I'm not convinced that the city of a team matters that much to players. During the actual season, the players are busy with the game and most don't have the time to enjoy what their city has to offer to the extent they'd like, so I think that as long as the city itself provides the in-season needs that they want (e.g. good schools for kids if they have any, a community that their partner enjoys, etc.) - which all cities in the league provide - they'll be fine.
Once the season is done, players with their support system (their family or partner's family) elsewhere seem to go back to their offseason homes to be closer to them, which makes sense given their financial freedom. The young guys who don't have kids is where the city might matter as a city like NYC has a ton more to offer to a single, 23-year old than Calgary does, so I can see why they'd choose the Rangers over the Flames.
Tons of players also go back to their home country in the offseason as well and don't stay in the city they play in even if it is New York.
I think the biggest factor for players are reputation of the management, the players on that team, opportunity they'll get on that roster and the team's outlook.
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