Cale Makar Out for Canada vs. USA in NHL 4 Nations Face-Off; Day-to Day with Illness

Cale Makar will miss Saturday's 4 Nations Face-Off game against Team USA amid recovery from an illness.

Makar is considered day-to-day, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. ESPN's Emily Kaplan noted he has not been ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

The Saturday night rivalry game is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET.

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley will be added to Canada's roster in Makar's place.

Harley will slot in alongside Drew Doughty on Team Canada's third pairing.

Travis Sanheim, who was scratched for Canada's opener against Sweden, will slot in alongside Devon Toews on the first pairing.

Colton Parayko and Josh Morrissey will remain together for a second game.

Canada was already down one defenseman prior to Makar's illness after losing the Vegas Golden Knights' Shea Theodore to an upper-body injury in Wednesday's tournament opener against Sweden.

Theodore will miss the rest of the tournament with the week-to-week injury.

Tournament rules initially stated teams could add an additional player only if fewer than 18 skaters were available, which could have left Canada icing Travis Konecny as a 13th forward and going with five defensemen against Team USA.

Team Canada was subsequently granted permission to bring in Harley in case Makar, who missed Friday's practice due to his illness, was unable to play Saturday.

Harley was not able to join Team Canada for any team activities until Makar was officially ruled out, per LeBrun.

Head coach Jon Cooper told reporters yesterday he was "confident" Makar would be playing, and Makar participated in a Saturday morning team skate before he was ruled out.

The late change means Team Canada will need to adjust to a new defense pair on the fly against their international rivals.

Harley most recently represented Team Canada during the 2021 World Juniors. He has registered nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points in 53 games with the Stars during his fourth NHL season.