Do NHL players get bored in the city that they play for?

[DarkseidX]

Like let's say a player moves to a city that's considered boring..... do you think if a player doesn't like the city that he plays for or finds it boring, that factors in whether he'll stay with the team or not?

For example, If I was a NHL player and played for the Senators, I'd probably request a trade right away and move to a more fun city lol, because I've been to Ottawa and found the city incredibly dull.

Thoughts?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

absolutely it could be a factor

 

[Leafs87]

Using different words this is what the cause of Panarin and Bobrovsky leaving CBJ was

 

[Hockeyholic]

Probably a factor in cities like Columbus, Winnipeg, Buffalo, Ottawa, and Edmonton. Those teams not being great has Probably been an issue too.

 

[Chet Manley]

I'm fine to find things to do wherever live. But that would probably be different if I was a multi-millionare 20-something. Big US cites are basically a millionaires playground.(outside looking in)

 

[RebuildinVan]

So what do Crosby and Malkin see in Pittsburgh?

 

[heretik27]

So what do Crosby and Malkin see in Pittsburgh?

Success.

 

[Seanaconda]

I'm fine to find things to do wherever live. But that would probably be different if I was a multi-millionare 20-something. Big US cites are basically a millionaires playground.(outside looking in)

I think it would be even easier to find things to do with the millions lol most hobbies are expensive

 

[IamNotADancer]

Very rarely do players live in the immediate area where they play.

So the city they play for is not likely representative of the area they live in.

If you have a ton of money you can find something exciting to do in Anchorage.

 

[RebuildinVan]

Success.

So a winning culture can sometimes trump living in one of the more "desirable" markets

 

[FDBluth]

Very rarely do players live in the immediate area where they play.

So the city they play for is not likely representative of the area they live in.

If you have a ton of money you can find something exciting to do in Anchorage.

no sh*t, Alaska seems awesome

 

[Roo Returns]

So what do Crosby and Malkin see in Pittsburgh?

Apparently it's nice (I have not had the chance to visit although it's on my list very soon). There's this annoying narrative from people like Pierre and Emrick and all the chest beating about how it's a "real" city with a lot of "heart" and "blue collar".

That's fine but it's aggravating and annoying when it's constantly thrown in a face (and believe me I hate this "this is Nu Yawk bro" nonsense where I'm from).

Then I watch the Franco Harris (RIP) Football Life from NFL Network and it made the city look subdued and cool.

I think a lot depends on the personality of a player and what they're looking for. If they're more of an introvert and don't want to party/a homebody who is happy just streaming movies or spending it with a g/f wife on off days, it really doesn't matter (unless of course they really hate the colder cities lol).

If they want to party or nightlife, they're going to want to be near a NY/CHI/LA/TO/MTL/PHI.

 

[Love]

Depends on the person. For me personally I wouldn’t care. I have no interest in “night life” and could be content living anywhere. Of course there are preferences if given a choice (proximity to family, weather, etc) but how “fun” a city is isn’t very important to me. All NHL cities are big enough to have good restaurants and enough amenities to keep me happy.

 

[Peat]

I think a lot depends on the personality of a player and what they're looking for. If they're more of an introvert and don't want to party/a homebody who is happy just streaming movies or spending it with a g/f wife on off days, it really doesn't matter (unless of course they really hate the colder cities lol).

This.

Sid by all accounts is a small town guy who wants a quiet life when not being amazing at hockey. Epic nightlife, lots of sexy flirty women, tons of entertainment... doesn't seem to bother him. Geno, all the media reports talk about how much Pittsburgh is like his home town.

As a transplant from a major global city to Pittsburgh, I like a ton of stuff about it. If I'd come here as a 21 year old with plenty of money, free time, and stress to burn though, I'd have probably been majorly unimpressed.

I know that with Columbus, players have talked about how younger kids hate it but a lot of settled guys with family love being there. I suspect Pittsburgh is the same and I feel like that's kind of reflected in what free agents and trades work out here.

 

[ijuka]

Shrug, doesn't really matter. Professional athletes should not be doing "night life" in the first place, and nowadays you can do tons of entertainment at home and via internet regardless of where you live.

 

[Hockeyholic]

So what do Crosby and Malkin see in Pittsburgh?

