Florida Panthers Sam Bennett back in the Team Canada picture for real

On Tuesday morning, Bennett said he received a text saying he is a potential injury replacement for Team Canada. That's not a roster spot, but it's a real tap on the shoulder.

This matters because Canada's Milano Cortina 2026 roster was unveiled on December 31, 2025, and it's the first Olympics with NHL players since 2014. Bennett wasn't on the 25, but the pipeline behind it is clearly active.

If you're building a «break glass» forward for a short tournament, Bennett is an obvious call. He wins inside position, hunts loose pucks, and makes defenders turn their backs on breakouts.

Fans love the idea because Bennett turns games into trench warfare, and Canada always needs that. He's got 14 goals and 31 points in 41 games this season, production that travels when the ice shrinks and whistles get stingy.

He's also 29, drafted fourth overall by the Calgary Flames in 2014, and he just cashed in like a core piece. Bennett's eight-year, $64 million extension carries an $8 million cap hit, so Florida clearly sees him as more than a vibe guy.

Being an injury replacement isn't glamorous, but it's specific. You stay available, you keep your conditioning sharp, and you're one phone buzz away from jumping into a tight role with almost no runway.

And Bennett has shown he can play that role under max pressure. Last spring he was the Conn Smythe winner, and he led the 2025 playoffs with 15 goals while Florida repeated as Stanley Cup champs. If Canada needs an edge, his is already sharpened.

For the Panthers, the sweet spot is simple, keep him healthy, keep him mean, keep the minutes honest. If the call ever turns official, it'll be because Canada's chasing gold in February, and Bennett is built for that kind of hockey.