Sam Bennett Steps Up for Team Canada After Anthony Cirelli's Olympic Injury
In a significant roster adjustment ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers has received the call to join Team Canada's men's hockey squad, replacing the injured Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Hockey Canada made the official announcement on Tuesday afternoon, confirming Bennett's addition to the roster for the Milano-Cortina Games.
Injury Forces Last-Minute Olympic Roster Change
The roster change comes after Cirelli suffered an injury during Sunday's Stadium Series game against the Boston Bruins. The Lightning forward took an open-ice hit from Mark Kastelic and left the game in obvious discomfort. Tampa Bay and Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper described the injury as "kind of a stinger" following the game, but it was significant enough to require his replacement on the Olympic roster.
Bennett, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner with the Florida Panthers, had been a notable omission when the initial Olympic team was announced in December. His addition to the roster represents a significant boost for Canada's gold medal aspirations.
Bennett's Own Injury Status Raises Questions
The decision to replace Cirelli with Bennett comes with some controversy, as Bennett himself recently suffered an injury. The Panthers forward left Monday night's game against the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury, missing practice on Tuesday morning. However, Florida head coach Paul Maurice indicated Bennett is day-to-day and could potentially play Wednesday against the Bruins.
Despite the recent injury concern, Bennett is enjoying a career-best season statistically. The 29-year-old forward has scored 19 goals and 23 assists for 42 points in 55 games, surpassing his previous best of 51 points in 76 games last season. In comparison, the 28-year-old Cirelli has recorded 35 points in 49 games this season.
Olympic Hockey Returns with NHL Participation
Both Bennett and Cirelli represented Canada during last year's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, giving them valuable international experience. The NHL will wrap up its pre-Olympic schedule on Thursday before sending players to Italy for the first Olympic hockey tournament featuring NHL players since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Team Canada's first game at the Milano-Cortina Olympic tournament is scheduled for February 12 against Czechia. While there have been reports about concerns regarding the newly constructed rink, Games organizers have assured that the arena will be prepared to host matches starting this week.
The roster change represents a significant development for Canada's Olympic hockey program as they prepare to compete for gold in Italy. Bennett's offensive capabilities and championship experience could prove valuable as Canada seeks to reclaim Olympic hockey supremacy after more than a decade without NHL participation in the Games.
