Stars' Harley cleared to join Team Canada
Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley got the green light to join Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Friday.
Daly said the league and the NHLPA agreed Harley can be with the squad in case Cale Makar is unable to play against the United States on Saturday night. Makar missed Friday's practice due to illness.
Canada head coach Jon Cooper is optimistic about Makar's availability.
"Expect is a big word, but I'm confident," he said, according to TSN's Chris Johnston. "I'm confident he'll be there."
It was reported Thursday that Harley was already on standby and was scheduled to travel to Boston on Friday in the wake of Shea Theodore's tournament-ending injury.
Canada will play one more game in Montreal - Saturday's showdown against the U.S. - before heading to Boston for the rest of the tournament.
Theodore suffered an apparent wrist injury in the second period of Canada's 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden on Wednesday and is considered week-to-week.
Philadelphia Flyers rearguard Travis Sanheim is set to enter the lineup in Theodore's absence, but Canada no longer has a spare blue-liner on its roster. Squads could only bring one extra player at each position, totaling 20 skaters and three goalies.
Initially, the 4 Nations teams could only add new players if there were fewer than 18 healthy skaters or two able netminders remaining on their rosters, but that rule has been adjusted in light of Canada's jam.
"We have told them they can identify and notify a player that he would be next up," Daly told The Athletic. "But they know they have to play with the six (defensemen) 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."
Harley has amassed nine goals and 29 points in 53 games so far this campaign while averaging 22:39 minutes of ice time per contest. He's also a team-leading plus-26, and he's been seeing 25 minutes per game since Miro Heiskanen was injured Jan. 28.
The 23-year-old helped Canada win silver at the 2021 World Junior Championship.