JianYang
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
- 19,169
- 18,268
I can remember in the late 1990s around 1998 or so there was this panic that Canada hadn't had a team win a Cup in 5 years! The 1993 Canadiens sounded like such an ancient memory at that time, and yet they weren't. They are now though. I am not overly surprised that a Canadian team didn't win the Cup final in 7 tries since 1994, I am just surprised there has only been 7 in 31 years that have been in the final. So many times Ottawa could have gotten there, Toronto for sure was right on the doorstep. Even just statistically speaking there should be more than 7 times they get there in 31 years. 7/31 is the expected amount of wins, not appearances. 35 years since an all-Canadian Cup final, that probably should have happened since.
Either way, I agree the taxes are a big turn off for some players. Possibly the travel, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Edmonton all have atrocious travel schedules. Not to mention the weather in those cities. Also, what is appealing to play in Winnipeg? Or the city alone?
Western travel has definitely been talked about by players, and it is a factor. I've beaten the tax drum too many times, but in short, that disadvantage isn't as big as advertised and in fact, depending on how your affairs are structured, you can really bridge the gap further.
Above all else though, you just need to make a team that other players believe is a legitimate cup contender.
Just look at the oilers today with some team friendly deals with skinner and henrique. Arvidsson isn't signing there because he loves the place. He sees a good chance to win with the best player in the world.
Build through the draft and make sound management decisions through the way. That's the key to success and no Canadian team has coupled those two things together very well aside for a few exceptions.