Both were drafted by the Penguins and the team has been a cup contender for like 15 out of the 18 years they have been there. 3 cups.

If a team is a cup contender, chances are a guy will want to be there. With a few exceptions. How many players were asking to be shipped out of Edmonton in the 80's? Probably very few.

 

[jcs0218]

Depends on where a player is at in their life and their career.

Some people don't like the glitz, glamour, and nightlife.

It doesn't match with some personalities, and some people outgrow it.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Depends on where a player is at in their life and their career.

Some people don't like the glitz, glamour, and nightlife.

This.

I doubt players with wives and kids are out partying all the time.

I always wondered how a guy like Crosby would have handled playing in Montreal though. He doesn't seem like the outgoing and partying type of guy who likes attention. I bring up Montreal because they had a good opportunity to get him in 2005.

 

[Brodeur]

As others said, it depends on the player's personality and possibly if he's married with kids.

I remember Todd Marchant using his NTC to block a trade to Anaheim in the Sergei Fedorov deal. It wasn't anything against Anaheim, Marchant and his wife had a three young kids and they had just gotten settled in Columbus. To get around the NTC, Marchant was waived and Anaheim claimed him. Marchant stayed with the Ducks organization for the next 15 years.

Edmonton thought they signed Michael Nylander in 2007. But allegedly Nylander's wife wasn't too enthused by that and he went to Washington instead.

Thomas Vanek left money on the table by turning down the Islanders in order to sign with Minnesota (his wife was from there). Aside from the money, part of the allure of Zach Parise returning to Minnesota was that his kids would be geographically close to the grandparents.

Scott Stevens signed with St. Louis in 1990 as he and his wife were ready to start a family. Then a year later, he was awarded by an arbitrator to New Jersey as a result of St. Louis signing Brendan Shanahan. Stevens was pissed since they spent time/energy on their dream house in St. Louis. In 1994, Stevens signed an offer sheet with St. Louis with the desire to move back. New Jersey matched and Stevens has stayed since.

On the flip side, I did enjoy some of the stories that Scott Gomez told of his early years on the Devils. Seemed like the bachelors had a lot of fun on road trips.

 

[Jugitsu]

I don’t think so. Just because they are young athletes with millions of dollars doesn’t automatically mean they need to be entertained with wide variety of options 24/7. Most are family guys who most likely learn to appreciate safety and quiet during the long season.

 

[Pez68]

These people are rich and can travel wherever they want. Boredom is not an issue.

 

[koteka]

I know that with Columbus, players have talked about how younger kids hate it but a lot of settled guys with family love being there. I suspect Pittsburgh is the same and I feel like that's kind of reflected in what free agents and trades work out here.

Columbus is great for the really young guys - you have a huge university a couple of miles away from the arena filled with 18-22 year old women. It is great for older guys with families and lots of ex Jackets retire in Columbus. The problem is if you are a single guy with a bunch of money in the 24-30 year old range. At that age NY, LA, Florida, Nashville, etc are more appealing.

Panarin wanted NY - he was 27, not married, and had no kids. Bobrovsky wanted Florida - he was 30 and married, but had no kids. Duchene wanted Nashville - he was 28, married, with a baby, but wanted to be a country music star. Seth Jones wanted Chicago - he was 26, single, no kids.

It is interesting how fans of all 3 teams that signed the CBJ free agents in 2019 plus Chicago fans regret those contracts now. Maybe guys who have cashed in and are living in their dream city aren’t the hungriest guys on the ice.

 

[DarkseidX]

If I played for Toronto, I would get bored quick and request a trade immediately.

Most bland big city in North America. Even Anthony Bourdain mentions this in his eating show

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

If I played for Toronto, I would get bored quick and request a trade immediately.

Most bland big city in North America. Even Anthony Bourdain mentions this in his eating show

where else would you get bored quick and ask for a trade?

So far I see Ottawa and Toronto that you have said

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

I don't see how considering how busy NHL life is. And if they don't care for the city, they can literally go anywhere they want on vacations in the summertime. But for whatever reason this does seem to be an issue with some guys


I'll never forget Alexander Volkov complaining Syracuse is too cold to walk his dog before immediately signing in an even colder city in Russia