Calgary lowest in desirability for UFAs?

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by valo403

It's an opinion article, and given that the guy played with a bunch of NHL players over his career it's probably a pretty educated opinion on the general view guys have on certain cities. Shocking as it may be, I imagine much of these viewpoints is formed on imperfect information.

who are all these NHL players he played with?
you mean like Tim Jackman, Blake Comeau or Ben Walter who he played with in Bridgeport? or maybe Curtis Glencross, who he played with at the U. of Alaska?
yeah, none of those guys would sign here as free agents...
This article seems less educated and more opinion to me.

[The Original FFIV]

Most Kelownites hate Calgarians as they invade their sleepy town during the summer and drive up the real estate prices to the point where locals cannot afford so this guys' credibility is shot. And he forgot to ask Mason Raymond about wanting to play in Calgary.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by icecube

Justin Bourne has forgotten more about hockey than you'll ever know, guaranteed.

I do not think it means what you think it means.

[Ice]

Originally Posted by Redrum

Detroit at 11? Sure it's known for being a great organization but having to live in a post apocalyptic wasteland kind of offsets that a bit. They don't even have nice areas of the city like most dumpy US major cities. At best you have a nice block where you might not get stabbed if you step outside.

Nearly every NHL city has an affluent suburb, including Detroit. Bloomfield Hills is a very nice area and only about 35 minutes from the Joe. I can't think of an NHL city I've been to where I could find a nice, safe place to stay...even Detroit.

[4oh3]

To be honest calgary might be 27-26 with Edmonton and Winnipeg there. Calgary is a nicer city than Edmonton I do enjoy going to Edmonton but calgary is nicer. Everywhere is better than Winnipeg. Every canadian team has the best fanbases and to me are the 7 cities where hockey is first. If you wanna make 5 million a year and have your days off on the beach in Florida or Cali go #### yourself and do it we don't want you!

[4oh3]

This ###### bag is from bc ranking calgary last just seems typical after reading that

[FAN]

Different players look for different things. Yes the Flames are rebuilding but they have also been a team that has been willing to spend to the cap and do everything they can to make the playoffs. Sure, a 33+ year old looking to win the Cup might not want to sign here, but a 27 year old who can command a 4-6 year deal with NTC might be willing to be a part of the solution if the fit is right. Then you have guys (underrated guys that the Flames see as capable of increasing their production if given the opportunity) who are more concerned about opportunity. And of course there are guys looking for the most money. You pay more than any other team and you just might land the free agent (I don't mean this in a bad way as money talks when it comes to unrestricted free agency).

[MissTeeks]

Bourne was on the Fan this morning talking to Walker about his article, anyone catch it?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by jammies

I don't think he does, and it's bigger economically because there are more people, which is an effect of immigration and not a cause. Well, I guess it's a feedback effect to some extent, where more immigration = more people = more opportunities = more immigration and so on. But the original reason the USA had more people is because the climate all down the east coast made it easy to settle in the US, whereas Canada's east coast was cold and barren and the only really good accessible land was in the St. Lawrence valley. Then as time went on, Canada was settled in a thin strip of mild (relatively) climate along the border and the USA was more-or-less completely occupied

He does. And yes, it is a feedback loop. Historically sure, climate played a role, but Mr. Estrada isn't talking about historical immigration, he's talking about the guys who talks to on the phone now.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by edn88

I am pretty sure if they were asked, and not part of some trying to be funny guys blog, UFAs would rather come to Calgary versus Edmonton or Winterpeg. But would not be surprised if we were in the bottom ten of locations UFAs would want to go to (without extra monetary incentive).

I don't see UFA's picking Calgary over Edmonton, at least not now. I hate to say it, but Edmonton is likely a playoff team next year, or at least close, and has a lot of obvious upside. Calgary is a few years behind, and that upside is filled with unknowns. The city isn't the issue, it's the current state of the team.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Redrum

Has this guy ever been to some of these cities? It takes a lot of Calgary hate to put them anywhere near last. It's the cleanest and probably safest city on the list and the winters aren't significantly worse than those northern US cities at the top of the list.

Edmonton could never be put ahead of Calgary even if they weren't the joke of the NHL, the city is a carcinogenic hole and it's the worst organization in the league.

