Quinn Hughes situation takes bizarre turn as Vancouver Canucks captain won't play for USA
It’s been a weird couple of days concerning Quinn Hughes’ status for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Vancouver Canucks captain pulled out of the tournament last week after missing four games with a reported oblique injury. He hasn’t played since January 31.
It was a difficult decision for Hughes, who has been dreaming of the opportunity to represent USA at a best-on-best tournament.
An injury to defenceman Charlie McAvoy appeared to open the door for Hughes to play, with Team USA coach Mike Sullivan boldly stating “Quinn Hughes is coming.”
That was yesterday morning.
Later that day, reporters were surprised to see Hughes skating at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, not at TD Garden in Boston.
His status was very much up in the air, with Team USA general manager Bill Guerin saying earlier today that he was “still working through it.”
We now have closure on the subject, according to a report from Pierre LeBrun of TSN.
Team USA has been told that Hughes won’t play in the 4 Nations tournament because he hasn’t been “medically cleared.”
Team USA has been informed Quinn Hughes is not travelling here to Boston to join the team. Wasn’t medically cleared.
Sounds like Team USA looking at bringing in a couple of other players just as insurance, because of illness going around.— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 19, 2025
That’s a bizarre twist, because Hughes was a full participant at practice in Vancouver today, and the Canucks captain indicated he’ll be good to go for Saturday’s NHL game in Las Vegas.
USA is flying in reinforcements for tomorrow’s game, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic, in Buffalo Sabres centre Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils defenceman Brett Pesce. They’ll only be allowed to play if the Americans can’t dress 12 healthy forwards or six healthy defencemen.
The United States has been given permission to bring #sabres center Tage Thompson and #njdevils defenseman Brett Pesce to Boston to be on call in case of injuries or illness tomorrow. Thompson can only play if they go below 12 forwards, Pesce 6 defensemen. Each team has been hit…
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) February 19, 2025
Hughes will have to wait another year to play best-on-best hockey, as the NHL has committed to sending players to the 2026 Olympics in Milan.