to-head with Colorado’s Cale Makar, who has returned for Canada after missing Saturday’s game with illness. The two offensive dynamos rank first and second among NHL defensemen in points per game this season.
Thursday’s championship game at TD Garden marks one of the biggest moments in USA Hockey history. Having Hughes available would be massive – but for now, Team USA plays the waiting game.
