NHL Olympic Notebook: Cirelli Out, Bennett In for Team Canada Amid Wave of Injury Replacements
As the NHL hits pause for the Olympic break, the focus shifts from playoff pushes to national pride. Fans are eager to see the league’s best suit up for their countries in the 2026 Winter Games - and yes, NHL players are officially back on Olympic ice.
But with the excitement comes a familiar concern: injuries. And unfortunately for Team Canada, one of their key two-way forwards will be watching from the sidelines.
Cirelli Out, Bennett Steps In
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli is officially out for the Olympics after suffering an upper-body injury during the Stadium Series game against the Boston Bruins. The hit came late in the first period, when Bruins forward Mark Kastelic caught Cirelli with a shoulder-to-shoulder check at center ice. Cirelli, clearly in discomfort, made his way to the bench but didn’t return for the rest of the game.
In his place, Team Canada has called up Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett - a name that many felt was a surprising omission from the initial roster. Bennett, 29, brings a gritty, playoff-style game that fits well in international tournament play.
He and Cirelli were teammates during last year’s 4 Nations Faceoff, where Bennett made a strong impression. After being scratched for the opener, he made his mark in a heated matchup against Team USA, dropping the gloves with Brady Tkachuk and later scoring a crucial goal in the final.
That kind of edge and clutch production is exactly what Canada will need in a bottom-six role.
Bennett did leave Monday’s game against Buffalo with an upper-body issue of his own, but early indications from Panthers head coach Paul Maurice suggest it’s not expected to keep him out of Olympic action. “We’ll just leave it as upper-body,” Maurice said.
“We’ll get a better handle on it tomorrow.” For now, Team Canada is moving forward with the expectation that Bennett will be good to go.
What This Means for Canada’s Lineup
Cirelli had been expected to anchor a shutdown line alongside Brandon Hagel, likely tasked with neutralizing top offensive threats in the tournament. With him out, that responsibility now shifts to Bennett, along with Bo Horvat and Nick Suzuki, who are also slotted into defensive center roles.
There’s also a watchful eye on Cirelli’s teammate, Brayden Point, who’s been sidelined since January 12. He’s missed nine games, and while he hasn’t been officially ruled out for the Olympics, his status remains uncertain. If Point can’t go, Canada has a deep pool of forward talent to pull from - names like Connor Bedard, Seth Jarvis, Mark Scheifele, Travis Konecny, Wyatt Johnston, and Mat Barzal are all on the radar as potential replacements.
Other Canadian Concerns
Canada’s blue line could also see some last-minute changes. Devon Toews is back from injury, but his Olympic status may hinge on a more personal matter - his wife is due to give birth just nine days before the tournament begins, and Toews has made it clear he won’t leave until the baby arrives.
If timing becomes an issue, Canada may need to dip into its defensive reserves. Options include Evan Bouchard, Jakob Chychrun, Noah Dobson, and 2025 first-rounder Matthew Schaefer.
In goal, Logan Thompson is nursing an injury he suffered on January 27 against Seattle. He’s currently on injured reserve, but Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said Monday that Thompson is “real close” to returning.
He could be back in action for Washington’s final game before the break against Nashville. Whether that’s enough to prove his Olympic readiness remains to be seen.
Injury Replacements Across the Olympic Field
Canada isn’t the only team dealing with last-minute changes. Here’s a quick rundown of confirmed injury replacements so far:
- Team Canada: Sam Bennett in for Anthony Cirelli
- Team Finland: Joonas Korpisalo replaces Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net
- Team Latvia: Rihards Bukart replaces Rodrigo Abols; Anri Ravinskis in for Eriks Mateiko
- Team Sweden: Marcus Johansson replaces Leo Carlsson; Hampus Lindholm in for Jonas Brodin
- Team USA: Jackson LaCombe steps in for injured defenseman Seth Jones
Final Thoughts
The Olympic break is always a double-edged sword - a chance to see the world’s best compete for gold, but also a stretch that can expose teams to injury risks in an already condensed NHL schedule. For Canada, losing Cirelli is a blow, especially given his defensive reliability and playoff-tested game. But in Sam Bennett, they’re getting a player who brings physicality, experience, and a knack for rising to the occasion.
With more roster moves potentially looming - especially around Point, Toews, and Thompson - Team Canada’s final Olympic lineup could still see some shuffling. But one thing’s for sure: the road to gold just got a little more interesting.