The Tampa Bay Lightning pulled off a dramatic comeback win over the Boston Bruins in Sunday’s Stadium Series showdown, but the celebration was short-lived. The victory came at a cost - veteran forward Anthony Cirelli left the game with an injury, and now his Olympic dream is officially on hold.
Jon Cooper, who wears two hats as head coach of both the Lightning and Team Canada, confirmed the tough news: Cirelli won’t be suiting up for Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics. Cooper broke the news during an interview with TSN’s Jay Recher, calling the decision “devastating.”
“If Anthony Cirelli can't be Anthony Cirelli,” Cooper said, “and he's not 100%, he can't go.”
It’s a gut punch not just for Cirelli, but for a Canadian squad that had penciled him in as a key piece of their Olympic puzzle. He was coming off a solid showing in the NHL - 15 goals and 20 assists through 49 games - and had just represented Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, logging four appearances even if he didn’t find the scoresheet.
Cirelli’s résumé speaks for itself. A third-round pick back in 2015, he’s been a steady presence in Tampa since breaking into the league during the 2017-18 season.
Over 560 career games, he’s tallied 139 goals and 188 assists - but more importantly, he’s helped the Lightning raise the Stanley Cup twice. The Olympics offered a chance to chase another kind of hardware: gold for his country.
That chance will now go to Sam Bennett, who steps into Cirelli’s spot on the Olympic roster. Bennett, another Stanley Cup winner and a fellow member of the 4 Nations roster, had a goal in three games during that tournament. While he was initially left off the Olympic team, his experience and scoring touch make him a strong addition.
Team Canada remains a top contender for gold, and their campaign begins on February 12 against Czechia. But there’s no question this roster shuffle adds an emotional wrinkle.
For Cirelli, the timing couldn’t have been worse - he was playing well, he was healthy, and he was ready. Until he wasn’t.
Injuries are part of the game, but when they strike just before a moment like this, they sting a little more.