The Tampa Bay Lightning have been rolling lately, winning five of their last seven games-and they’ve done it without one of their most dynamic players. Brayden Point, who went down with an injury back on January 12 against the Flyers, was initially feared to be out long-term. But now, there’s growing optimism that not only could he return soon, but he might even be healthy in time to suit up for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
That’s a significant shift in tone from when the injury first happened. At the time, it looked bad-bad enough that fans and analysts alike were bracing for an extended absence.
But according to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the outlook has improved. Point is reportedly targeting a return in time to join Canada in Milan, with the men’s hockey tournament set to begin February 11.
That timeline is tight. With just over a week and a half before players are scheduled to fly overseas, Point will need to continue progressing quickly.
Ideally, he’d get into at least one game with the Lightning before making the trip, but as of now, this isn't a case of finding an injury replacement. It's about Point pushing to be healthy enough to represent his country on the Olympic stage.
This would be Point’s first Olympic appearance, though he’s no stranger to international play. He was part of Team Canada’s gold-medal run at the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off, where he chipped in a goal and an assist over four games.
If he’s able to go in Milan, he adds another layer of firepower to an already loaded Canadian roster. So far this season, Point has 11 goals and 19 assists-numbers that speak to his consistent offensive impact.
Canada opens its Olympic campaign on February 12 against Czechia, and expectations are high. With a roster stacked with NHL talent, anything less than gold will be seen as a missed opportunity. Adding a healthy Brayden Point to the mix only strengthens their chances.
Back in Tampa, the Lightning are sitting pretty atop the Eastern Conference standings at 33-14-4. They’ve kept pace without Point, a testament to their depth and structure.
But make no mistake-getting him back would be a huge boost for both the Lightning and Team Canada. Tampa returns to action Thursday against the Jets and will take center stage again Sunday when they host the Bruins in a Stadium Series showdown.
For now, all eyes are on Point’s recovery. If he can make it back in time, both his NHL squad and his national team will be that much more dangerous.