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Flames Draft Watcher · 04-10-2013, 05:21 AM

I think it makes sense to show a bias for particular countries if you think players drafted from those countries are more likely to want to re-sign with your team long term. As a non-prime destination (not LA, NY, etc) Calgary should be taking this into consideration IMO.

I think in particular Canadians, Swedes and Finns are more likely to stay in Canada. For Canadians the reasons are obvious. I feel like Swedes and Finns have shown loyalty to Canadian cities (Sundin, Alfredsson, Salo, Sedins, Koivu, Kiprusoff, etc). I think the landscape and culture in Canada is closer to Sweden/Finland than most of the US is.

On the other hand you have Americans and Russians. Americans have 24 choices of NHL cities to play in their home country and are less likely to stay loyal to a Canadian city because of that. Russians often have a big cultural transition to make in North America (somewhat mitigated if they come over and play in the CHL) and always have the option to return home for decent money in the KHL.

I put more weight in an argument about whether you think a potential top 5 pick and franchise player will re-sign with your team into his UFA years than I do about whether Canadian captains have won the cup or not. In this particular year I would move Nichuskin down due to uncertainty about when/if he'll come, how long he'll stay, etc. And if you think its super close between MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, and Jones I think you can downgrade Jones slightly because he may want to return to America later in his career.

04-10-2013, 05:21 AM	#296
Flames Draft Watcher In the Sin Bin Join Date: Oct 2001 Exp:	I think it makes sense to show a bias for particular countries if you think players drafted from those countries are more likely to want to re-sign with your team long term. As a non-prime destination (not LA, NY, etc) Calgary should be taking this into consideration IMO. I think in particular Canadians, Swedes and Finns are more likely to stay in Canada. For Canadians the reasons are obvious. I feel like Swedes and Finns have shown loyalty to Canadian cities (Sundin, Alfredsson, Salo, Sedins, Koivu, Kiprusoff, etc). I think the landscape and culture in Canada is closer to Sweden/Finland than most of the US is. On the other hand you have Americans and Russians. Americans have 24 choices of NHL cities to play in their home country and are less likely to stay loyal to a Canadian city because of that. Russians often have a big cultural transition to make in North America (somewhat mitigated if they come over and play in the CHL) and always have the option to return home for decent money in the KHL. I put more weight in an argument about whether you think a potential top 5 pick and franchise player will re-sign with your team into his UFA years than I do about whether Canadian captains have won the cup or not. In this particular year I would move Nichuskin down due to uncertainty about when/if he'll come, how long he'll stay, etc. And if you think its super close between MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, and Jones I think you can downgrade Jones slightly because he may want to return to America later in his career.