Liabooks Home|PRISM News
View of a hockey locker room with national team jerseys hanging
PoliticsAI Analysis

2026 Milan Olympics Men’s Hockey: Canada and Sweden Face Critical Injury Questions Before Opening Face-off

2 min readSource

Major injury updates for the 2026 Milan Olympics men's hockey. Canada's Bo Horvat returns, while Brayden Point remains questionable and Sweden faces key losses.

With less than three weeks until the puck drops in Milan, the world's top hockey powers are racing against time to heal. As the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics approach, several gold medal contenders are grappling with significant roster uncertainties due to a late-season wave of injuries in the NHL.

Canada’s Mixed Roster News: Horvat Returns While Point Remains Uncertain

According to reports, Canada received a much-needed boost as Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders returned to practice. Horvat had missed 14 of his past 18 games with a lower-body injury but confirmed he is on track for February. "We knew it wasn't too serious, that I'd be good to go and ready for the Olympics," Horvat stated on Friday.

However, the status of Brayden Point remains the biggest wildcard for Hockey Canada. The Tampa Bay Lightning star hasn't played since a leg injury on Jan. 12. Coach Jon Cooper noted that while Point avoided a season-ending scenario, his availability for the opening game remains week-to-week. If Point cannot go, names like Connor Bedard or Sam Bennett are expected to fill the void.

Roster Shakes in Sweden and USA: Key Defenses Under Construction

Sweden faces a more dire situation. Their projected No. 1 center, Leo Carlsson, and veteran defenseman Jonas Brodin have both been ruled out due to long-term injuries. The Minnesota Wild confirmed that Brodin underwent surgery this week, leaving a massive gap in the Swedish blue line.

Meanwhile, USA Hockey has already made its first official replacement. Jackson LaCombe has stepped in for the injured Seth Jones. Forward Tage Thompson praised the move, calling LaCombe a "smooth skater" with high hockey intelligence. These roster pivots are being made up until the very last minute before teams depart on Feb. 7.

Brayden Point suffers leg injury vs Philadelphia
Bo Horvat returns to practice; Jonas Brodin ruled out after surgery
Olympic charter flights scheduled to depart from New York
Men's Olympic Hockey tournament officially begins in Milan

This content is AI-generated based on source articles. While we strive for accuracy, errors may occur. We recommend verifying with the original source.

Related Articles