When Canada unveiled its Olympic team, a few choices raised eyebrows. One in particular was curious: Tom Wilson on Sam Bennett. On paper, they are both big, physical forwards who can score and take action, but there is more to this decision than just statistics.
Wilson is a physical player, but has more control
Wilson has a reputation for being physical – there’s no doubt about that. He will hit, he will fight in corners and he will protect his teammates. But it’s more controlled. There is a difference between a player who can take a match to the next level with hard work and perseverance, and someone who sometimes crosses a line.
And then you have Bennett. Fast, skilled and difficult to play against. But in important moments he has a tendency to go too far, which means he goes a little too far.
You don’t have to look far for examples. During the playoffs a few seasons ago, when Matthew Knies was a rookie with the Maple Leafs, Bennett practically knocked him to the ice, knocking him out of the postseason. Knies was surprised and sidelined.
A few years later, Bennett drove straight through the crease and collided with Anthony Stolarz, a former teammate (whom he later referred to as a ‘good friend'”). He claimed there was no malicious intent, but it still knocked Stolarz out of the postseason. It’s something that makes coaches and Olympic officials shudder.
Olympic hockey is different from the NHL Playoffs
Olympic hockey is not the same as the NHL playoffs. It’s fast, skilled and yes, physical, but it’s not the environment in which you want a player to push boundaries and take others out of games. One can imagine Bennett doing a Stolarz and running Team USA’s goaltender Connor Hellebuyck – not only knocking him out of one game but potentially impacting his NHL season. It’s the kind of risk Team Canada doesn’t need when every team matters in a short tournament.
Wilson, on the other hand, hits and plays hard, but he doesn’t have the same line-crossing reputation. He is physical, but much more predictable and reliable in a way that works for a national team setting.
Bennett has talent, but not the reputational team Canada wants
Wilson can dive into the game, look out for his teammates and make an impact without causing any problems. It may seem small, but on a compressed Olympic roster, that stability counts.
Bennett has plenty of talent and may get another chance with Canada in the future. But for this selection, Wilson’s combination of skill, toughness and controlled physicality made him the safer choice. It’s not about pure strength; it’s about helping the team without creating unnecessary problems.
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