Hughes, hailed as the league's best defenceman by many, won the Norris Trophy (best defenceman) last season and currently has 14 goals and 45 assists this year with a +15 +/-, leading all defencemen in points per game (1.26).
He was originally supposed to be part of the team before the 4 Nations Face-Off but missed four games for the Canucks with an injury and was unable to go for the tournament.
Hughes was replaced by Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators) who saw his first bit of action during the team's loss to Sweden on Monday following defenceman Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins) being hospitalized.
McAvoy was already ruled out for Thursday's championship game. However, in order for Hughes to play, someone else already on the roster needs to fall out somehow, some way.
“Right now, we’re just taking each day as it comes,” said USA head coach Mike Sullivan. “We’re going to take it one day at a time. We’ll see what potential options might be available for us for the championship game, and then we’ll make decisions accordingly from there.”