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.

Team USA will have to make do with just two Norris-caliber defencemen instead of three for the championship game against Team Canada.

Charlie McAvoy is out with a shoulder infection and Quinn Hughes isn't likely to be, also. The Vancouver Canucks captain -- sidelined with an oblique injury since Jan. 31 -- practiced for the second straight day on Wednesday in Vancouver,

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes will not join Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada on Thursday, per Greg Wyshynski of ESPN. Hughes was initially selected to replace injured Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy,

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. The Canucks (26-18-11) won three straight games and seven of eight (6-1-1) before the break despite missing Hughes for the final four games because of an undisclosed injury.

In a twist that is making an already strange story even more wild, there has been a significant update on the status of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and his potential involvement in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final game between Team USA and Team Canada.