The Team Canada 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics forward update article on time for two-weeks prior to the games set to commence. The world will be watching. Game Time!
Team Canada Roster Updates at Forward with NHL Rumours
Brayden Point remains the biggest question mark. When focusing on forwards, at this time, we think Point is actually the only question mark. Going through everyone else, as we will show you, sounds like all engines go, except our point of the article, Point.
The very latest is more encouraging. Chris Johnston provided us with an update yesterday. The idea is that Point still plans on playing. Therefore, we have to assume he will be healthy, and ready to go for Team Canada. The players will depart for Milan, Italy in about a week-and-a-half. Point would love to get in a game for his club side Tampa Bay Lightning before that time. However, at this time, it is still unknown. All we know is that we aren’t quite pointing at the injury replacements, yet.
Everyone Else Upfront Getting Ready to Board their Flight to Milan
Offensively, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Macklin Celebrini have 155 games played, 98 goals and 160 asssists. If we transform that into a combined 82-game average, it would be 52 goals, and 85 assists. They’re the big guns, they are ready to lead us on the scoresheet.
In addition, Nick Suzuki remains another player who puts up consistently, huge point totals. Not an easy feat for a defensive gifted player. It goes without saying, Canada is deep.
Sidney Crosby is have an astonishing season. He has 27 goals and 30 assists on the season. There’s no stopping him or the line he is on. Guys like Sam Reinhart and Mark Stone make this lineup so complete. Dude, let’s go.
I feel like I haven't heard enough hype about Mark Stone this season considering he's scored at a 122 point pace with pristine two-way results. pic.twitter.com/cw4Mg3q4PP
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 27, 2026
All the Guys Are Towing the Line
Mitch Marner, Brandon Hagel, and Tom Wilson have all been in fine form. Brad Marchand is having a strong season, up to 49 points. Anthony Cirelli rounds out the trio of Lightning head coach Jon Cooper gets the pleasure of continuing to coach. It is an interesting time right now.
Bo Horvat is a big part of the Islanders potential success on Long Island. His 21 goals, 33 points, 20:28 of ice time, 16.7 shooting percentage, 58.2 faceoff win percentage, are all reasons why he makes Team Canada. He is just back off injury, in plenty of time to get up to game speed.
And finally, not to stir the NHL rumours mill pot too much, in the not-so-likely scenario that Point can’t go, does Canada have anyone suitable to fill in? Ya knows.
Some Potential Injury Replacements
Connor Bedard, Sam Bennett, Wyatt Johnston, Mark Scheifele are all at the level required to crack the squad. Point is such a versatile player, it can be difficult to replace his ability to slot in many places in the lineup. So, either coach Cooper or general manager Doug Armstrong will have to consider that idea. Steven Stamkos has been red hot over the last stretch, his veteran presence wouldn’t go astray.
NHL Rumours: Insider Hints at Reason for Team Canada Olympic Snub
So, all-in-all, Canada has a group of forwards with a ton of rhythm right now. They are collectively very healthy, and even an injury or two, with the high-end depth this country possesses, will do little to slow down the 747 Jet engine that is, the Team Canada offence.
News from Other Nations
How about some other countries big offensive guys? Aleksander Barkov is the leader of Team Finland. Unfortunately for him and his country, he has been recovering from his ACL and MCL injury since September. He was seen skating yesterday, that was perhaps raising some eyebrows for those who follow the Florida Panthers. However, it seems general manager Bill Zito did shut down any ideas of him playing for Finland at the Winter Olympics. He said he is expected to miss the regular season, at this point. It is possible he plays in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that is nearly three months away, at the earliest.
From Sweden, it was only yesterday that they announced Marcus Johansson was making the trip to Italy. He was named as the injury replacement for Anaheim Duck sniper Leo Carlsson. Johansson previously helped Sweden to a Silver Medal, back in the 2014 games from Sochi, Russia. Meanwhile, another notable Swede hit the ice yesterday. Gabriel Landeskog skated, and as head coach Jared Bednar suggested, he is on his way to playing in the games.
As we edge every so close to the start of the Olympics, many of the teams appear ready to go. Be sure to check back with us for any updates. But right now, we can’t wait for them to start either!
Canada knows Bo Horvat is good to go. Brayden Point? Not so much. The latest on injury questions for many of the top contenders at the Milan Olympics: https://t.co/itOQ2uVX3j
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) January 23, 2026
Main Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
