Matthew Tkachuk reveals the only two things he wants to accomplish before he retires

Matthew Tkachuk is one of the league's premier players and came very close to winning a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers this past season. Were it not for an unfortunate injury, which was originally reported as a broken sternum, the Panthers may have been celebrating a Stanley Cup win instead of the Golden Knights. Unfortunately, we'll never know.

While Tkachuk's primary goal remains winning a Stanley Cup, it is arguably the hardest trophy in professional sports to win. He'll certainly have his chances, I'm sure, but if he doesn't achieve that goal in his career, he does have another career goal that ranks very high on his list. Winning a gold medal with his brother, Ottawa Senators captain, Brady Tkachuk.

Tkachuk must have been excited to hear the recent news from the NHL's Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly, that the league is currently working on plans to have the NHL players return to the Olympics and other international tournaments. To this point, we have yet to see many of the league's top young stars represent their countries at the Olympics, including Tkachuk, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid, among others.

Now, with the league planning to send its players to Italy for the 2026 Olympics, the excitement is becoming real. Tkachuk expressed his excitement this week during an interview on the Cam and Strick podcast.

"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," said Tkachuk. He also commented on what his father, ex-NHLer Keith Tkachuk had told him about best-on-best international play, with the retiree stating that "there's nothing like it". Keith currently holds the record for most Olympic games played as a US-born player.

Maple Leafs Experimenting With Roster Ahead of Meeting with the Utah Hockey Club

Leafs Confirm Matthew Knies' Status For Sunday's Game

Maple Leafs Officially Announce NHL Deal for Alex Nylander

Former Maple Leafs Pivot Ryan O'Reilly Among Two Potential Trade Targets in Toronto

NHL Insider Reveals Auston Matthews' Return Date for the Maple Leafs

The Hits Just Keep Coming for the Maple Leafs: Another Absence Leads to Another AHL Recall

Pair of Maple Leafs Reporters Engage in Heated Altercation Over Mitch Marner's Actual Value

Ryan Reaves' Brother Gets Involved in Public Beef with Oilers Defenseman Darnell Nurse

NHL Explains Why Zach Whitecloud's Hit on Matthew Knies Didn't Warrant a Suspension

Oilers' Darnell Nurse Deep Fries Maple Leafs Enforcer Ryan Reaves For Dangerous Hit