With less than three weeks remaining until the commencement of the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympics in Milan, several top contenders are dealing with significant injury concerns.
One of these concerns seemed to have been addressed on Friday as Bo Horvat from Canada returned to practice after missing 14 of the New York Islanders’ last 18 games due to a lower-body injury. Horvat, who had been out for nine consecutive games, was on track to recover by February.
Horvat had been performing impressively, nearly scoring at a point-per-game pace from the beginning of the season until the roster deadline on December 31, earning one of the final forward spots. Despite not participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, the 30-year-old center was selected, with Hockey Canada’s general manager Doug Armstrong staying informed about his progress in recent weeks.
Similarly, goaltender Darcy Kuemper returned from an injury scare earlier than expected, much like Horvat.
In another scenario, Brayden Point, a key playmaker for Canada, has been sidelined since injuring his right leg during a game on January 12. His status remains uncertain, with the possibility of replacements being made to the 25-player roster up until the first game on February 11 if needed.
Meanwhile, Seth Jones, who helped Florida win the Stanley Cup last season, has been replaced on the USA Hockey Olympic roster by Jackson LaCombe due to an injury. LaCombe, known for his dynamic defensive skills, will join other familiar faces from the U.S. team at the upcoming Olympics.
Sweden faces setbacks with key players like Leo Carlsson and Jonas Brodin ruled out due to long-term injuries. Victor Hedman is recovering from elbow surgery but is expected to return in time for the Olympics.
The availability of Gabriel Landeskog, William Nylander, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson for Sweden remains uncertain due to various injuries, casting doubts on their participation in the upcoming tournament.