Few honors in hockey carry more weight than being named to Team Canada’s 'First Six.' For Brayden Point, that early selection turned a dream into a guarantee. He was locked into the roster, ready to represent his home country on the Olympic ice.
As early as June 2025, Brayden Point was included in Canada's first six players to the country's Olympic roster along with Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, and Sam Reinhar of the Florida Panthers.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, he led the playoffs in goals during both title runs, scoring 14 goals in the 2019-20 season, and leading once again in the following year with 14 goals. Over the last three seasons, he has been a model of consistency, scoring at least 40 goals each year—including a career-best 51-goal campaign in 2022-23.
His international track record is just as filled, with gold medals at the World Juniors, the 4 Nations Face-Off, and the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. With 665 points in 694 career games, he proved himself to belong in the first six.
Being named as part of the 'First Six' for a nation known for its hockey excellence is a massive honor, but it carries an equally massive weight of expectation. For the Calgary native, that early selection was a testament to his status as one of the game's elite. However, the certainty of that roster spot vanished at the worst possible moment.
A month before the Men's Ice Hockey tournament in Milan, Point’s journey to the Olympics hit a major roadblock on Jan. 12. After scoring a second-period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers, the star center suffered a lower-body injury that forced an early exit and, ultimately, his withdrawal from the roster.
The confirmation came on February 5 , just one week before the men ice hockey tournament's opening puck drop. Despite returning to the ice for optional skates, Hockey Canada officially announced that Point would withdraw from the roster, determined to be at less than 100%.
From Lightning GM Julien BriseBois via text message on how crushing this is for Brayden Point:
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 5, 2026
“Devastating. Incredible selflessness on his part (and Cirelli’s). They could’ve have pushed to play at less than 100% but showed character of the highest order in giving up their…
In a move described by Lightning GM Julien BriseBois as 'incredibly selfless,' Point stepped aside to ensure Canada could field a healthy lineup, with Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis named as his replacement.
When Hockey Canada unveiled its full 25-man roster on December 31, Seth Jarvis was arguably one of the most anticipated players fans expected alongside Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks and Mark Scheifele of Winnipeg Jets. Fans—especially those in Raleigh and his hometown of Winnipeg—were met with disappointment when the Hurricanes star was left off the initial list.
The replacement of Point marks the second blow to Canada’s lineup—and its Tampa Bay contingency—in a single week. Just two days earlier, Lightning teammate Anthony Cirelli was also ruled out after the Stadium Series against the Boston Bruins after a collision with Bruins forward Mark Kastelic, and did not return.
Brayden Point enters the Olympics break with 11 goals, 19 assists and 30 points in 37 games. Across social media and in the stands at Amalie Arena, the message from the hockey community is unified: a wish for a full and speedy recovery. While the Olympic dream in Milan has been delayed, fans are already looking past the break, hoping to see Point return to the ice stable and healthy.
For Canada, the tournament goes on, skating fast to take home the gold medal; but for Brayden Point, the next goal is simply getting back to the ice, ready to help the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the team currently standing at the top of the Atlantic Division, his return will be the ultimate reinforcement as the Lightning look to turn their dominant regular season into another deep run for the Stanley Cup.