MONTREAL — As Team Canada’s management group processed the news that Shea Theodore was lost to injury for the remainder of the 4 Nations Face-Off, it immediately became apparent that they needed to quickly get contingency plans in place.
That’s much easier said than done for a brand new tournament being co-sanctioned by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association, where some of the rules are, well … fluid.
Each team was limited to a 23-man roster that didn’t leave much room for injury, with only one extra forward, defenseman and goaltender apiece. The federations pushed for the ability to bring more players to 4 Nations before December’s roster deadline — they’ll each be permitted to bring 22 skaters and three goaltenders to the 2026 Milan Olympics — but that effort was thwarted because of the added costs and the negative feedback the NHLPA received from members who weren’t anxious to give up their breaks to potentially be a healthy scratch at the tournament.
Everyone was aware of the potential hazards associated with limited rosters, and in late January, the NHL circulated a memo to each country’s management staff informing them that emergency in-tournament roster additions would be permitted in a circumstance where a team fell below either 18 healthy skaters or two healthy goaltenders.
That was tweaked slightly after Theodore left Canada’s victory over Sweden on Wednesday night with an apparent injury to his right shoulder or arm. He saw only nine shifts and less than seven minutes of ice time before a clean hit from Adrian Kempe knocked him out of the tournament.
While Travis Sanheim was already in Montreal and is prepared to step into the lineup for Saturday’s game against Team USA, there was suddenly no insurance beyond him in the event another Canadian defenseman suffered an injury or fell ill. Making things worse, there aren’t many convenient ways to summon a potential replacement with the majority of NHL players currently on beaches or golf courses in exotic locales.
Hockey Canada sought clarity from the NHL and NHLPA on what exactly was permitted in the wake of Theodore’s injury, ultimately learning they could have a player travel to the Boston area to remain at the ready in case of emergency before Monday afternoon’s game against Finland at TD Garden or potentially the championship game beyond it.
“We have told them they can identify and notify a player that he would be ‘next up,’” deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic on Thursday. “But they know they have to play with the six they have left until they drop below that. Can’t add anyone to the team or have him participate in any team activities until that happens.”
That means the reserve player won’t be allowed to participate in meetings or formal skates unless another defenseman goes down to injury.
While Hockey Canada declined to confirm the identity of its standby player, league sources said that 23-year-old defenseman Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars was scheduled to travel to the Boston area on Friday. Like Theodore, he’s a left shot with some power-play acumen. He’s also a former world under-18 and World Juniors player who will be on the radar for the 2026 Olympics and other major international tournaments beyond it.
Just having another defenseman on standby will bring some relief, particularly since the emergency conditions originally outlined by the NHL could conceivably create a situation where Canada or another 4 Nations participant might be forced to dress 13 forwards and five defensemen for a game — a situation that would almost certainly bring negative attention to the event.
“I can’t imagine that anybody that’s in charge is going to let us play short,” Canadian coach Jon Cooper said. “That wouldn’t be great for anybody. It’s unfortunate because injuries are a part of the game and especially in the intensity these games are played at and the will these guys are (exhibiting) on both teams. You hope it doesn’t happen anymore, but there’s a chance it will.”
The injury to Theodore only underscored that fact. He was knocked out on an innocent-looking play with no whiff of malicious intent.
While Theodore made a point of congratulating teammates in the tunnel as they came off the ice following a 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden, he was understandably crushed by the unfortunate turn of events.
“It’s heartbreaking for the kid,” Cooper said.
“I went to him right away,” added Sanheim, who will take Theodore’s spot in the lineup. “Obviously, a lot of disappointment there. I feel for him. I know if I was in that spot I’d share a lot of the same emotions.
“He’s a great teammate and it’s unfortunate that it happened.”
Injuries are part of the deal in a sport played at this speed and with this kind of intensity.
And while Team Canada would prefer to believe it has gotten its one bad injury break out of the way early at the 4 Nations, there’s no choice but to start preparing for an even worse-case scenario should it arise.
Required reading
(Photo: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)