Detroit at 11? Sure it's known for being a great organization but having to live in a post apocalyptic wasteland kind of offsets that a bit. They don't even have nice areas of the city like most dumpy US major cities. At best you have a nice block where you might not get stabbed if you step outside.

Dallas that high? It's just a generally disgusting place. Feels like you're sharing a hot tub with few million smelly greasy fat people, even in the winter.

That's just going "citywise", not considering the Flames have a ton of cap room and opportunity for players.

Kinda hilarious that you wonder if he's ever been to any of the cities and then make a ridiculously false statement about one of them just two paragraphs later. Look up Oakland County, particularly Bloomfield Hills. Guess where Datsyuk lives?

[edn88]

Originally Posted by valo403

I don't see UFA's picking Calgary over Edmonton, at least not now. I hate to say it, but Edmonton is likely a playoff team next year, or at least close, and has a lot of obvious upside. Calgary is a few years behind, and that upside is filled with unknowns. The city isn't the issue, it's the current state of the team.

Personal opinion I suppose. But other than local guys, I don't see anyone wanting to go to Edmonton unless someone pulls up with a truck load of cash. Look at the Chris Pronger fiasco.

Calgary at least feels like people genuinely like the city - close to the mountains, good place to raise a family etc. Edmonton for many players has to be like going to Siberia (and likewise for Winnipeg).

Don't disagree that Edmonton is going to be a playoff team before Calgary, but I don't think that is a high a consideration for most players as you would think - are they getting paid, are they playing so that they can get paid more later, is their family happy.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by valo403

I don't see UFA's picking Calgary over Edmonton, at least not now. I hate to say it, but Edmonton is likely a playoff team next year, or at least close, and has a lot of obvious upside. Calgary is a few years behind, and that upside is filled with unknowns. The city isn't the issue, it's the current state of the team.

I generally agree, but by the same token, I don't think either team will ever realistically be reckoned among the top "UFA destinations". The 18th ranking for Edmonton in the article in the OP is ridiculous; the Oilers may get to the middle of the pack with a contending team, but Western Canadian teams are not likely to crack the top five, and tend to rank no higher than top-ten.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Bourne was on the Fan this morning talking to Walker about his article, anyone catch it?

Listening to it now. He said he regrets putting Edmonton at #18. He said he'd put them much lower.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by edn88

Personal opinion I suppose. But other than local guys, I don't see anyone wanting to go to Edmonton unless someone pulls up with a truck load of cash. Look at the Chris Pronger fiasco.

Calgary at least feels like people genuinely like the city - close to the mountains, good place to raise a family etc. Edmonton for many players has to be like going to Siberia (and likewise for Winnipeg).

Don't disagree that Edmonton is going to be a playoff team before Calgary, but I don't think that is a high a consideration for most players as you would think - are they getting paid, are they playing so that they can get paid more later, is their family happy.

I loathe the city of Edmonton, but how are those arguments not applicable to it just as they are to Calgary?

And I think you really underestimate the importance of a chance to win. Playing on a losing team is miserable.

[The Swedish Flame]

I feel like I should be really upset and outraged but I find myself not to care that much. We're not really looking for expensive UFAs at the moment and aren't exactly trying to add an Iginla or Jagr to help us win the cup. It'll change in a few years (hopefully!)

So meh.

[-TC-]

his strikes:

he's from Vancouver and he writes for thescore.ca....

credibility = -2

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by valo403

I loathe the city of Edmonton, but how are those arguments not applicable to it just as they are to Calgary?

Not that Edmonton isn't a good place to raise a family, places like Sherwood Park and St. Albert are great communities, but he's right about the mountains argument, it's around 3 1/2 hours to get to the mountains from Edmonton compared to 45 minutes - 1 hour for Calgary.

[Phanuthier]

If Edmonton is considered to be close to the mountains, so is LA and San Jose.

[edslunch]

I can't believe this thread is still going.

Fact: Calgary has signed notable free agents in the past

Fact: many players, including higher end ones, have praised Calgary and willingly signed/resigned here

The attractiveness of the Flames may ebb and flow with the team's success but its not solely based on that. To argue that it is not attractive to any UFAs is self-loathing nonsense.

Fact: I don't like the weather here but I chose Calgary over Toronto (too humid) and Vancouver (not enough sun) primarily due to weather (tiebreaker over other factors)