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.

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.

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.

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks hope the potential return of defenseman Quinn Hughes allows them to carry over the momentum they built before the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Despite a bold proclamation from Mike Sullivan that “Quinn Hughes is coming,” the defenseman will not, in fact, be traveling for the 4 Nations Face-Off final.

Hughes' next chance to play will come Wednesday against the Kings.

Team USA said Quinn Hughes was flying to Boston to join them at least as emergency depth. But Hughes was still in Vancouver and unsure of his status.

With defenseman Charlie McAvoy out for the 4 Nations Face-off final against Canada on Thursday, head coach Mike Sullivan reassured everyone that a strong player was waiting in the wings and on the

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

With Hughes unavailable, Team USA has extended invitations to Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce to join the team in Boston as injury replacements. Like Hughes, Thompson and Pesce would only be available to play if another member of the team is unable to play.

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 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.