Could Hughes, Crosby And Marner Miss 4 Nations Face-Off? Updates And Potential Replacements

Quinn Hughes and Sidney Crosby

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The 4 Nations Face-Off begins in Montreal in one week, with practices beginning on Monday.

This will be the first time NHL players feature in a best-on-best tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. However, Team USA and Canada might have to suit up without key players after some recent injuries.

Quinn Hughes, D, Team USA

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is currently dealing with an injury.

In Friday’s game against the Dallas Stars, Hughes was seen in some discomfort on the bench. Since then, he’s missed their last two games.

Vancouver suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the first game of Hughes’ absence on Sunday. On Tuesday, Hughes skated in the morning and had discussions with coach Rick Tocchet but was unable to dress for their game against the Colorado Avalanche.

He’ll miss Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks as well.

On Wednesday, Canucks coach Rick Tocchet discussed whether Hughes will be at the 4 Nations Face-Off or not.

“It depends on the next 48 hours, I guess that what it really comes down to,” Tocchet told reporters. “We’ll sit down with Quinn and talk to him.”

It would be difficult for Team USA GM Bill Guerin to replace Hughes, who’s scored 14 goals and 59 points in 47 games this season. However, they must be ready for that possibility.

If Hughes were sidelined for the tournament, Vegas Golden Knights D-man Noah Hanifin could get more minutes on the left side. But they have options for players to add to the squad.

If Guerin wants to make up for the scoring they’d miss without Hughes, he could consider Montreal Canadiens rookie Lane Hutson, whose 40 points are the most of all American blueliners who weren’t named to the roster. The 20-year-old could help the team right now and get a tryout for the 2026 Olympics.

But if Team USA wants a two-way talent and puck-mover on the left side, Ottawa Senators blueliner Jake Sanderson could be that option. He has five goals and 35 points in 53 games, averages more than 24 minutes a game, starts more shifts in the defensive zone than the offensive zone and still has positive advanced stats, according to naturalstattrick.com.

Another candidate would be John Carlson of the Washington Capitals. He leads all active American-born defensemen in scoring with 707 career points, but he’s a right-handed D-man.

Sidney Crosby, C, Canada

Sidney Crosby is Team Canada’s captain for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and he remains a crucial player on any squad.

On Wednesday, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Crosby is being evaluated for an upper-body injury.

In Pittsburgh’s last game on Tuesday, Crosby collided with New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and center Erik Haula. Crosby skated to the bench bent over.

Sidney Crosby is “being evaluated for an upper-body injury.” He returned to the game on Tuesday after this collision, but missed practice on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/gB4pxt99aH

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 5, 2025

Shortly after, he returned and finished the game with an assist and 22:14 of ice time. In a post-game interview, Crosby downplayed the incident, saying he got “tangled up” and added nothing more.

The 37-year-old didn’t practise with the Penguins on Wednesday morning. Sullivan added that he doesn’t have any specific details about the injury.

It’s possible Crosby will still be fine next week. But the timing of his injury raises concerns nonetheless.

Canada would miss a player who can do it all if Crosby can’t particiapate. He is a leader, veteran, superstar, playmaker and more. It would be tough to replace a three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist.

Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele would likely be the next man up for Canada if Crosby became unavailable. He’s on pace for a career-high 90 points this season and is the first-line center for the first-place team in the NHL, making him a fine candidate.

Mitch Marner, RW, Canada

Mitch Marner and Connor McDavid are tied for fourth in league scoring, with 70 points. Marner would be a big loss for Canada if his recent injury doesn’t go away soon.

After a dramatic 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, Marner missed practice on Monday. He was listed as a game-time decision for Toronto’s game on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames but did not play.

The Maple Leafs announced that the right winger is dealing with a lower-body injury, and he’ll be out day-to-day.

“I don’t know. Something happened in the game, I guess,” coach Craig Berube told reporters on Tuesday before the match.

On Wednesday, Berube said there’s a good chance Marner plays on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. That could be a promising sign he can still play at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

If Marner does have to miss the tournament but Crosby can, then Mark Scheifele could get the call anyway because of how well he’s playing right now. Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is a natural center but has played on the right wing before, and he has 15 goals and 52 points in 53 games this season. But two other true wingers provide a different element than Marner.

Edmonton Oilers left winger Zach Hyman was considered a snub when he was left off Canada’s roster, considering his 54-goal season last year. He isn’t producing at the same rate this year, but he remains a complementary player who can drive the net. He can play on either wing.

Washington Capitals right winger Tom Wilson brings intimidation, grit and scoring to the squad, as he’s known to be one of the tougher players in the NHL over the past decade. He could be instrumental in the Canadians’ matchup against their rivals, Team USA.