Photo credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Brayden Point’s injury and Anthony Cirelli’s injury put the Tampa Bay Lightning and Team Canada on edge, as Connor Bedard is expected to be the next man up as an injury replacement for their Olympic roster.
Brayden Point has officially been placed on injured reserve, and his Olympic hopes appear to be out the door.
The Lightning have called it week-to-week after the awkward right leg tangle against Philadelphia.
Point had 30 points this season, 11 goals and 19 assists, and he was logging 18:02 a night.
That is a massive top six hole, and it is not just about scoring; it is about the man advantage routes he runs on instinct.
Now add another rostered player, Anthony Cirelli, leaving late and Jon Cooper refusing to offer anything beyond hope and a wait-and-see.
«I don’t know. I don’t want to say anything. He’s a tough kid, so I’m hoping he’ll be okay. We’ll see tomorrow.»
Tampa Bay was 29-13-3 and ripping an 11-game win streak when the week-to-week label dropped on Point, so this is stress landing on a confident room, not only Canada’s Olympic roster.
The tricky part is Cooper is coaching Canada too, so every update feels like it has two meanings at once.
If Hockey Canada needs an injury replacement up front, Connor Bedard and his Olympic hopes suddenly feel less like a fantasy.
Brayden Point’s injury turns Connor Bedard Olympic talk real
Lightning fans are excited and nervous at the same time, because losing Point and maybe Cirelli is the kind of swing that can flip a season mood overnight.
Bedard is 20 and the 2023 first overall pick, so the talent case never needed a sales pitch.
For Team Canada, you can paper over one injury, but two down the middle change matchup plans in a hurry.
The next milestone is the medical update on Cirelli and Point’s timeline, because one good report can calm everything, and one bad one can rewrite both rosters before the break, which includes Connor Bedard.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
POLL
17 HOURS AGOÂ Â Â |Â Â Â 91 ANSWERS
Two concerning injuries deliver golden opportunity for Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard at Olympics
Should Connor Bedard be the injury replacement if Brayden Point or Anthony Cirelli miss the Olympics?