First and foremost, players want to win and players want to play for winning organizations. And be part of competent ones. That's the problem. Not how much night life their home city has.
Why would anyone play in Edmonton or SLC or Ottawa or Columbus otherwise?
Players are consumed by the season and the game they are employed in. There's really not a whole lot of time available for partying. Dedication to the game and season pretty much is supposed to be their focus.
Some players care more about where they live than others.
Some players care more about taxes than others.
Some players care more about getting paid than winning.
Some players care more about playing with their friends than others.
Buffalo has consistently been a market that has a negative rep from visiting players. But, plenty of players like living here once they are forced to. Craig Rivet is exhibit A for a player that was not happy to be traded here and has since decided to live here in retirement, even after a nasty ending to his tenure as a Sabres player.
Adams was right when he said that getting players to come to Buffalo is harder than many other markets with better weather and better tax situations.
Adams was also right when he pointed to the Bills and saying that winning games is how you overcome that disadvantage.
The Trouba trade is an example of that. He blocked a trade to Columbus and accepted a trade to Anaheim. He wasn't making that choice based on who is better on the ice right now.