Team Canada’s roster has experienced a big change Jon Cooper decided to scratch Thomas Harley and forward Seth Jarvis ahead of the game against Finland. The decision comes after mounting pressure builds within the 4 Nations tournament, where each decision on the roster is critical now that Canadian players fight to remain alive.

A rocky set of games brings on the roster shakeup. After its 3-1 defeat to America in Montreal, its first best-on-best defeat to America since 2010, tensions were running high within a tournament marked by intense rivalries and uncertain outcomes. With every contest playing out within the context of the standings, this drastic move has created heated debate among fans and pundits alike.

In a related twist, superstar defenceman Cale Makar is set to make his return for Monday’s do-or-die game against Team Finland. Makar, who missed Saturday’s contest due to illness, was a major absence in the 3-1 loss to the U.S., where his presence on the blue line was sorely missed. The 26-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best defencemen in the world, has been confirmed to play and will resume his usual pairing alongside Colorado Avalanche teammate Devon Toews. “I’m going to do everything I can to play tomorrow,” Makar said during Monday’s optional skate in Boston after taking to the ice with forward Travis Konecny.

Makar’s return is also poised to provide Team Canada’s defense group with a great jumpstart and unlock scoring opportunities. His 28:16 minutes of playing time were the most on the roster on the opening night of the tournament against Sweden, a 4-3 overtime victory. His absence on night two against the U.S. was evident, with replacement Thomas Harley skating 18:17 minutes—registering two shots on goal and three blocked shots—before sitting out of the most recent lineup change.

Meanwhile, forward Travis Konecny will be out on Saturday and will replace Seth Jarvis. Konecny’s return is timely, especially since every point contribution will matter if the team is to survive its challenging schedule. The coach dropped Jarvis, who had been assigned responsibilities on the fourth line along with Philadelphia Flyers’ forward Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, to make things easy on himself in trying to coalesce the team.

Looking ahead: championship implications and prospects

With the tournament on its move to Boston, everything is on the line like never before. The contest on Monday against Team Finland is no do-or-die situation—it could also set up what is next on championship aspirations. A regulation win by Canada puts them well on pace to face off against the United States in the final—a rematch that will make for good redemption talk. But suppose the contest goes into overtime or is decided by a shootout. In that case, that road to the final is that much murkier, with what-else-can-happen possibilities by other top contenders. As the Canadians attempt to regain steam, tactical adjustments will matter most. The coach’s late moves on his roster mean that there is no apprehension about taking risks to enhance chemistry on defense, especially with the comeback of a star player like Makar. His explosive playing will likely free up linemates and lighten up an overused defense corps. Also, bringing Konecny back into the lineup will give that added offense burst, which is needed considering the intense environment of a title on the horizon.

Analysts and fans are observing Team Canada closely through this critical phase of its life. Though contentious, the decision to scratch Harley and Jarvis can possibly provide that much-needed jumpstart to make the team reconsider its approach and sharpen its focus on winning meaningful games. With every decision now subject to sharp criticism, next weekend’s match-up in Boston can prove to be a make-or-break point of Canada’s tournament experience. Whether or not the changes pay off is yet to be seen, but stakes are definitely on, and possibilities of a rematch of the final versus the United States have now evolved into a mouthwatering option for fans waiting to witness redemption on the global stage by Team Canada.

Team Canada’s experience throughout the tournament is one of contradictions—tough loss, roster shakeup, and promise of comeback glory through Cale Makar’s expected comeback. With each move, each decision is critical as the roster is revamped and poised for what’s next, including that big-stakes matchup in Boston. The potential championship showdown against the United States adds extra importance to each move, making this part of the tournament really a test of strategy, resilience, and adaptability.