Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
I really believe that the lists usually start with "Chance of winning", then followed by dollars, then location, then whatever else.
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I think it depends a lot on where the players are from and where they are in their life.
Canadian players want to win a Cup and are more likely to play anywhere to do it.
American players are like Canadian players, but would prefer to do it in the U.S.
European players go where the money is and will play anywhere. I am not saying that they don't want to win (give me a team full of Swedes, Finns, Czechs and Slovaks any day), but they are completely uprooting their lives and everything familiar to come over and probably see it as bigger sacrifice and go to where they can most increase their financial situation. They don't come over to lose, so being a contender helps.
With some exceptions of course, I don't think most Russians care about a Cup. I just don't think it's all that prestigious to them. It's money and lifestyle. Any time a Russian free agent is coming over, you can pencil them in for an NY area team or Sun Belt team. It doesn't matter if the team is terrible.
And of course, young players tend to want the excitement of a bigger market more than an older player.
If I am being totally honest, if I was a player, I would target Sun Belt teams. I hate the winter and cold weather, and the seasonal depression that comes with it. If I lived somewhere with hot weather and palm trees, I would probably be happy every day of my life just to wake up there every morning.