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.

Team USA suffered a big blow ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada on Thursday in losing star Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy to an upper-body injury suffered during the tournament.

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.

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.

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 provided an update Wednesday morning on the star defenseman, who got hurt during the Americans’ 4 Nations Face-Off opener.

Team USA suffered a big blow ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada on Thursday in losing star Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy to an

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman criticized the rule on Tuesday in a column for Sportsnet and argued that the tournament’s unexpected success should warrant more flexibility. “Let everyone be eligible to play,” Friedman wrote. “I understand the idea going into this event: no additions unless there’s an emergency.