‘94 WINTER OLYMPICS / LILLEHAMMER : NOTEBOOK

Patrik Juhlin’s hat trick in Sweden’s 6-4 victory over the United States on Saturday had reporters wondering why Juhlin, a sturdy right wing who was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1989, had never come over to the NHL.

So was Juhlin.

“I do have interest, if they want me,” he said.

They might want him, but getting a release from his Swedish club, Vasteras, is another matter. NHL Senior Vice President Brian Burke said that as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, he tried unsuccessfully to get the release of Leif Rohlin, Juhlin’s teammate with Vasteras and the Swedish Olympic team.

“They’re notorious for being difficult about letting players go,” Burke said. “When we tried to get Rohlin, they asked for a transfer fee of $500,000, U.S. I told them they were out of their minds. The management there has changed, though, so things might be different now.”