Team USA is still actively trying to get Quinn Hughes to suit up for them, especially following the latest unfortunate news surrounding Brady Tkachuk's status. Team USA got hit with a significant setback before <a href='https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/by-the-numbers-setting-up-blockbuster-4-nations-face-off-final/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Thursday's conclusion of the 4 Nations Face-Off versus Canada</a>, as star <a href='https://www.nhl.com/bruins/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Boston Bruins</a> defenseman Charlie McAvoy will <a href='https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/report-bruins-mcavoy-has-procedure-for-infection-out-week-to-week/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>miss time due to an upper-body injury</a> sustained in the tournament. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1892226804615663917'> </a></blockquote></div> The 27-year-old blueliner is week-to-week, which leaves a significant gap in the American defense. As insurance, Team USA has an elite backup in the form of <a href='https://www.nhl.com/canucks/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Vancouver Canucks</a> defenseman Quinn Hughes, according to ESPN. Unfortunately, due to the tournament rules, Hughes can only be summoned in the event of another American player suffering an injury. That may have all changed today. <h3>Brady Tkachuk did not attend practice which adds to his injury concerns</h3> Adding to the uncertainty was word today that Brady Tkachuk did not attend practice and his status for the final game is now questionable. If he's out, it <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/news/quinn-hughes-is-heading-to-boston-to-join-the-usa-prior-to-final-game-against-canada' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>might be an opportunity for Hughes to work his way into the lineup.</a> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/russohockey/status/1892249240908222976'> </a></blockquote></div> <a href='https://www.nhl.com/canucks/player/quinn-hughes-8480800' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Hughes</a>, who has 14 goals and 59 points in 47 games played this season, was originally scheduled to be at the event but was scratched due to injury, and now has been replaced by Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson. Hughes also sat out Vancouver's last four regular-season games leading up to the event. Hughes is on standby and not practicing with Team Canada, but efforts are said to be underway to arrange for him to dress for the championship game. He'd flown all the way to Vancouver, was at practice yesterday with the Canucks and was basically like, I'm not going to fly all the way back to the East coast unless there's a realistic chance that I play, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported. Last night I was told that nobody knows exactly what's going to happen with him. ...Remember the flu bug has been going around at this tournament, then maybe he does fly here. Sanderson, who took McAvoy's place in Team USA's 2-1 loss to Sweden on Monday, is scheduled to play in the final, so he won't be entering the game cold at least.