If basketball players acted like hockey players, the raptors would be one of the hottest free agency markets in the league.
Imo hockey players are generally very weak at the promotional elements of being a superstar athlete. It's one of the major reasons the league lags the other major sports in NA so badly.
NFL players don't hate playing for the cowboys. MLB players don't hate playing for the Yankees. Only hockey players hate being famous.
I bet there are a lot of basketball/baseball/football players that don't want to play in pressure filled media markets.
It just never comes up because those sports don't have a huge whiny Canadian media presence constantly asking why players don't want to come to Canada.
Lucic has been suspended 4 times and fined 4 more. Plus a couple incidents that some thought were suspension-worthy but he got nothing. And fans love him wherever he goes.
Lucic has been suspended 4 times and fined 4 more. Plus a couple incidents that some thought were suspension-worthy but he got nothing. And fans love him wherever he goes.
Lucic seems to have lightened up a bit, but there was a time I would have voted him the player most likely to Bertuzzi someone one day. He is pretty much a shell of his former self in every way. Not as productive, but also not as mean.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
Here’s a perspective that surprised me. Dom L. from The Athletic says The Flames are the 7th most improved team this off-season. Whether you agree or disagree, heres’s his reasoning:
“7. Calgary Flames
Goal Difference added: 8.6
Salary added: -$3.1 million
In: Yegor Sharangovich, Jordan Oesterle
Out: Tyler Toffoli, Troy Stecher, Trevor Lewis, Milan Lucic
I’m shocked the Flames ended up this high, especially after losing the Tyler Toffoli trade. But addition by subtraction goes a long way and the Flames added a lot by not re-signing either Trevor Lewis or Milan Lucic. Part of Calgary’s problem last year was how disastrous its fourth line was with Lucic and Lewis being primary culprits of that. They’re gone now and as a result, the Flames are 16 goals better from those two losses alone.”
Here’s a perspective that surprised me. Dom L. from The Athletic says The Flames are the 7th most improved team this off-season. Whether you agree or disagree, heres’s his reasoning:
“7. Calgary Flames
Goal Difference added: 8.6
Salary added: -$3.1 million
In: Yegor Sharangovich, Jordan Oesterle
Out: Tyler Toffoli, Troy Stecher, Trevor Lewis, Milan Lucic
I’m shocked the Flames ended up this high, especially after losing the Tyler Toffoli trade. But addition by subtraction goes a long way and the Flames added a lot by not re-signing either Trevor Lewis or Milan Lucic. Part of Calgary’s problem last year was how disastrous its fourth line was with Lucic and Lewis being primary culprits of that. They’re gone now and as a result, the Flames are 16 goals better from those two losses alone.”
We lost that trade? Dom, get back in your time machine and go back to the future, you are wrecking this timeline.
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I have a feeling that the main reason players don’t want to play in canada is the tax system.
That is only true for some markets in the US…
With the exception of MTL
- California has higher taxes and cost of living.
- New York State, Boston, Washington is on par, but higher cost of living.
- Philly, Carolina, Detroit, Seattle are within a percentage point of 2.
For lower paid players in most US markets, what you gain in tax savings, gets eaten up by things CDN market players pay for thru taxes. Especially if they have families.
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Native Calgarian here who has lived in western NY for 24 years. I can attest to the fact that I cannot think of a single consequential cost of living expense that is cheaper in upstate NY than AB. My property taxes are about five times higher than what I would pay in Calgary. No exaggeration. Local taxes are way high. Utilities and food are expensive and don't get me started on medical, which fortunately, my employer mostly but not entirely pays. And no, modestly cheaper booze and smokes don't tilt the scales for me. There are cheaper places to live in the US certainly, but I wouldn't want to live in most of them.
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A Canadian team is never winning the cup again huh
I don't think any Canadian team was a Gudas away from winning a cup.
It does further prove the best way a Canadian franchise is to have success is utilizing your prospects, especially if NHL ready. At least with those you can sign them for a number of years. It's obvious Canada has had to overpay for UFAs to come and play for them. That's just the harash reality right now.
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Players who say that are funny. It assumes two things - one, that they will always be in the NHL. And two, that US teams are automatically interested in their services.
I doubt very much Gudas would give up a chance at a multi-year contract that pays him significantly more than any US team if a Canadian team wanted him badly enough.
Show him the money, and the feet will follow forward.
I have a feeling that the main reason players don’t want to play in canada is the tax system.
Public scrutiny plays a part too. But it isn’t just about families being harassed while buying groceries. NHL players are rich and like to do the things rich young men do, like enjoy the nightlife. That’s a lot easier if you’re relatively anonymous.
When Drew Doughty was asked about what it was like playing in LA after they won the Cup vs before, he said it sucked. He liked being about to ‘enjoy what LA has to offer’ ie party it up in clubs, without public recognition or scrutiny.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
Native Calgarian here who has lived in western NY for 24 years. I can attest to the fact that I cannot think of a single consequential cost of living expense that is cheaper in upstate NY than AB. My property taxes are about five times higher than what I would pay in Calgary. No exaggeration. Local taxes are way high. Utilities and food are expensive and don't get me started on medical, which fortunately, my employer mostly but not entirely pays. And no, modestly cheaper booze and smokes don't tilt the scales for me. There are cheaper places to live in the US certainly, but I wouldn't want to live in most of them.
States like Texas, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, and Tennessee are seeing strong population growth, and lead the U.S. in net migration. It’s probably not a coincidence that NHL players want to play on the teams based in those states.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
Last edited by CliffFletcher; 08-03-2023 at 08:06 AM.
I think players are pretty simple and look at income tax a lot differently than cost of living. Tax comes right off the paycheck - they get paid less. Cost of living is an afterthought and they are so rich they don’t feel that pinch anyway. Stuff like more expensive groceries, gas, entertainment doesn’t even register for them.
I have a feeling that the main reason players don’t want to play in canada is the tax system.
I think this is always over blown.
The way that sports players are taxed is complicated.
1. they get taxed based on where the games are played. For their home games they are taxed at whatever the rate is at the location of the arena. for the other 41 games they get taxed at the rate based on their tax address. A home in Florida for example. or Sweden, or Calgary.
2. as they earn their money they put it away into pensions ( or something like it) and they defer their tax for after their career when they will only be making $500,000 a year or whatever instead of being taxed on the millions right away. This is likely taxed based on the laws of where ever they live in their retirement.
This isn't 1980, these players have top of the line accountants talking with them and their agents every step of the way.
When done correctly, it's easier to see why he is right. But the off-season isn't over of course, and those lists might still yet change.
And even further to that, the "In" is actually Kyllington instead of Oesterle so I believe that our improvement goes beyond what even Dom's work suggests.
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