Matthew Tkachuk Says He Never Wants Back After U.S. Loss

Matthew Tkachuk said he never wants to return to the world championship after the United States lost to Canada in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The Florida Panthers forward said he would rather be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he has spent the past three seasons with Florida.

Tkachuk After Thursday's Loss

"I never want to be back in this tournament," Tkachuk said after the United States' quarterfinal exit. He added, "I want to be playing in playoffs."

He also left a door open for another run if the path is forced on him again: "If for some reason I am (back at the tournament), we can get another crack at them."

Florida's Recent Run

Tkachuk's comments carry weight because Florida has reached the Stanley Cup Final in each of his three seasons with the club, and the Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025. Before joining Florida, he made the playoffs in all but two of his seasons with the Calgary Flames.

That track record explains the preference he made plain after the loss. The world championship takes place in Europe while the Stanley Cup Playoffs are going on in North America, and Tkachuk finished this tournament with four goals and seven points in five games.

Canada Ends U.S. Run

The United States' defeat to Canada closed the quarterfinal stage on Thursday and sent Tkachuk home with numbers that still stood out, even in a short tournament. His four goals and seven points in five games were among the most productive totals on the American side.

For a player used to the final rounds of the NHL postseason, the sharper pull was obvious. He has now made clear where he would rather be when the spring calendar starts to tighten: on an NHL playoff roster, not at a world championship.