Athletic agent poll- Calgary is 5th most disliked destination by agents

[Leeman4Gilmour]

I don't think a lot of people read the article or the OP for that matter.

"The Calgary Flames drew some ire because of their aging facilities,"

That's it, that's the only reason a couple of agents would suggest not going to Calgary. And sure, all things being equal, everyone would like to work in a state of the art facility. Hockey players are no different.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I think Calgary is great. Many of us in this thread will no doubt share that opinion.

Perhaps the Flames are not great though. That is worth discussing. Just arena? Maybe. I am concerned that's not it though.

Yes I doubt the 30+ years of mediocrity helps make the city an enticing location.
The team is typically competitive but it’s never a contender.

[Boreal]

So they polled agents, not players.

Agents have self interest in maximizing contracts for their clients, unrestricted or restricted free agents, and in turn themselves.

I see this as a feather in the cap of Treliving as he’s a shrewd negotiator that agents don’t like, unlike Hollandaise Sauce up north.

[Enoch Root]

I don't know which is more amazing - that they would publish this with only 20 responses, or that people are reacting to it llike it has any meaning.

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

20 agents is representative of 11% of the NHLPA's certified agents. Inferences are made on public policy issues using much smaller populations. Not really a meaningless survey in that context.

Would have expected you to know better (or maybe the results simply coincide with your views). 11% of the population would be a representative sample size, as long as it was large enough to be an actual sample.

But the fact of the matter is that, if you asked a different 20 agents,you would get a completely different list. One response for a city is not an indication of anything.

As Plett25 pointed out, we can probably draw some information on the few cities that got multiple responses, but the 1 and 2 totals are completely meaningless.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Yikes.

So the narrative IS true. Perhaps we can all cut Treliving a little slack on free agent day now.

Quite surprised to see Carolina on there since it's a team on the cusp of winning another Stanley Cup.

Dude

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Dude

LOL exactly.

Two agents voted Calgary.

The narrative IS true!!

[greentree]

If I were a mature 28-38 y/o player with family--wife, kids--and making loadsa dough, Calgary might seem pretty appealing. Real estate prices being what they are, you can basically get twice the property for what you get in a big city. Again, I'm not talking the bachelor lifestyle.
And then hang out in the B.C. interior during summer.
Not everyone's cup of tea but plenty of Western Canadian NHLers--and there are lots of them--will find that attractive. And many have.
I'm sure the wives can really influence these decisions.

[FireGilbert]

At lot of discussion here over 2 votes in a small sample size survey.

I take away that Tampa and Toronto are popular (no #### Sherlock) and Arizona and Ottawa are not (duh) with everything else being statistical noise.

[Enoch Root]

Everyone has their own preferences, but I continue to believe that the most important thing, for most players, is opportunity and money. And opportunity can mean a few things: chance to win, who you will play with, who the coach is, or whatever.

Careers are short and you have to make the mist of the chance you get. Afterwards, you have a lifetime to choose where you want to live. (and summers in the meantime).

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I don't know which is more amazing - that they would publish this with only 20 responses, or that people are reacting to it llike it has any meaning.

Depends who the agents were. If they polled the agents with the most players, that is significant. If they polled agents who represent only one or two players, not quite so significant. More information is required here, but when you are taking information from more than 10% of a population, the results are normally significant and representative.

Would have expected you to know better (or maybe the results simply coincide with your views). 11% of the population would be a representative sample size, as long as it was large enough to be an actual sample.

Well, they did state they got responses from 20 agents, which is 11% of the certified agents with the NHLPA. That is a significant sample. You know that, and you know I know you know that. The only thing that could skew this is if they over-represented agents with small client lists. It would have been nice to know that information to determine that actual impact of the guidance and comments from the agents.

But the fact of the matter is that, if you asked a different 20 agents,you would get a completely different list. One response for a city is not an indication of anything.

They did ask 20 different agents and did get 20 different responses. The data is the intersection of those responses.

As Plett25 pointed out, we can probably draw some information on the few cities that got multiple responses, but the 1 and 2 totals are completely meaningless.

I look at the numbers and agree they are less than impressive, but they are still insights into what agents are telling their clients, which is not meaningless. The Flames need to listen to this and learn from it. What has been said is the Flames facilities are crap and are a detractor for bringing in players. That should give the team more incentive to resolve the building issue.

[ComixZone]

I mean, if you were a free agent what is appealing about Calgary?

I think it’s pretty much that Calgary is a good city to raise a family in, and the mountains - and neither are insignificant.

Outside of that, the team has zero success in 30 years and has one of if not the worst arenas/facilities in the league, and it’s also a Canadian market which is a hard sell.

…I feel like the Flames could make a pretty big course correction this year by making a significant add (or two) at the deadline (or before) to show their pending free agents that they’re serious about winning. Build that winning culture and it will help off-set the rubbish facilities.

[browna]

1 less agent away from being tied for the 13 least desireable, too, so let's not go overboard.

It has nothing to do with Canada, the city, taxes or anything like that, that extra agent voting likely did so as it has to do with having the oldest, most tired building (and player friendly facilities within that building) in the league.

The buliding was designed over 40 years ago. If you've ever been in the bowels or in change rooms or seen any of the facilities there, it's a joke and cannot compare to mant other facilities in Calgary, let alone rinks around North America.