Team Canada Accused of Being Given Preferential Treatment at the 4 Nations Face-Off

Coming into the 4 Nations Face-Off, everyone knew that there were going to be some very strict rules as it pertains to the rosters.

Teams were only allowed a set number of guys and there were concerns that if injuries decimated a team, they would have to play short.

Team Canada was the first team to experience this dilemma as Shea Theodore went down with an upper-body injury in the first game.

On Friday, Cale Makar missed practice as he was dealing with an illness, and it led to an emergency call up for defenseman Thomas Harley.

Prior to tonight's game against Team USA, it was revealed that Makar would not be able to go, and as a result, Harley was allowed to enter the lineup.

However, Team Canada was subsequently met with all sorts of allegations of being given preferential treatment. Some felt like Team USA, Finland, and Sweden would not get the same exception.

According to The Daily Faceoff, the NHL and NHLPA had already discussed scenarios that would qualify for exemptions.

As it just so happens, the troubles that Canada are facing fall under the exemptions that the NHL were talking about.

At the time of writing this, Team Canada is down 2-1 in a game against Team USA that has been filled with fights and fanfare.

Only time will tell whether or not Team Canada will be able to get Makar back against Finland on Monday.