Brayden Point, the skilled center for the Tampa Bay Lightning, is facing scrutiny regarding his recent performance and its potential impact on his chances at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. While Point has already been named as one of the first six players on Team Canada, his play leading up to the Olympics is being closely watched.

Point, who will be making his Olympic debut in 2026, has had a solid NHL season thus far, with 42 goals and 40 assists in 77 games for the Lightning in the 2024-25 season. He also showcased his international experience by helping Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, contributing one goal and one assist. Adding to his accomplishments, Point scored his 300th NHL goal in March of 2025.

Despite these achievements, concerns have arisen about the consistency and impact of his play. While Point has demonstrated flashes of brilliance, including a game in which he scored two power-play goals and added an assist against the Rangers, some analysts are questioning whether he is consistently performing at the level expected of an Olympic-caliber player.

Team Canada's management group, including General Manager Doug Armstrong and coach Jon Cooper, are continuing to evaluate players for the final roster spots. According to TSN, assistant coach Pete DeBoer has been impressed by younger players pushing to be in the conversation for the Olympic team. With the deadline for finalizing the roster approaching on December 31st, every game is an opportunity for players to solidify their position.

Point's inclusion in the initial roster announcement suggests that the Canadian management team values his experience, leadership, and past achievements, including his key role in the Lightning's back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 2020 and 2021. He has spent his entire nine-year NHL career with the Lightning. However, the pressure is on for Point to elevate his game and demonstrate that he deserves to be a key contributor to Team Canada's pursuit of Olympic gold.

Ultimately, whether or not Brayden Point can quell concerns about his recent play and solidify his role on Team Canada remains to be seen. His performance in the upcoming games will be critical in shaping the final decisions of the team's management.