- Vincent Trocheck says the Team USA group chat has nothing to do with the trade requests
- Brady Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck both asked out of Canadian markets after the Olympic gold
- Read below for what Trocheck said about the chat
Vincent Trocheck doesn’t think the Team USA group chat is behind the wave of American players asking out of Canadian markets.
The Utah Mammoth forward was asked about the trade requests by ESPN‘s Greg Wyshynski. Trocheck, who had three assists in six games at the 2026 Olympics, said the whole thing is being blown out of proportion.
“I think people make it a bigger thing than it is,” Trocheck said. “Obviously, people want the headlines, but the whole Canada thing or guys wanting out of Canada that are from the U.S., I think it was more situational than it was anything else.”
The theory took off after the U.S. beat Canada in the gold medal game, the country’s first Olympic men’s hockey gold in 46 years. Since then, Ottawa traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, and Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck requested a trade. Hellebuyck has since been suspended for not reporting to camp, and a Jets fan even built a website tracking the salary he’s losing.
Trocheck was asked directly whether the Olympic group chat played a part. He was asked if the players were talking trades in there.
“There’s one from Team USA. But not, like, a trade talk one,” Trocheck said. “It’s been dormant for a little bit. It’s sad. I might have to fire it back up.”
Trocheck knows a little something about moving. The Rangers traded him to the Mammoth this offseason.
As for Winnipeg, the Jets have been rolling without their starter. They opened 3-0-1 with Hellebuyck on the sidelines:
Hellebuyck is still waiting to find out where he’ll play next, and for now the group chat sits quiet.
