Quote:
Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden
Sports organisations aside, the NHL cities desirability to live in for young millionaires is probably ranked like this:
Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton. For people with no attachments to any of these cities, its easy to understand why some are more desirable then others.
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I’d say it’s more like this.
Toronto
Vancouver
Montreal
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Calgary
Ottawa(only below Calgary cause of the ownership)
Winnipeg/Edmonton
The reality is Calgary is on the bottom of the pack in the NHL unfortunately for players to want to play. As mentioned if any player does have a no trade list, you can bet with no uncertainty Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary and Ottawa will be on it. As well as Buffalo. Having several contacts in the league via players and agents/orgs this is absolutely true.
I don’t fault any player for not wanting to play in Calgary. It is what it is. It’s not a personal diss by any stretch. It’s just a preference held by a player. I know if I was a NHL player I wouldn’t want to play in any Canadian city other than Toronto/Montreal or Vancouver either.
That is why the key for places like Calgary and Edmonton etc, drafting is so important. Draft well, treat them and develop them properly so you can hold their rights for x number of years. Before they decide they want to move elsewhere when they become UFA.