NHL world stunned by Sam Bennett’s hesitation at Canada Olympics
The Florida Panthers have rebounded from a slow start to join the Eastern Conference playoff race. Despite their recent rise, one of their key players has been left out Team Canada for the upcoming Olympics. Conn Smith Trophy Winner Panthers Sam Bennett will not go to Milan, which left many insiders amazed.
“The biggest surprise to me is Sam Bennett being cut. I didn’t see that coming,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote after the list was released.
Team Canada brought a similar squad to their squad for the 4 Nations showdown, with Bennett as the notable exception. New York Islanders center Bo Horvat and Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki were new signings. Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun explains how both of their great seasons put Canada in a difficult position.
“It was a really tough decision for Team Canada not to take Sam Bennett. For a while the debate was Horvath or Suzuki. When Team Canada decided to take both, it meant leaving out 4 more nations up front. It fell on Bennett. It was a tough decision for Team Canada,” LeBrun wrote.
His colleague Chris Johnston, wrote about the decision in Athletics. “(Bennett) was a depth forward in the 4 Nations team and still managed to play a significant role after being scratched for the opening game of the tournament. Not only did he battle Brady Tkachuk as part of a memorable nine-second opener in the first meeting with the USA, he scored a championship goal to help Canada and power Canada and has already brought overtime (March and B-T). sharper element in the lineup, management opted for deep forwards in Suzuki and Horvat, who can more easily move into the top six if performance or injuries require it.”
Team Canada will defend their 4 Nations title at the Olympic Games in February. They will do so without playoff defensive MVP Sam Bennett.
2026-01-01 13:18:00
