Team Canada just took a hit - and not the kind they can bounce back from easily. Anthony Cirelli, one of Coach Jon Cooper’s most trusted two-way forwards, is officially out for the upcoming Olympic Games in Italy after suffering an injury during the Tampa Bay Lightning’s win over the Boston Bruins.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Cirelli’s game is tailor-made for international play - relentless on the forecheck, responsible defensively, and capable of playing tough minutes against top competition.
He’s the kind of player every coach wants when the stakes are high and the ice gets tighter. Now, Team Canada will have to move forward without him.
The injury occurred shortly after Boston cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-1 on Sunday. Cirelli was skating through center ice, having just moved the puck, when Bruins forward Mark Katelsic caught him with a shoulder-to-shoulder hit.
It wasn’t dirty, but it was jarring - and Cirelli clearly wasn’t ready for it. He left the ice in visible pain and didn’t return.
It didn’t take long for the ripple effects to hit both the Lightning and Team Canada. Earlier in the day, Coach Cooper had already announced that Cirelli and fellow center Nick Paul would miss Tampa’s final two games before the Olympic break, leaving the Bolts thin down the middle. Now, Cooper has to adjust not just his NHL lineup, but his Olympic one too.
Cirelli’s replacement? Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett - a gritty, playoff-tested forward who brings a different kind of edge to the lineup.
Bennett’s not the same type of player as Cirelli - he leans more toward physicality and offensive bursts than shutdown assignments - but he’s no stranger to big moments. He’ll bring some bite and versatility to Canada’s bottom six, though it’s fair to say the loss of Cirelli changes the complexion of the team’s forward group.
For Team Canada, this is a tough blow. For the Lightning, it’s a concerning development heading into the break. And for Cirelli, it’s a bitter pill - missing out on the Olympics after earning a spot on one of the most competitive rosters in the world.