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.

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 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.

The latest update on defenseman Quinn Hughes's availability for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off final vs. Canada.

The Americans will have Sabres center Tage Thompson and Devils defenseman Brett Pesce as injury insurance for the championship game, sources said.

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The saga around injury replacements and extra players for teams at the 4 Nations Face-Off has a new layer as Team USA was informed the Vancouver Canucks captain

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.

Team USA will be without Charlie McAvoy in the 4 Nations Face-Off final vs. Canada, but there are several moving parts regarding who’ll replace him.

Quinn Hughes isn't meeting up with the United States squad after all.Team USA was informed that the Vancouver Canucks defenseman wasn't medically cleared ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada,

BOSTON — The United States didn’t have to sacrifice much ... Reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes was ready to step in. American coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday “Quinn Hughes is ...