Blackhawks News
Canada Names Jarvis As Injury Replacement, Bedard Left Off Roster Again
Hockey Canada announced on Thursday that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point will not be able to participate in the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Point suffered a lower-body injury on Jan. 12, when Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York fell hard on his right leg during a net-front sequence. The 29-year-old was given a “week-to-week” timeline and has not played since.
Point is the second member of the Lightning to be ruled out for Team Canada, as Anthony Cirelli also needed to be replaced after getting hurt during the Stadium Series showdown with the Boston Bruins last weekend. Sam Bennett, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers and member of Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster, was named as Cirelli’s replacement earlier this week.
Serving as Point’s injury replacement is Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis, who, like Bennett, represented the Canadians at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. Hockey Canada made the move official on Thursday afternoon.
With Point’s status seeming dicey over the last few weeks, there was plenty of speculation as to who would serve in his stead. Among the players reported to be under consideration was Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard, who returned from a shoulder injury on Jan. 9, giving him a chance to make one final push to be an Olympic replacement.
Of course, Bedard was snubbed by the Canadians during their initial roster release on New Year’s Eve. Before getting injured on Dec. 12, Bedard was among the NHL’s leading scorers and had the Blackhawks off to their most competitive start in years. Curiously, Canada’s GM, Doug Armstrong, said that Bedard’s injury was not a major factor in his omission.
Bedard was quiet in his first few games back from injury, but he improved his play as more time passed. Over his last five outings leading up to the Olympic break, the former No. 1 overall pick recorded three goals and two assists for five points. In 44 games on the season, Bedard has 23 goals and 30 assists for 53 points. He’s 13th in the NHL in points per game.
Point was expected to play a top-six role for Canada in Italy, and Bedard felt like a natural fit to slide into one of their top two forward lines. His creativity and offensive instincts would surely mesh well with the likes of Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and fellow youngster Macklin Celebrini. Bedard’s ability to play on the wing, which he’s done in the past during international competitions, surely made him an intriguing option as well.
But in the end, Canada chose a player they’re more familiar with in Jarvis, even though he doesn’t quite offer the same offensive upside as Bedard. In 48 games this season for the Hurricanes, Jarvis, 24, has 25 goals and 18 assists for 43 points.
Between the two, Jarvis is undoubtedly the more responsible and overall better defender, even though Bedard has made notable strides in that department since entering the NHL. He’s also more experienced than Bedard, with 55 Stanley Cup Playoff games under his belt, not to mention the exposure he received at the 4 Nations Face-Off 12 months ago.
Ultimately, it’s disappointing that Bedard was left off the roster once again and will have to watch the tournament from his couch. However, it’s not the most surprising result. Considering Armstrong’s comments after the initial rosters dropped, Bedard always appeared to be a long shot.
Not to worry, Blackhawks fans. Bedard will be a staple of Canada’s Olympic roster for a long time, likely starting in 2030, assuming NHL players will still be participating at that point. Having a couple of weeks off won’t be the worst thing for Bedard, as it will allow him to rest up and continue to get healthier. He also will surely have an added chip on his shoulder for the final stretch of the 2025-26 season.
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