How the Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis is handling Olympic snub from Hockey Canada

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Jan 1, 2026

Published in Hockey

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RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes held their first morning skate of the new year Thursday, and there was a welcomed sight: Seth Jarvis back on the ice with his team.

The winger was wearing a yellow, no-contact jersey, still remains on injured reserve, and was not available for the game later Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens at the Lenovo Center.

Jarvis, injured Dec. 19 against the Florida Panthers, said being out the past few weeks has been “painful,” both in not being able to play and in learning he had been left off Hockey Canada’s Olympic team roster for the 2026 Winter Games next month in Italy.

Jarvis, 23, was a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team in the 4 Nations Face-Off international event last season. His numbers with the Canes this season until the injury seemed promising enough to be included on the Olympic roster: 19 goals and 29 points in 34 games, with two shorthanded goals and four game-winning goals, two in overtime.

Jarvis said Thursday that he was not sure the injury and missed time kept him off the Hockey Canada roster.

“I don’t think so, though it definitely didn’t help,” he said. “But at the end of the day I had played enough games where I thought I gave a good sample size. I guess I didn’t play good enough, and I’ve got to live with that.

“It sucks. It’s a big blow. It’s something I really worked for and wanted to achieve, but there’s nothing you can do about it now. I gave myself a couple of days to take it in, feel emotions, and now it’s just moving past it.”

Jarvis was hurt early in overtime in the road game against the Panthers. On the move and taking the puck to the net, he was tripped by Florida’s Evan Rodrigues, fell and crashed into the near post, appearing to injure his ribs. No penalty was called on the play, and the Canes lost in a shootout.

Jarvis, placed on NHL injured reserve Dec. 20, has missed the past five games and his status has been listed as “week to week.”

“To go out like that, and not know what your recovery time period is, is tough,” Jarvis said. “I tried to take it day by day, but that’s easier said than done when you see your friends all skating, and I’m sitting on the bench watching practice.

“There’s not much you can really do other than taking your time and trying not to stress it too much, which is tough. Now that I’m pretty much pain free day to day, I’m better.”

With the Jarvis injury, the Hurricanes lost their most versatile forward while also dealing with injuries to other players, notably star defenseman Jaccob Slavin. The Canes have since lost goalie Pyotr Kochetkov for the season because of a hip ailment and surgery, and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere missed a third game Thursday with a lower-body issue.

Slavin, a standout in the 4 Nations event for the U.S. and arguably the best player in the competition, is expected to be on the Team USA Olympic roster — to be announced Friday — despite playing just five games this season because of lower-body issues.

Jarvis said he has been placed on a “standby” reserve list for Team Canada and could be added if there is an injury. That’s not a great option for the Winnipeg native, but it is an option.

“They told me not to book any trips or anything,” Jarvis said. “It’s still a waiting game, but obviously I’m hoping nobody gets hurt. Obviously, if they call my name I’ll be more than ready to come and contribute, but I’m not wishing ill will on anybody.

“If I do get picked, and it just so happens that I go, awesome. But I’ve already dealt with the emotions of it and moved past it.”

Jarvis said the snub could be used as added motivation the rest of the season and Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour liked the sound of that, noting, “He’s got to use it however he needs to use it.”

For now, Jarvis wants to get back in the Canes lineup. Asked when he might take off the yellow jersey and replace it with a game jersey, Jarvis said the doctors and trainer Doug Bennett will make that call.

“I can take it off right now and probably fight ‘Svechy,’” he joked, looking over at forward Andrei Svechnikov.