Why NHL players don’t want to play hockey in Canada…

#nhl #hockey #torontomapleleafs

In the last few years, there has been a trend with some NHL players deciding that Canada isnt an ideal destination to play hockey. (Especially the Toronto Maple Leafs). We break down why this seems to be an issue for players & how it affects them on the ice.

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[Mr.Quinlan]

It's definitely an interesting topic. I've run into players at the grocery store here in Vegas. They're very respectful and laid back. I can understand wanting to be able go to the store or grab a bite to eat and having some semblance of normalcy off the ice. I think that's one of the top reasons NHLers gravitate towards the American market. I think as fans we sometimes forget that these guys are human.

[ravensshadow]

I think you are spot on but I think it's more about the taxes and high cost of living. By signing with a Florida team you instantly make 25% more. I think if the NHL and or the Canadian government want to draw more players to Canadian markets the will make the players taxes exempt or adjust the salary cap accordingly in some way. I really don't think the latter will work.

[dugganclhallrentals]

That’s partly why Montréal went to the cup final three years ago; during COvid. No fans; very little media present, fewer interviews etc…
The pressure of expectation is an athlete’s worst enemy and it takes a while before it can be contained and dealt with. Asked about what he would have done differently during the World Juniors, McDavid said “…put my cell phone away…”

[MrNitrobigmac]

I think many players are recognizing that they can get the passionate fan bases elsewhere without the disgusting behavior when they don't win every night. I get having passion for the game, but turning around an wreaking havoc on your players mentally for the mistakes they make is going to make more and more top tier players leave those markets and have success elsewhere.

[richardsiemion]

Vegas, Dallas, Florida and Tampa are teams with 0% income tax. Those 4 teams have appeared in the finals 7 times in the past 6 years.

I rest my case.

[KevinMcGannon]

That’s why it is so laughable hearing the suggestion that the Panthers should move to Quebec year after year after year. Florida is tax free and you can golf year round. It’s easily a top 5 destination in the NHL.

[HarrisonHollers]

I think it’s difficult for the family members of professional athletes to deal with the excessive scrutiny and negativity in the local media. Also, I think the lack of success only makes it less appealing for players to want to play for such teams as the desperation by fans increases. This happens in other sports: in NY, the Mets, Jets, and especially the Knicks all feel this to varying degrees.

[theskwirtfiles]

Playing Hockey in Canada is like driving for Ferrari in F1 or playing for England in the World Cup, im sure there is more examples but the pressure is real and lets be honest, can be very toxic. Not everyone wants to deal with it and have it throw it off their game and i dont really blame them for that.

[willyupshaw]

I've always felt that one of the reasons Brodeur never went to free agency, and as a result, forfeited his chance to become the highest paid goalie (which he would have been) was because he didn't want to allow the narrative to develop that he might be coming to Canada, specifically Montreal.

[sbaby]

Pressure isn‘t all bad. A healthy dose of it is vital IMHO. We‘ve passed „healthy“ a long time ago in some CAN markets though. Sh*t‘s turned toxic a while ago. I can understand any player that decided that that‘s just not worth it.

[habalicious]

This channel is really good at a surface level, but this is the perfect example of how it falls short of doing a comprehensive analysis or, more importantly, elucidating the actual (complex and diverse) realities.

[RealChrisFischer]

Don't forget the abusive tax rates we have in Canada.

[itinerantpatriot]

That player's comment about the Toronto market was spot-on. I lived a bit north of Toronto for a time and I remember listening to a sports-talk station up there one day as I was driving back to the U.S. for a weekend getaway. It was August and the Blue Jays were in the middle of a pennant race. The Raptors were coming off a promising season and even the Argonauts were looking promising. Yet almost all of the callers wanted to talk about the Maple Leaf's, even though it was summer and they had stunk it up the year before and were expected to stink it up again. The host became so frustrated he said he would not take anymore calls from callers who wanted to talk about hockey. It was practically crickets.

I was a Wings fan and when people would see me wearing a Wings shirt they would ridicule me, telling me how superior their team was to mine. Granted, the Wings had won just won the Cup, giving us four in nine years, and the Maple Leaf's did finish in last place in their division that season and hadn't hoisted the Cup since 1967, so I got where they were coming from. I'm serious too. People would tell me how much better the Leaf's were with a straight face. Right then Toronto fans claimed the #2 spot on my list of obnoxious fanbases, trailing only the Dallas Cowboy fans who nobody can touch when it comes to douche-baggery. So yeah, I get why a guy would say no to Toronto.

[Entername-mdev]

Many reasons to this:

- Media pressure (particularly present in Toronto and Montreal where anything less than a cup is seen as a bust)
- Currency exchange rate (getting paid in USD > getting paid in CAD)
- Income tax (taxes are generally lower in US than Canada)
- Most cities are undesirable (no offence but which players actually want to play in Edmonton, Ottawa and Winnipeg; Toronto and Montreal are cool but the pressure is high and why play in Vancouver when you have other west coast markets anyways)
- Weather (self explanatory)
- Publicity (NHL players are just another fish in a large pond in the US whereas in Canada they are a large fish in a small pond)
- Language (this is specifically for Montreal but French being the first language turns off a lot of non-francophone players from signing)

[JaySharp]

The media is a huge factor in this. I hate Canadian Sports Media. They are always hunting for controversy... and they are obnoxiously repetative. I truly blaim Sportsnet, and the like, for the undue pressure placed on the athletes, and absolutely the cause of the Riots in Vancouver, as well as many Hockey Players wanting out of Canada.

[butcherpete]

It's important to understand that Canadian media has a high expectation of the teams they cover to be "the first team to bring the cup back to Canada" and they will hound and hound players for every little mistake and all that does to a player is compound the issue. "Now every time I touch the ice there's a microscope on everything I do by people who don't even play the sport" it's easy to understand why players wouldn't want to be in that situation.

[SceptileSlash]

This is why (among Canadian teams) Ottawa is becoming a destination. It's the perfect middle ground between pressure to win and the ability to focus on your game. You'll get recognized sometimes if you're out and about, especially if you're Brady Tkachuk but the media doesn't jump down your throat like they do in Toronto, MTL, Vancouver, etc... Add a tight knit locker room where everyone holds everyone else accountable and I think the Sens are quietly building a championship mentality. That's why they've been able to attract guys like Giroux and Tarasenko in recent years, players across the league are starting to take notice.

[tdfmtig]

If I’m an nhl player I’m playing in Dallas Florida or Vegas. Low taxes, mild winters

[AustinOgonoski]

Heard this exact thing from a friend of mine who used to play pick-up with Alex Petrovic here in Edmonton. Couldn't go to the grocery store without fans wanting a picture or to chat. Loved playing in Florida by comparison.

[ryans]

So it’s just a Toronto thing got it. But I do want to mention players will still go to Canadian teams if they feel they have a shot at winning. Kane resigned with Edmonton for less money then he could have gotten elsewhere. Hymann walked himself to Edmonton. Kieth wanted to play for Edmonton to be closer to his son. The twins decided to stay in Vancouver throughout their entire careers. Iginla wanted to stay in Calgary until they traded him. Carey Price stayed with Montreal his entire career. I can go on it’s not every player.