Quote:
Originally Posted by VilleN
I just disagree with this line of thinking. Yes, there are negatives to playing for a market where fans are obsessed with hockey... but the upside is, you're playing in a market where fans are obsessed with hockey. I am sure some players would prefer to play in Canada because it is the Mecca of hockey. There are very few American markets (if any) that can compare to Canadian markets in terms of hockey fandom. Winning the cup in front of thousands of rabid, die-hard hockey fans counts for something, for some players... Or, at least you'd think it should.
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Every Stanley Cup Final is played in front of rabid hockey fans (excluding COVID year of course).
We can argue correlation vs. causation, but at this point any player who really wants a cup seems to have better odds playing anywhere in the US. 14 US franchises have won the last 28 cups.
Of course it would be amazing to be a part of the next Canadian franchise to win the cup, but I don't really see any additional value to that - or general 'legacy' for that matter - in a city where a guy doesn't want to live long-term.
CGY/NYI have slightly higher - but still very low - odds of winning in the next few years. CBJ/NJD might be better a few years from now. NJD hasn't done anything yet to prove they aren't going to be perpetually stuck in 1st gear like BUF. I just don't see a lot of daylight between these teams and IMO its a silly reason to castigate a player.