Help is coming for Canada at the 4 Nations Face Off

MONTREAL, Quebec – The players knew the risk when they agreed to participate in a best-on-best tournament in the middle of the NHL season. The competition was going to be fierce and the potential for injury was going to be real. 

Sadly, for Shea Theodore, Team Canada, and the Vegas Golden Knights that potential was fulfilled during the team's opening match against Sweden. Theodore's injury was clear enough that head coach, Jon Cooper was able to rule the 29-year-old for the duration of the event. 

Now, there's some rules in play about rosters at this tournament. The 23-man roster was put in place but that meant each country only had one extra forward, defenseman and goaltender apiece. 

There was a push to allow for additional slots to be afforded in case of injury, but attempt was rejected due to a few reasons, not the least of which being the NHLPA not being all that excited to see players forfeit their trips to Cabo to be a healthy scratch for two weeks. 

While Canada has Travis Sanheim ready and able to step in and fill out the sixth defender slot, another wrinkle has reared up. Cale Makar has caught a bug. He skipped practice on Friday further complicating matters. 

Canada brass were forced to name a ‘next man up’. And that phone call went to Dallas Stars' defender, and duel-citizen, Thomas Harley. 

Team Canada reached out to the NHL and NHLPA to find out exactly what the gentlemen's agreement to add players if needed was. NHL Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly told media that the league and NHLPA spoke on Friday and agreed that Harley was permitted to join Team Canada in Montreal in case Makar is unable to suit up on Saturday night.

Now, some people wondered aloud if Harley was the team's first choice or if they reached out to others who declined returning from their sunny vacation early to potentially sit in the press box eating Bell Centre hot dogs. 

Sources had indicated to Elite Prospects that Calgary Flames defender, MacKenzie Weegar was the second option behind Drew Doughty to fill Alex Pietrangelo's departed spot. However, when reached for comment, Weegar's camp declined to comment. Several other prominent potential options confirmed they were not approached. 

So whether Harley was the team's first choice or not, he'll be in Montreal on Saturday and will be ready to go if need be. However, Cooper remains confident that Makar will be good to go. "Expect is a big word, but I'm confident. I'm confident he'll be there."