With Canada’s 25-man males’s ice hockey roster formally submitted for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, consideration is popping to contingency plans ought to Brayden Level be unable to play.
Level suffered a proper‑knee harm throughout Tampa Bay Lightning’s 3‑0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 12 at Xfinity Cellular Enviornment in Philadelphia. Level scored a power-play purpose early within the second interval however instantly went down awkwardly and was helped off the ice, lacking the rest of the sport.
On Sportsnet 590 The FAN, NHL insider Jason Bukala mentioned potential replacements for Level. Bukala described how Group Canada administration has pre-identified gamers by function guaranteeing that coaches know which choices would finest match a spot.
“I used to be on the presser in Minneapolis when Group Canada’s Administration Group, Doug Armstrong nannounced to the group that now we have gamers, sure sorts of gamers in sure classes, and if one thing like this have been to occur, we have been proposing to our coaches, ‘That is the type of participant we see to slot in that function.’,” he mentioned.
Among the many names mentioned, Bukala identified Sam Bennett, the $64-million ahead with the Florida Panthers as a key potential alternative. The insider talked about Bennett’s versatility in being taking part in each heart and wing and famous his robust trajectory and playoff efficiency, which make him a pure candidate if Level can not take part.
“When you’re trying on the heart ice place now, Bennett can play heart. He also can play wing, actually, he can play either side. On the wing, he can play any of the three positions. So, personally, as we speak I’d return to Bennett, as a result of his trajectory the way in which he’s performed over a fairly well-extended time period has actually outlined his identification, like he did final 12 months within the playoffs,” the insider mentioned.
“That provides you extra confidence that he can try this job for you. I’d lean that method personally if it involves that; time will inform,” he added.
Bennett signed his 8-year, $64 million contract in June 2025, carrying an $8 million cap hit per season with the Panthers. To date, he has 16 objectives and 19 assists in 45 video games this season.
Group Canada GM revealed Sam Bennett’s response after being left off 2026 Olympic roster
Earlier this month, Group Canada common supervisor Doug Armstrong addressed the exclusion of Sam Bennett from the 25-man males’s ice hockey roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan‑Cortina.
Talking on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, Armstrong shared that he personally reached out to gamers from final 12 months’s 4 Nations Face‑Off who weren’t chosen. Armstrong mentioned Bennett obtained the information professionally and stays keen to hitch the workforce if an harm opens a spot.
“And Sam was very tough. Not surprisingly dealt with like a real gentleman and a professional. And, you realize, needs to be a part of the method if there’s an harm. Nevertheless it was very laborious, as a result of he did… he did an excellent job for us final 12 months,” he added.
Armstrong defined that the choice course of centered on gamers who may fill particular roles notably in faceoffs and defensive obligations. Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders, who additionally brings versatility and expertise taking part in wing with prime gamers on the Worlds, was chosen over Bennett to fulfill these workforce aims.
Edited by Anjum Rajonno
