Canadian NHLer Speaks Out, Says It's 'Unfortunate to See Players Wanting Out of Canada'

The NHL has seen a steady stream of high-profile players making it clear they want out of Canadian markets over the past few years, and it's become one of the most talked-about storylines in the sport. From franchise cornerstones requesting trades to stars walking in free agency, the exodus has left fans in cities like Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Winnipeg feeling burned. Now, one Canadian-born player is speaking up about the trend, even if his own situation carries a certain layer of irony.

Utah Mammoth defenseman MacKenzie Weegar went on TSN's "Overdrive" this week and expressed genuine disappointment about the wave of talent fleeing north of the border. The Ontario native, who spent four seasons with the Calgary Flames before being dealt to Utah in a deadline move last March, said his time in Canada was nothing short of fantastic.

"As a Canadian-born player and to play in Calgary, for me personally, I had a great experience in Canada," Weegar shared. "Calgary was an absolute blast to play in that city." He went on to call the situation "a bit unfortunate," pointing to the passion of Canadian hockey fans and how deeply those cities care about their star players.

A Growing List of Departures

Weegar's comments come against the backdrop of what has become a troubling pattern for Canadian franchises. The list of stars who have either forced their way out or made it known they wouldn't be sticking around has grown significantly.

It arguably started in Calgary when Johnny Gaudreau departed via free agency for the Columbus Blue Jackets, which then triggered Matthew Tkachuk to push for a trade to the Florida Panthers. Tkachuk, of course, went on to win back-to-back Stanley Cups with Florida in 2024 and 2025, which only added salt to the wound for Flames faithful.

More recently, Vancouver Canucks fans watched their captain and star defenseman Quinn Hughes get dealt to the Minnesota Wild after he informed the organization he had no intention of re-signing. In Ottawa, Brady Tkachuk followed his brother's playbook, getting traded to Florida in July after signaling he wouldn't commit long-term to the Senators, a team he had captained for five seasons. And just last month, Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck went public with his own trade request.

Notably, all five of those players are American. Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, another American, has also requested a trade this offseason, though he remains with the organization for now.

Weegar's Unique Perspective

What makes Weegar's take particularly interesting is his own journey. He didn't choose to leave Calgary. The rebuilding Flames moved him to Utah as part of their retool, so he's speaking from the perspective of someone who genuinely enjoyed his time in a Canadian market but ended up in an American expansion city through no decision of his own.

Weegar acknowledged that teams like Utah can offer certain lifestyle advantages that Canadian cities may not be able to match, but he was quick to add that at the end of the day, playing in the NHL should be what matters most regardless of location. "I think we're all hockey players, and it doesn't really matter where you play," he said. "You just want to play in the NHL."

Still, the trend doesn't appear to be slowing down. Canadian teams continue to face an uphill battle when it comes to retaining their biggest names, and with the league expanding its footprint into non-traditional markets like Salt Lake City, the competition for player loyalty is only going to intensify. Whether front offices in Canada can find ways to reverse the tide remains one of the most pressing questions heading into the 2026-27 season.