After months of anticipation and loads of speculation, Canada revealed its roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday morning, unveiling the players they'll bring to Italy for the NHL's return to the spectacle. With 25 players named to the roster, Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis was one of the most notable omissions.
Jarvis represented the club when best-on-best hockey returned in February for the 4 Nations Face-Off. He recorded an assist in three games as the Canadians topped the Americans in the championship game, which Jarvis participated in. With his inclusion on that roster, it was thought that he would be in a good spot to crack the roster for the Italy games.
Through 34 games this season, Jarvis led the Hurricanes with 19 goals and was second to Team Finland center Sebastian Aho with 29 points. However, an injury in overtime against the Panthers brought his season to a screeching halt. It was an unfortunate collision with the goal post that has cost him five games thus far, without a clear timetable for his return.
Ultimately, the chase to crack the roster was going to be a grueling one. I felt Jarvis put in great work and had a strong case to be included on the roster, sporting situational versatility, even if he would play reduced minutes on this loaded roster. I would like to think his being left off the roster had less to do with his game than the emergence of several young Canadian forwards.
The truth is, as disappointed as we are with the decision, it was something we saw coming. If anything, Jarvis's exclusion highlights just how much guys like Macklin Celebrini have done this season to play into contention for a roster spot. Even at 19 years old, Celebrini deserves a chance to shine on this stage. It just stings that it might come at Jarvis's expense.
I'm not sure I love the decision, especially since I think he could be a great addition to the room and provide value as a penalty killer during the tournament. However, I acknowledge my biased angle and lens through which I'm looking at the situation. Seth Jarvis is a fantastic player and a valuable member of the Carolina Hurricanes. Not making Canada's roster doesn't change that.
With the speculation now over, this decision allows Jarvis to re-focus his attention on the task at hand. The Hurricanes are one of the top contenders in the NHL this season. Their ultimate goal is to hoist the Stanley Cup in June. They can't do that if he isn't healthy and ready to grind through the playoffs. This also goes for a certain American defender whose name might be called on Friday.
Team Canada is likely to be one of the favorites to win the gold this year, and the United States will also be in the mix. Finland won gold in 2022, though those games didn't feature current NHL players. Still, there will be pressure on Aho and the Finns against a much better field. More rosters will be announced in the coming days, including the Americans on Friday morning.