Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis received the call of his career just hours before facing the New York Rangers. The 24-year-old Winnipeg native was added to Team Canada’s roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point was ruled out due to a knee injury.
The sudden roster change marks the second injury replacement for Team Canada. Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett had already taken Anthony Cirelli’s spot after Cirelli suffered a lower-body injury during the Stadium Series game. For Jarvis, the Olympic dream became reality when his phone rang during his pregame nap.
Ready to witness history in Milan? Let’s take a closer look.
Point’s injury ends Olympic dream
Brayden Point’s knee injury against Philadelphia forced him out of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Point suffered the injury on January 12 when Flyers defenseman Cam York fell on his right leg during a power play.
The 29-year-old center grabbed his knee immediately and needed help leaving the ice. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper initially classified the injury as week-to-week, hoping Point could recover in time. Despite returning to practice five days before the Olympic roster deadline, Point determined he would not reach full strength.
Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong commended Point’s selflessness in giving up his spot rather than playing injured. The two-time Stanley Cup champion had been one of six players originally announced to Canada’s roster last summer.
Jarvis gets an unexpected phone call
Seth Jarvis was deep into his pregame nap when Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong called with life-changing news. Jarvis ignored the first call because he did not recognize the number.
When his phone rang again, he decided to answer and learned he had been selected for Team Canada. The forward has 25 goals and 43 points in 48 games this season.
Jarvis immediately began scrambling to arrange travel plans for Milan. He was scheduled to return to Raleigh with the Hurricanes after their game against the Rangers, but now had to come right back to New York. NHL players heading to the Olympics were set to depart on charter flights from New York on Saturday.
Carolina loses its scoring leader temporarily
Jarvis reached the 25-goal mark for the third consecutive season after scoring twice against Ottawa on February 3. He ranks first among Carolina skaters in goals, game-winning goals with six, and shorthanded goals with three this season. The Winnipeg native has been particularly strong since returning from a rib injury in early January.
Carolina now has five players representing their countries at the Olympics. Sebastian Aho will play for Finland, Jaccob Slavin for the United States, while Nikolaj Ehlers and Frederik Andersen both represent Denmark. The Hurricanes sit among the Eastern Conference leaders and hope their Olympians return healthy for the playoff push.
From 4 Nations champion to an Olympian
Jarvis helped Canada win gold at the 4 Nations Face-Off just one year before his Olympic selection.
The young forward played three games at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025, recording one assist. Canada defeated the United States 3-2 in overtime at TD Garden in Boston, with Connor McDavid scoring the golden goal after 8:18 of overtime. Jarvis skated 12:45 in the championship game and contributed three hits plus one blocked shot.
19 of Canada’s 23 players from that tournament are heading to the Olympics. The same coaching staff, led by Jon Cooper, will guide the team in Milan. Jarvis said the familiarity with teammates and systems makes joining the Olympic roster less intimidating than his first international tournament experience.
Lightning loses second Olympic player
Tampa Bay has now lost two players from its original Olympic roster due to injuries.
Anthony Cirelli was the first Lightning player ruled out after suffering a shoulder injury during the Stadium Series game against Boston. Sam Bennett replaced Cirelli on Canada’s roster earlier in the week. Point’s absence marks another significant blow to Tampa Bay’s Olympic representation after both players were among the team’s core contributors.
The Lightning placed Point on injured reserve on January 16 and later moved him to long-term injured reserve. Point had been skating since late January in hopes of working back to health in time for Milan. Despite five days of practice, he determined his knee would not be at 100% before the tournament began.
Jarvis models the game after Point
Seth Jarvis grew close to Brayden Point during the 4 Nations Face-Off and models his playing style after the Lightning center.
Jarvis expressed sympathy for Point and wished the situation had been different. The two players developed a relationship during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025. Jarvis studies Point’s two-way play and uses the veteran center as a template for his own development as a complete forward.
The Carolina forward brings a similar high-compete style to his game. He plays on the power play and penalty kill and handles responsibilities in all situations. Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin describes Jarvis as hard-working, gritty, smart, and skilled with excellent hockey sense and a willingness to play a responsible defensive game.
Aiming for the Gold Medal
The gold medal game is scheduled for February 22 as Canada pursues its 10th Olympic gold medal. NHL players are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014 after missing the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Canada won gold in both 2010 and 2014 with NHL participation.
TL;DR
- Seth Jarvis replaces injured Brayden Point on Team Canada’s Olympic roster.
- Point suffered a knee injury on January 12 and could not reach full health in time.
- Jarvis has 25 goals this season, marking his third consecutive season with 25 or more goals.
- The 24-year-old won gold with Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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