MONTREAL — Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar missed practice Friday with Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off because of an illness.
The Canadians have a showdown with the United States here Saturday night at Bell Centre.
“‘Expect’ is a big word, but I’m confident,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said to reporters in Brossard, Quebec, when asked if he expects Makar to play against the Americans. “I’m confident he’ll be there.”
Makar played a game-high 28:06 in Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Sweden to open the tournament Wednesday night. He is on the team’s top pairing, along with Avalanche teammate Devon Toews, and is quarterbacking Canada’s top power-play unit that also features teammate Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
Every team brought seven defensemen to this tournament, and the Canadians already lost Vegas’ Shea Theodore during the first period against the Swedes. Theodore is out for the rest of the tournament.
Canada will be allowed, according to reports, to bring Dallas defenseman Thomas Harley to Montreal on an emergency basis in case Makar cannot play against the United States.
The Avs’ first game after the 4 Nations break is Feb. 22 in Nashville against the Predators.
Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis.