Utah's MacKenzie Weegar Reflects on Calgary, Canada, and Why Stars Keep Leaving
MacKenzie Weegar has played in Canada and now plays for Utah, giving him a rare, clear-eyed view of why NHL stars keep leaving Canadian markets — and what they leave behind when they do.
Video Transcript
Utah, very, very busy.
They're looking to take that next step after making the playoffs last year.
Mike, do you like these moves for Utah?
I, I do.
Trocheck is an excellent player.
I mean, we saw how well he could play as a, as a checker and, you know, depth center on that US Olympic team that won g- won gold.
I think he slots in perfectly on Utah as a third line center behind Logan Cooley and Nick Schmaltz, and with Stenlund as their fourth line center, and it buys them time for Caleb DeHaen, DeHaen, to stay, down in the, in the American Hockey League and gain experience.
So that's And, but this deal was made possible by them moving out the Pater- J.J. Peterka contract, by trading him for a couple first round picks, to Boston, and also opened u- up a, an, an up-cap space to add a veteran like Anders Lee, who's a leader, and adding him to that young group I think will really help, the Mammoth.
The only question I have now is you've moved a right shot defenseman in Jersey, whether you have the internal ability to r- replace him, or whether you have to go out in free agency if there's anyone el- else out there, or make a trade to replace him.
