I know most of you are not NHL fans here, but this is relevant to politics in a significant way.
In February, the US Men's (and Women's) hockey teams swept both Gold Medal games in the Milan. This was extraordinarily painful for a significant portion Canadian populace who consider Hockey to be their national identity and gold medals their birthright. It was made even worse for Canadian fans because their largely state controlled and state funded media, who previously have stoked anti-American resentment with virtually no pushback, made the olympic hockey tournaments extremely political.
Several US players, including Captain Auston Matthews who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, were chastised and mocked by Canadian mainstream sports and news media, high profile podcasters with large followings, and worse..... were boo'd and chastised by their respective NHL teams' fans.
Now it has become very apparent that many of these US players either wanted and got out -OR- are actively seeking to LEAVE Canada in large part because of the hostility and hysteria around their winning the Gold Medal and celebrating it with the big bad Orange Man in the White House (an international crime of course!).
1. Quinn Hughes was dealt from Vancouver to Minnesota at the trade deadline.
2. Connor Hellebyuck, it is no secret, wants out of Winnepeg currently.
3. Brady Tkachuk, one of the most reviled US team players by Canadian media, essentially demanded a trade out of Ottawa and cited the post-Olympic reaction/response as a major reason why. He was then traded to the Florida Panthers.
4. Auston Matthews himself, considered the best American in hockey by most, has not publicly said anything, but it is well known he too was not happy with Toronto and Canadian media or fans.
"What I believe is the truth is that the way the American players who won the gold medal felt in their Canadian markets...is a factor; I think some of those guys...felt a bit hated and it might have influenced their decisions - 32 Thoughts (6/22)" - Canadian Hockey Journalist Elliotte Friedman
Now you have a situation where the Dallas Stars may need to trade goal scoring leader, American Jason Robertson, because of salary cap constraints. Ottawa now has the roster need, the draft picks and cap space to acquire him, but would want a sign and trade. And it's emerged that Robertson does NOT want to play in Canada either . So now you have other American players, having seen this nonsense in Canada thinking twice, or outright rejecting playing in Canada.
An extremely high tax burden, high cost of living, and a hostile populace and state-aligned media are costing Canadian NHL players high quality American players. Instead of looking inward as to why American players are saying 'no!' - you have Canadian Hockey media saying Canadian teams should perhaps not draft or sign Americans and should never make them captains.
It is only a matter of time before Auston Matthews is dealt from Toronto too. With fans like these below, who can blame them!
In February, the US Men's (and Women's) hockey teams swept both Gold Medal games in the Milan. This was extraordinarily painful for a significant portion Canadian populace who consider Hockey to be their national identity and gold medals their birthright. It was made even worse for Canadian fans because their largely state controlled and state funded media, who previously have stoked anti-American resentment with virtually no pushback, made the olympic hockey tournaments extremely political.
Several US players, including Captain Auston Matthews who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, were chastised and mocked by Canadian mainstream sports and news media, high profile podcasters with large followings, and worse..... were boo'd and chastised by their respective NHL teams' fans.
Now it has become very apparent that many of these US players either wanted and got out -OR- are actively seeking to LEAVE Canada in large part because of the hostility and hysteria around their winning the Gold Medal and celebrating it with the big bad Orange Man in the White House (an international crime of course!).
1. Quinn Hughes was dealt from Vancouver to Minnesota at the trade deadline.
2. Connor Hellebyuck, it is no secret, wants out of Winnepeg currently.
3. Brady Tkachuk, one of the most reviled US team players by Canadian media, essentially demanded a trade out of Ottawa and cited the post-Olympic reaction/response as a major reason why. He was then traded to the Florida Panthers.
4. Auston Matthews himself, considered the best American in hockey by most, has not publicly said anything, but it is well known he too was not happy with Toronto and Canadian media or fans.
"What I believe is the truth is that the way the American players who won the gold medal felt in their Canadian markets...is a factor; I think some of those guys...felt a bit hated and it might have influenced their decisions - 32 Thoughts (6/22)" - Canadian Hockey Journalist Elliotte Friedman
Now you have a situation where the Dallas Stars may need to trade goal scoring leader, American Jason Robertson, because of salary cap constraints. Ottawa now has the roster need, the draft picks and cap space to acquire him, but would want a sign and trade. And it's emerged that Robertson does NOT want to play in Canada either . So now you have other American players, having seen this nonsense in Canada thinking twice, or outright rejecting playing in Canada.
An extremely high tax burden, high cost of living, and a hostile populace and state-aligned media are costing Canadian NHL players high quality American players. Instead of looking inward as to why American players are saying 'no!' - you have Canadian Hockey media saying Canadian teams should perhaps not draft or sign Americans and should never make them captains.
It is only a matter of time before Auston Matthews is dealt from Toronto too. With fans like these below, who can blame them!
Ottawa Senators fans boo the U.S. national anthem before NHL game 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
— Chris Rodgers 🦚 🇺🇸 (@rodgeau) February 2, 2025
pic.twitter.com/fkTPdzLShD
Canucks fans: why did Quinn Hughes want out?? pic.twitter.com/o9tOS3Hl69
— 🇨🇦🇨🇦CanuckPatriot 🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@CanuckPatriot3) June 23, 2026
Save this one for when Matthews Leaves pic.twitter.com/hIYJ3ltCWm
— 🇨🇦🇨🇦CanuckPatriot 🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@CanuckPatriot3) June 23, 2026
