It’s finally here! One of the most high-stakes, can’t-miss, grab-your-popcorn rivalries in hockey—USA vs. Canada—is about to set the ice on fire! On Saturday night, the Bell Centre in Montreal becomes the battleground as Team USA and Team Canada go head-to-head in the 4 Nations Face-Off. The last time these two clashed on the Olympic stage in Beijing 2022, the Americans took the win in a 4-2 thriller—only to get stunned by Slovenia in the quarterfinals. Now, with redemption on Canada’s mind and pride on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. But wait. A roster shake-up right before the puck drop has the fans worried.
Just before the action kicked off, Hockey Canada hit X with a game-changing update, dropping the news: “Cale Makar will not play tonight, but remains eligible for the tournament. Brad Marchand will serve as an alternate captain tonight.” Tough break, but hey, Marchand stepping up? That’s some classic veteran grit right there.
And shortly after that Hockey Canada followed up with another update: “ROSTER UPDATE | Thomas Harley has been added to the roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off.” Talk about a last-minute roster shuffle! Buckle up, because this tourney is already serving up some serious drama.
Cale Makar will not play tonight, but remains eligible for the tournament. Brad Marchand will serve as an alternate captain tonight.
Cale Makar ne jouera pas ce soir, mais demeure admissible à jouer au tournoi. Brad Marchand portera un « A » sur son chandail.
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 16, 2025
Fans weren’t thrilled about this one, and honestly, who could blame them? One user summed up the panic, saying, “makar not playing is actually a nightmare now I’m scared.” And let’s be real—when Colorado Avalanche’s star, Cale Makar is missing from one of the most high-stakes 4 Nations Face-Off games, it’s enough to send chills down any Canadian hockey fan’s spine.
After all, this guy has been making waves ever since he hit the NHL scene in the 2019–20 season. From day one, he wasn’t just good—he was electric, snagging the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. So yeah, missing him in a game like this? That’s a tough pill to swallow. But this was just the tip of the iceberg as many other users raised the concerns!
4 Nations Face-Off’s roster shake up concerns fans!
Another fan summed it up in a few words: “Cale Makar being out not good.” But why exactly is Makar missing this epic 4 Nations Face-Off showdown? Well, per Sleeper NHL, they dropped the news on X before puck drop, confirming, “Cale Makar (illness) is OUT for tonight’s 4 Nations game against the United States.” Tough break, especially since Makar—yep, the 2022 Norris Trophy winner and the guy who basically ran the show when Colorado lifted the Stanley Cup—was a game-time decision after missing Friday’s practice due to illness.
Another fan kept it real, saying, “In for a tough night without Cale Makar & no Theodore.” And yeah, no lies detected. Makar’s absence is already a gut punch, but let’s not forget—this isn’t the only loss Canada’s dealing with. Just a few days ago, NHL.com confirmed that Shea Theodore is officially out for the rest of the 4 Nations Face-Off. The reason? An upper-body injury he picked up during Canada’s nail-biting 4-3 OT win against Sweden at Bell Centre last week. So, with two key blueliners down, Canada’s defense just got a whole lot thinner.
But wait—there’s more! One fan summed up the frustration, saying, “Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the world by a pretty wide margin imo. Replacing him with Harley is a massive downgrade. That’s not a shot at Harley but a testament to how irreplaceable Makar is.” Basically, they’re making it clear—there’s just no swapping out a player like Makar without feeling the impact. His absence isn’t just a gap; it’s a crater in Team Canada’s defense.
It’s crystal clear—fans were hyped to see Makar light up the 4 Nations Face-Off, and now his absence feels like a gut punch for Team Canada. The disappointment is so real that one fan even threw in the towel early, saying, “OOF Congrats USA on the W.” But hey, this is hockey. Anything can happen, and until that final buzzer sounds, it’s still anyone’s game!
The post Colorado Avalanche Star’s Mysterious Illness Raises Concern for Canada Against Team USA for 4 Nations Face-Off: “Nightmare” appeared first on EssentiallySports.