Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli will miss the Olympics, with Team Canada set to name Florida Panthers centre Sam Bennett as his injury replacement.
Cirelli was injured in Sunday’s Stadium Series win over the Boston Bruins. Lighting head coach Jon Cooper described the injury as “kind of a stinger” post game and did not give a further update on Tuesday. The 28-year-old centre has 15 goals and 35 points in 49 games this season.
Cooper, who is also the head coach of Canada’s men’s team, described Cirelli‘s status as ”wait and see” earlier on Tuesday, putting forward Brayden Point in the same category. Out since Jan. 12, Point has resumed skating with the Lightning in a full-contact jersey, but won’t play again before the break.
Confirming. Bennett is in for Cirelli on Team Canada. Bennett was dinged up last night, but nothing serious. Tough break for veteran Anthony Cirelli.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 3, 2026
Bennett, who was arguably the biggest name left off Canada’s roster when the team was named in December, exited his team’s Monday’s loss to the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury. That injury, though, is not considered serious.
On the back of consecutive Stanley Cup triumphs, the Toronto-born forward has established himself as one of the league’s premier playoff performers. With 15 goals and seven assists in 23 playoff games last spring, Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason’s most valuable player. He helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off just months earlier, with a game-tying goal with seven minutes left in the third period of the final against Team USA.
The 29-year-old has 19 goals and 42 points in 55 games this season, on pace to set a new career-high in points, which currently stands at 51 from last season.
Cirelli was also a part of Team Canada at the 4 Nations, going without a point in four games.
In addition to Point, injury concerns have also surrounded Panthers winger Brad Marchand and Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, but both still have a chance to play in games for their clubs before the break.
Canada will play their first game of Milano Cortina 2026 in just over a week against Czechia on Feb. 12.
