Quote:
Originally Posted by getbak
If you could make that same $3 million a year in any one of the 30 different cities across North America that have NHL teams, would Winnipeg be at the top of your list?
That's the real choice NHL players have to make. It's not "3 million in Winnipeg or nothing", it's "3 million in Winnipeg or 3 million in one of these other cities".
Sure, there will be entry-level guys who have no choice where they play and they'll be happy just to be in the NHL.
There will also be guys who have the choice between being a League-minimum player in Winnipeg or an AHL player in the Rangers organization who would gladly pick Winnipeg over "New York".
To attract top-level UFAs, Winnipeg may have to give out the infamous Edmonton "bad-town bonus".
Right now, the Coyotes have 8 roster players who will be UFAs in July - including both their goalies - and only 3 players on their current roster signed for 2012. If the move happens, we'll see how attractive a market Winnipeg is pretty quickly.
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If the money is right, or the team has a good culture players would play for that team whether it be Atlanta, Winnipeg or Toronto
Honestly with the 30 cities in the NHL if it was all about cities I don't think Edmonton or Calgary would be at the top of the list. Calgary isn't exactly Los Angeles or New York City
if I was a UFA and were to choose the franchise for the city I want to live in Edmonton and Calgary would be sitting at the basement with Buffalo.