Quinn Hughes Won't Join Team USA for 4 Nations Face-Off Rematch vs. Canada amid Injury

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes will not join Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada on Thursday, per Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.

Hughes was initially selected to replace injured Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who suffered "an infection in his right shoulder and a significant injury to his AC joint," per Wyshynski.

However, the Canucks have not yet cleared Hughes, who has been out with an oblique injury since Jan. 31, to return to play. He did take a promising step Wednesday after being cleared for contact for practice on Wednesday. However, he won't be ready for action Thursday.

"I gotta thank Team USA GM Bill Guerin for how patient he was with me, not only 10 days ago but even last night and the last 24 hours," Hughes said, per Wyshynski.

"He understood how much I wanted to play and also what my obligations were to the Canucks. Really what it came down to, I just wasn't healthy enough where I wasn't sure it couldn't get worse," he said. "If there's a positive, I should be healthy enough to go next game against Vegas."

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce will serve as injury insurance Thursday for Team USA, per Wyshynski.

The 25-year-old Hughes could have certainly helped Team USA. On the season, Vancouver's captain has amassed 14 goals and 45 assists with a +15 plus-minus. Thankfully, it appears he'll be good to go Saturday, when Vancouver plays at Vegas. However, he'll miss the highly anticipated rematch between USA and Canada.

Team USA beat Canada 3-1 in a game that saw three fights in the first nine seconds. They overcame a 1-0 deficit to score three straight to seal a spot in the final.

The United States has endured some health issues along the way, though, with McAvoy being chief among them after being hospitalized.

They will get some reinforcements, however, in the form of the Tkachuk brothers. Matthew Tkachuk missed his team's 2-1 loss to Sweden with a lower body injury.

Brady Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury during that game and was held out after the first period for more for "precautionary reasons," per head coach Mike Sullivan.

They'll both be back Thursday, though. They were the tone-setters in the Canada game and each scored two goals in a 6-1 win over Finland.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET in Boston's TD Garden.