Sam Bennett’s absence from Team Canada’s roster has quickly become one of the most talked about decisions surrounding the lineup, and insiders are now shedding light on how it happened. For some the explanation is fine, but for others it is not, even if the ‘why’ makes sense.
Elliott Friedman belonged to the first to express his surprise, calling Bennett’s omission the biggest shock to the roster. According to Friedman, the decision ultimately came down to head coach Jon Cooper, who was given significant influence over the final selections. Cooper reportedly preferred Bo Horvat, Nick Suzuki and Anthony Cirelli over Bennett, despite Bennett’s proven playoff pedigree.
Others wondered if the animosity between Tampa and Florida had anything to do with the criticism, but that seems unlikely considering both Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart are on the team.
Still, the choice to exclude Bennett has raised eyebrows. Bennett is coming off a Conn Smythe Trophy win and scored 15 goals in last year’s playoffs, establishing himself as one of the most effective big-game players in the NHL. TSN’s Jeff O’Neill called the decision a mistake and “somewhat shocking,” labeling Bennett as a player he thought was a lock.
from Sportnet Sam McKee went even furthersaying, “Sam Bennett has been one of the best players in the highest-stakes games for two years in a row, and he was left out of the roster for Cooper’s son Cirelli.”
Not about Sam Bennett, says Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong
Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong acknowledged how difficult the decision was and said Bennett handled the news “like a true gentleman and a professional.” Armstrong explained that roster discussions as early as December 2 left limited flexibility, with positional needs, faceoff capabilities and penalty-killing roles playing a large role in the final decision.
Cooper felt he had options to hire guys who served in more specialized roles. Horvat could win face-offs and play on the wing. Cirelli is a punishment killing machine.
The fact that this decision was made in early December may also have played a role. There is also speculation that Bennett’s slow start to the season may have hurt his chances, even as his production soared later on. Ultimately, Armstrong emphasized that no one was “playing off the team” – it was simply a matter of choosing between elite options.
Still, for many observers, the omission of a proven playoff performer like Bennett remains the most glaring omission – and one that will continue to fuel the debate as Canada sees some of their picks struggle, or worse, fail to win a gold medal.
Next: Why Connor Bedard isn’t “good enough” for Team Canada
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