Cale Makar’s unexpected illness and Shea Theodore’s injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off perfectly illustrate why NHL owners remain wary of international tournaments. Simply put, they don’t want their star players risking their health in non-NHL competitions.
No matter how “careful” players are, the risk of injury is always present. The stakes are high, intensity surges, and freak accidents can happen at any moment.
For the Vegas Golden Knights, losing Theodore is a major blow. Reports indicate he’s out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, possibly a jammed shoulder. The full extent of the damage remains unclear, but it’s a nightmare scenario for the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Meanwhile, Makar’s situation wasn’t as severe. He suited up for Team Canada against Finland and appeared to be fine, though it’s unclear whether he played through discomfort. Still, the Colorado Avalanche front office likely wished he had stayed back, rested up, and avoided any potential setbacks before returning to NHL action.
This exact fear is why Alex Pietrangelo and Quinn Hughes opted out of the tournament. Hughes, in particular, followed the Vancouver Canucks’ orders to skip the event, despite publicly expressing frustration over missing the chance to represent his country. In the end, his loyalty had to lie with his NHL team, not international play.
Like it or not, NHL teams invest millions in their stars and expect them to prioritize the league over everything else. Injuries like Theodore’s and even minor scares like Makar’s only reinforce why team owners prefer their biggest assets to stay out of international competition.
