MONTREAL — Defenseman Cale Makar was a late scratch for Canada ahead of its much-anticipated showdown against the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday because of an illness.
Thomas Harley, who flew to Montreal on Friday night in case Makar couldn’t go, was added to the Canada roster and dressed against the United States.
Canada lost defenseman Shea Theodore for the tournament when he was injured Wednesday after taking a clean hit from Sweden forward Adrian Kempe, leaving Canada with six healthy defensemen. Canada had already lost defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to injury before the tournament, naming Drew Doughty as his replacement.
Makar missed Canada’s practice Friday because of an illness, but he was on the ice Saturday for the morning skate. He is considered day to day.
“I’m feeling a little bit better,” Makar said Saturday morning. “We’ll see how it goes this afternoon and stuff. Yeah, not great but better today, so we’ll see how it progresses.”
Makar, an alternate captain for Canada, leads all NHL defensemen in scoring this season with 63 points in 57 games and was the quarterback on Canada’s potent top power-play unit. In his absence, Brad Marchand will act as an alternate captain.
Harley very nearly wasn’t in Montreal for the game. After Theodore’s injury, the NHL initially ruled that for Canada to add a defenseman, it would have to lose another defenseman to injury, but it allowed Canada to contact Harley and have him travel to Boston as an emergency option. After further talks between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association on Friday morning because Makar fell ill and missed practice, it was ruled that Harley could come to Montreal but could not take part in any Canada meetings or practices unless Makar was unable to play.
“I don’t want to put these guys in a tough spot, so it was great we were able to bring Harley in, at least have that option if we need it,” Makar said Saturday morning. “Again, feeling better today, and we’ll see how the afternoon progresses, but obviously going to do everything I possibly can to play in this one.”
Canada already had Travis Sanheim making his 4 Nations debut as a replacement for Theodore but wound up having two young defensemen entering the lineup against the United States.
(Photo of Cale Makar: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)
