Tkachuk wants NHLers to return to Olympics: My dream is to win with Brady

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk is firmly in support of NHLers returning to the international stage at the Olympics.

"There's so many great Americans in the league now, it's a shame that we haven't had a chance to show off," Tkachuk said on the "Cam and Strick Podcast." "It's crazy that, you know, Auston (Matthews) and (Nathan) MacKinnon and (Connor) McDavid, these guys haven't played in one (Olympics). It's sad."

"I think that every single player that could be in a position to play is beside themselves that there hasn't been one," he added.

NHL players haven't appeared at the Olympics since 2014. It was anticipated that NHLers would return at the 2022 Games in Beijing before plans were canceled in December 2021 due to a rise in COVID cases.

The league plans to send its players to the 2026 Games in Italy. The NHL and NHLPA agreed on Olympic participation at the 2022 and 2026 Games in July 2020.

Tkachuk's yet to make his senior debut with the United States. Representing his country alongside younger brother Brady is high on his hockey bucket list.

"My No. 1 dream is to win a Stanley Cup. My No. 2 dream is to win a gold medal with my brother for Team USA," Tkachuk said.

Tkachuk donned the red, white, and blue at the U17 and U18 levels, as well as at the 2016 world juniors. He also played two seasons with the U.S. NTDP before moving to the OHL's London Knights.

"Even playing in the U.S. national team when I was 15 or 16, however old I was, wearing that jersey, there's something about it that you just can't replicate," he said.

Olympic participation runs in the Tkachuk family. Matthew's father, Keith, played at four Games and holds the American record for Olympic games played with 23.

"He said there's nothing like it," Tkachuk said.