Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Stephen Whyno The Associated Press
What happened in Milan did not stay in Milan.
asserted
happened → happen → Milan
It may have changed the course of NHL history.
uncertain
It → change → history
Since the U.S. won gold at the Olympics in February, three members of that team asked for a trade and another was the subject of serious trade talk that did not materialize.
asserted
that → win → talk
Brady Tkachuk asked out of Ottawa and wound up in Florida to play with brother Matthew; Connor Hellebuyck could soon join him crossing the border after going public with his trade demand to leave Winnipeg; and Dylan Larkin’s future in Detroit is in limbo following his desire for a fresh start.
uncertain
future → ask → start
Zach Werenski, who remains in Columbus, and fellow Americans on that team laugh at the idea that their group chat orchestrated all this.
asserted
chat → remain → this
It is a bit of a coincidence it happened at the same time, but players get why people are making the connection between the trade requests and the Olympics.
asserted
people → happen → requests
“If you look at it from an outsider’s perspective, like I understand it because it’s like a lot of American guys, obviously, and the whole situation with the Olympics and winning and guys asking out and whatnot,” Werenski said.
asserted
Werenski → look → Olympics
“For a lot of us, that gold medal was the first taste of winning, and I think that’s just what amplifies in your mind is like, ‘I want to do this more.’
asserted
I → think → this
Why players are asking for trades
Larkin has declined to share which teams he’s willing to be traded to, would not say if his request to be moved still stands or if he wants to stay with the team.
asserted
he → ask → team
The Red Wings own the longest active playoff drought in the league, having not made it since Larkin’s rookie year in 2015-16, a first-round exit.
asserted
Wings → own → 2015
In Hellebuyck’s 10 years in Winnipeg, the Jets have not been past the second round since 2018 and he criticized team leadership after last season came to a close without a trip to the playoffs.
asserted
season → criticize → playoffs
He has said only that “moving on” is best for him and his family.
asserted
moving → say → him
Tkachuk was the Senators’ captain and brushed off the notion that his request had anything to do with wanting to play in the U.S. instead.
asserted
request → brush → U.S.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a big differential from Canada to (the) U.S.,” Tkachuk said.
asserted
Tkachuk → say → U.S.
“I think every individual’s thought process, decision is a little bit different.”
asserted
decision → think → ?
Teaming up with his brother makes the move more understandable to U.S. Olympic teammate and ex-Senators teammate Jake Sanderson.
asserted
move → team → Sanderson
“The way I look at it, I’m not surprised that Brady would want to go play with his brother,” Sanderson said.
asserted
Sanderson → look → brother
“I don’t think anybody should be surprised, so I don’t blame him for that.”
asserted
I → think → that
For Werenski, it is about chasing the Stanley Cup.
asserted
it → chase → Cup
He won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman last season but in a decade with the Blue Jackets have made the playoffs just five times and advanced only once.
asserted
He → win → playoffs
“You see your friends having success and guys winning Cups and you’re so happy for them, but you want that to be you,” Werenski said.
asserted
Werenski → see → them
“You put so much work in and so many hours and time and all this and you want to be in those games and have a chance at it, right?
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you → put → it
There’s a lot of great players that will never win a Stanley Cup.
asserted
that → ’ → Cup
But you want a crack at it.
asserted
you → want → it
You want a chance to play for it.”
asserted
You → want → it
What other moves could be coming
There has been plenty of buzz about the Hughes brothers wanting to play together like the Tkachuks; they’ve said so.
uncertain
they → come → Tkachuks
Quinn, who was dealt across the border from Vancouver to Minnesota in December before starring for the U.S. in Milan, does not have a contract beyond this season and could soon become the highest-paid player in the NHL, with the Wild or elsewhere.
uncertain
who → deal → Wild
“It is my life: I’m not going to do anything to make someone else happy,” Hughes said.
asserted
Hughes → go → anything
“Everyone’s got to do what makes them happy, and then where the chips fall, they fall.”
asserted
they → get → ?
The hockey landscape could look much different a year from now, depending on what Hughes does and if U.S. Olympic captain Auston Matthews decides he’d like a change of scenery.
uncertain
he → look → scenery
On Wednesday, Matthews said his intent was always to stay in Toronto, and he has two years left on his contract.
asserted
he → say → contract
Players are exercising power with requests
Larkin and Hellebuyck each have five seasons remaining on deals signed in 2023.
asserted
Larkin → exercise → 2023
Despite being signed long term, each took the risk of asking for a trade.
asserted
each → sign → trade
“Players now, I feel like, hold a whole lot of the cards,” said Buffalo’s Tage Thompson, who played with them at the Olympics.
asserted
who → feel → Olympics
“And if they feel like it’s the best decision for them, that’s, I think, the route players are starting to go.”
asserted
players → feel → them
Werenski said he’s happy where he is.
asserted
he → say → ?
Sanderson affirmed he’s good in Ottawa, where he’s signed through 2032.
asserted
he → affirm → 2032
What happens to others with gold medals displayed in their homes remains to be seen.
asserted
happens → happen → homes
But golden goal-scorer Jack Hughes doesn’t attribute this trend to what he and his teammates accomplished.
asserted
he → attribute → what
“Even if the Olympics happened or didn’t, I think those things would still unfold how they did with the guys that are requested to leave or whatever happened,” Hughes said.
asserted
Hughes → happen → guys
…and 1 more, not listed.
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