Calgary lowest in desirability for UFAs?

[FlamesAddiction]

Just to add, and I wouldn't know where to start looking for this historical information, so you will have to take my word for it (or not), but a few years ago there was a list and Raleigh was right up there near the top for cities players actiively pursued by NHL free agents.

Now on this list, they are in the bottom half. The only thing that changed is that now they are not a good team.

[Macho0978]

This is one guys opinion. Who cares what Justin Bourne thinks

Doesn't CBC do a poll with the players similar to this? If we finish last on that list fine but for now I doubt we are last on the list

[Roof-Daddy]

Least desirable destination for UFA's?

GOOD

Let's build through the draft, the way you're supposed to.

Once we've done that, and the team is chalk full of young budding superstars, knocking on the door of being a perennial contender.......then the UFA's will be falling all over themselves trying to get on board.

[tempz]

Read his arguments for Vancouver and Toronto being so high:

7. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs situation really comes down to personal preference, so it’s all about the individual. In my case, I’d love to play for the Leafs. If you play in Toronto you can be a schlub and get a stick deal. And if you’re on the Leafs, you’re famous in a big city. And being famous comes with perks, whether that means at restaurants or romantically. Toronto is a great place to live, and while the team may not be great – and oh boy, that might be an understatement – to me there are few better places to be a pro hockey player. They’re like the Yankees, minus all that burdensome success.
8. Vancouver Canucks
I’m a BC boy, so maaaybe my bias has seeped in a bit here, but I just think living in beautiful Vancouver on the ocean while playing for a competitive team sounds amazing. You know they’re going to do their level-best to load up for a few final runs at the Cup during the Sedin era, so you can expect to have some success. The fans are as passionate as they come outside of Toronto and Montreal, so again – you’re a pretty famous dude if you’re a Vancouver Canuck. I’m in.

I get two big impressions from these entries 1) This guy is a huge homer (for both his current, and former home) since a lot of his arguments for them being so high also apply to Calgary albeit to a lesser extent 2) This guy isn't going to be winning any pullitzers any time soon.

[Ozy_Flame]

Actually this article isn't surprising. The author is from BC. He probably came to Calgary for the Stampede once, got kicked out of Nashville North and didn't get laid that night. Bitter and jaded.

[Huntingwhale]

Good. The last thing this team needs is overpayed, post-apex vets looking to cash in and take playing time away from young players.

The name of the article should be changed to ''Which teams are least likely to overpay for underachieving players''. Suddenly, we don't look so bad.

And there's no way in hell Montreal should be ranked that high. Please. Every NHL player fears getting traded to that place due to the fishbowl/pressure cooker-like media that runs rampant in that town. And given their history of signing huge big-name UFAs (ie next to nothing), this article is a crock of bs.

[Erick Estrada]

Meh. It's just an opinion piece but it's probably not far off reality in regards to the Flames. If a UFA's main goal is to win the cup Calgary is probably 30th on his list. The arena situation probably isn't very enticing either but that will be worked out. It does show how important a new building will be in the future as if you are a small market team in Canada you at least need top facilities and right now that's not the case as the Dome is amongst the worst arenas in the league.

[CaptainCrunch]

Even having Edmonton at 18 is a bit of a joke. Both Calgary and Edmonton need to overpay a bit to get free agents.

But the reason that he states for Calgary apply to Edmonton. And he's got that whole, they're building something special up there crap going into overtime.

Calgary managed to sign a couple of good free agents last year even though the outlook for the team was dire.

Calgary though is not a destination for free agents, because frankly the offers aren't going out there. But you can't tell me that any of those guys floating around right now without a deal would sign here.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Even having Edmonton at 18 is a bit of a joke. Both Calgary and Edmonton need to overpay a bit to get free agents.

But the reason that he states for Calgary apply to Edmonton. And he's got that whole, they're building something special up there crap going into overtime.

Calgary managed to sign a couple of good free agents last year even though the outlook for the team was dire.

Calgary though is not a destination for free agents, because frankly the offers aren't going out there. But you can't tell me that any of those guys floating around right now without a deal would sign here.

That's why they are the media. They never learn.

[$ven27]

Not really surprising. We'll never be a top destination for UFA's like New York, Boston, Chicago, etc are.

[GGG]

We are a better destination than Winnipeg right now, because anything is better than Winnipeg.

[The Yen Man]

Pretty biased article, but ultimately I don't disagree with his points on Calgary. If you were a UFA, the only reason you'd come right now to Calgary is for money or you have family/friend connections in Calgary and want to play near them. Your role as a UFA would pretty much be to mentor the young guys. You aren't realistically winning anything in the next few years.

[djsFlames]

Pfft. There will be a day where Chicago and Boston sink into long playoff droughts after trying to continually patch things up with vets (as we did, and Vancouver is doing), and their fans will become less relevant everywhere, meanwhile a new group of teams will be in that same consideration as Chicago, LA, Pitts, Boston, Detroit were in the past 5 years. The Flames could very well be one of them. And they'll be the talk of the town. We'll get vet guys trying to sign contracts here like the Iggys and Jagrs. Things happen in cycles. Can't speak for NYR though, cause the market is so huge and the location is just what it is, and players will always be appealed by it, no matter the quality of that team.

[Coach]

Yeah, and if I made a list Vancouver would be at the bottom. So who cares?

[Vulcan]

We've never been a top destination in terms of glamor, but being a Canadian team holds some attraction to players, especially players from western Canada. This is one reason Sutter went after western Canadian players such as UFA Boumeester and gathered such players in the draft and through trades.

[Bertuzzied]

Edmonton no where close to being last? Blog dismissed!

Idiot.

[Tinordi]

More evidence that everything hates the Flames, even the bats

[Igottago]

Respect in the world of sports always comes down to one thing..winning. Its nobody's fault but the Flames that they are in this state, and its nobody's fault but their own that since 1989, they've gone past the first round 1 time. Darryl Sutter did a great job of restoring respect to the franchise for a few years...but its dwindled and faded again. I strongly believe that Calgary is becoming a better and better city in terms of a desirable place to live. The team has to now start living up to that standard as well.

[Vinny01]

Currently I have a hard time believing any veteran 28 or older vet would want to come here. Guys that will want to come to Calgary are guys that want an opportunity or younger guys. The team as built today is likely bottom 3 and the word from the organization's mouth is the kids will get every chance to play.

Calgary is going to be a hard place to get UFA's until they get to a postion where the new core is in place and there is hope of being able to sell winning here.

Edmonton while still being a loser team is starting to trend up. Thier kids are getting to the age where they can lead the team on and off the ice. By next summer or the summer after Edmonton might become one of the more desired places to play (especially when they get their new building). Personally I think Calgary is 2 maybe 3 years behind them but we will be a desirable location again just like we were from 05-09

[$ven27]

^^^Yup, as I see it the only attraction we have to UFA's are ones from Western Canada ( Knight, Galiardi, Jaybo). Even when were winning, I can't see us being a highly sought after spot unless the player is from Western Canada originally, like Bouwmeester was.