Team Canada reportedly loses another player to injury

Earlier this week Tampa Bay Lighting head coach Jon Cooper has confirmed that forward Brayden Point is out long-term, but that he's not done for the season. Officially he is 'week to week' but Cooper did reiterate that Point has avoided the "worst case scenario."

Obviously this news could have a big impact on Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics whichs begins in a little over three weeks time. While the Lightning haven't ruled Point out of the Olympics yet, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reports that indeed it looks like Canada will need to replace him on their roster.

"They'll wait until closer to the Olympics but I think it's obvious that they'll have to replace him," said LeBrun on TSN's Insider Trading segment yesterday evening.

So... who's the next man up?

Sam Bennett? Connor Bedard? Seth Jarvis?

Read below for our earlier report, published as events occurred earlier this week.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point had to be helped off the ice this evening after suffering an apparent knee injury.

Point scored a pretty powerplay goal against the Philadelphia Flyers but twisted his right knee underneath him on the play and needed help from teammate Nikita Kucherov to get off the ice.

Check it out:

Obviously this is bad news for the Lightning, but don't forget that Point is a major part of Team Canada's roster for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. If Point is out for any significant length of time it could factor heavily into Canada's plans for the Milan Olympics.

Stay tuned for an update from the team as soon as it's available.