BROSSARD, Que.—Travis Sanheim watched from the press box when Canadian teammate Shea Theodore got hit into the boards early in the second period of Wednesday night’s 4 Nations Face-Off opener, ending his tournament.
Theodore, a stalwart on the Vegas Golden Knights defence, is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
“Obviously you worry about him,” Sanheim, a blueliner with the Philadelphia Flyers, said of Theodore. “You don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”
Sanheim, who shoots left and can kill penalties, is the next man up for Canada’s next test against the United States on Saturday night: “I guess that’s the other side of it ... You hate to see it happen this way, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Shea Theodore exits the game after this hit from Adrian Kempe.
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At Thursday’s practice, Canada coach Jon Cooper said it was too early to decide if Sanheim would be paired with Drew Doughty or Colton Parayko.
“Big body, can skate, can play at this tempo,” Cooper said of Sanheim. “What exactly and where he’s going to fit ... we have two more days to kind of get our heads wrapped around that.
“The unfortunate part is, he would have probably checked in at some point in this tournament (but) I just hate the way he is checking in ... I know he can play. He’ll be just fine.”
Theodore injury hurts Vegas
Theodore left the ice favouring his right hand after a hit by Sweden’s Adrian Kempe in the second period on Wednesday. It’s a nightmare for an NHL team such as the Golden Knights, seeing one of their star players hurt this close to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Marner may be the man of the moment after his winner against Sweden but Crosby is the man of the tournament, and MacKinnon has learned a lot from him.
Marner may be the man of the moment after his winner against Sweden but Crosby is the man of the tournament, and MacKinnon has learned a lot from him.
“Obviously it sucks,” said Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel, playing for the U.S. “First, I just think about Theo as a person. I know how much this tournament meant to him and representing his country and being on that team. I feel for him.
“Obviously it’s a huge loss for our team in Vegas ... He’s been so good this year.”
Theodore has 48 points this season, fourth among NHL defencemen, while averaging more than 22 minutes a game.
Auston Matthews and William Nylander aren’t teammates this week. Except for promotional purposes.
Auston Matthews and William Nylander aren’t teammates this week. Except for promotional purposes.
Cooper on 4 Nations replacements
Cooper said there’s a “grey area” in the tournament rules should Canada lose another defenceman to injury. Forward Sam Bennett would appear to be the only extra skater.
“I can’t imagine that anybody that’s in charge is going to let us play short,” said Cooper. “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 ... You hope it doesn’t happen anymore, but there’s a chance it will. We’re going to dress 20, and 18 of them are all forwards; we just play it that way. I think that’ll all work out, but it’s above my pay grade.”
Up next
Sanheim on facing the U.S., Canada’s biggest rival, on Saturday night: “I’m sure it’s going to be an intense game, a physical game, and I think the guys are going to be fired up for it.”
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