Sam Bennett Joins Team Canada After Cirelli Injury, Eyes Olympic Redemption
Sam Bennett is heading to the Olympics after all.
After being left off Team Canada’s original roster for the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, the Florida Panthers forward is getting a second shot-this time as a replacement for Anthony Cirelli, who suffered an injury during the NHL Stadium Series on Sunday night in Tampa.
It’s a twist of fate for the 29-year-old Bennett, who’s no stranger to big moments and even bigger comebacks. And while he’s dealing with a minor upper-body injury of his own-sustained in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday-it doesn’t appear to be anything that will keep him sidelined for long. In fact, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice left the door open for Bennett’s return as soon as Wednesday night, when Florida hosts the Boston Bruins.
“Put Bennett, Lundell and Marchand all in the same category,” Maurice said Tuesday. “There is a chance they all play tomorrow, and there's a chance none of them do. We won't know until after the morning skate.”
So, while his status for Wednesday remains up in the air, his Olympic ticket is punched. And if history is any indication, Team Canada’s getting a player who thrives when the stakes are highest.
Bennett’s omission from the original Olympic roster raised a few eyebrows-especially considering his role in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where he scored a critical game-tying goal against Team USA before Connor McDavid clinched the win in overtime. But a sluggish start to the 2025-26 season, where Bennett managed just two points in November, likely played a part in that initial decision.
Since then, though, he’s flipped the script.
Now sitting third in team scoring with 19 goals and 42 points through 55 games, Bennett has reasserted himself as one of Florida’s most reliable offensive weapons. His physical edge, two-way play, and knack for delivering in clutch moments make him a natural fit for international competition-especially on a Canadian squad that’s loaded with firepower and finally featuring NHL players again for the first time since 2014.
“I wish I could have proved that I could help that team win a Gold medal,” Bennett said after being left off the initial roster. “I try to look at what I am grateful for, and that was the opportunity I had last year.
That was probably the proudest moment of my career, getting to put on that jersey. I am forever going to be grateful for that opportunity.”
That opportunity now has a sequel.
Bennett’s postseason resume speaks for itself: a Conn Smythe Trophy in 2025 after leading the Panthers to their second straight Stanley Cup, racking up 15 goals in 23 playoff games. He’s built a reputation as a gamer-someone who elevates when the lights are brightest. And with Canada set to open Olympic play against Czechia on February 12, they’ll be counting on that same edge and energy in Milan.
Before he joins his national teammates, though, there’s still work to be done in South Florida. The Panthers have two games left before the Olympic break, starting with Wednesday’s matchup against the Bruins and followed by a rivalry showdown in Tampa on Thursday in the latest chapter of the Battle of Florida.
Whether Bennett is in the lineup for those games or not, one thing’s clear: when the puck drops in Milan, he’ll be ready. And this time, he won’t be taking the moment for granted.