How Do Canadian Fans Feel About Sons of Former Can Stars Playing For the USA
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They're American kids. No problem with it.
I think of it this way... I consider myself 100% Canadian. My background beyond my grandparents is heavily Nordic and British. I don't think they're losing any sleep over me identifying as Canadian.
People should play for whatever country they identify themselves with.
You come back here right now!
Warden of the North
Ned Stark's head
cupcrazyman
Stupid Sexy Flanders
without Canadian content,how would the Americans stay competitive ? 
to be honest its not an issue imo.
to be honest its not an issue imo.
I don't think the question was specific to this year's World Juniors, so I imagine he or she was talking about guys like Zach Parise, Mark Howe, and Nick Foligno and such.
Anyway, agree that it's not really a big deal and in most cases makes perfect sense. Helps that Canada wins on the international stage a lot. If we started losing then people's opinions might change (not saying they should, but probably would).
that is unfortunate
woops
I don't think it's any different than Europeans emigrating to NA and their kids then playing for CAN/USA. Nobody bats an eye when that happens.
the best players are still consistently those that have grown up in Canada though, one day this may change, and Gary Bettman will have won.
SlapJack
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I'm not a fan of, rah-rah my country has a better sports team than yours. It's much better for the sport to have depth of talent everywhere like soccer.
If Canada produces great players but lose every year to teams with other great players, it's far more interesting than 10-0 blowouts. The people that enjoy that aren't hockey fans. I love hockey, not silly patriotism.
If Canada produces great players but lose every year to teams with other great players, it's far more interesting than 10-0 blowouts. The people that enjoy that aren't hockey fans. I love hockey, not silly patriotism.
They're American kids. No problem with it.
I think of it this way... I consider myself 100% Canadian. My background beyond my grandparents is heavily Nordic and British. I don't think they're losing any sleep over me identifying as Canadian.
People should play for whatever country they identify themselves with.
Grandparents and beyond is a bit removed. I consider myself Canadian but raised by my very British family, it would be an honour to represent either country in any capacity.
Let the kids play for which ever country they want to play for.
I think what's more interesting is that so few kids with Euro parents playing in the NHL do not play for the US or Canada. Look at the Nylanders, they were both born in the North America, Willy played all his junior hockey until he was 14 in the US/Canada. He even had to get a dispensation from the IIHL to play for Sweden because he had not lived/played there long enough to qualify. Or someone like Alex Steen, born and bred in Canada, his family still live in Winnipeg and yet there was never a doubt that he'd represent any other country but Sweden.
Remember the big scandal in Nagano when Ulf Samuelsson got disqualified for being an American citizen and therefore lost his Swedish citizenship (at the time Sweden did not allow dual citizenship). His kids all played mostly in the US, possibly also holding dual citizenship (or at least they qualify because of birth) all represent Sweden internationally. I can't think of a Swedish kid born in NA who play for any other country but Sweden?
My feeling is that no one ever will with the possible exception of Erik Karlsson since he's said several times that he doesn't feel Swedish any more and his fiancée is Canadian and in all likelyhood all his kids will be born half-canadian in Canada, which I presume will qualify them for Canadian citizenship.
Remember the big scandal in Nagano when Ulf Samuelsson got disqualified for being an American citizen and therefore lost his Swedish citizenship (at the time Sweden did not allow dual citizenship). His kids all played mostly in the US, possibly also holding dual citizenship (or at least they qualify because of birth) all represent Sweden internationally. I can't think of a Swedish kid born in NA who play for any other country but Sweden?
My feeling is that no one ever will with the possible exception of Erik Karlsson since he's said several times that he doesn't feel Swedish any more and his fiancée is Canadian and in all likelyhood all his kids will be born half-canadian in Canada, which I presume will qualify them for Canadian citizenship.
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
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How many Canadian players are sons of immigrants? It goes both ways and really don't see this as an issue either way
JackSlater
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That Nylander situation is the kind of situation that annoys me. I don't see the purpose of international competition if players grow up playing in one country and then represent another. It could be worse though I suppose.
Not sure how talented they are, but pretty much the same situation for Daniel Alfredsson. He's always said his kids are Canadian and I think he's commented on how they might play for Canada in the future. He and his wife now have Canadian citizenship.
Feels fine and it's not just the kids of players. I don't think Gretzky, Lemieux and many other stars are Canadian anymore. If you retire and still live and pay taxes to the USA then you are an American.
They just keep their Canadian citizenship for traveling and future options for their kids to draft dodge if America goes all Vietnam again.
They just keep their Canadian citizenship for traveling and future options for their kids to draft dodge if America goes all Vietnam again.
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
Meh, citizenship is not an absolute in my opinion.
Gretzky helmed Team Canada for two Olympic games and that was well after he was established in Los Angeles with his kids and wife American.
Lemieux had been in Pittsburgh his entire professional career and seemed pretty proud to win the Gold with Canada in 2002.
They are both Canadian and American.
Bixby Snyder
IBTFAD
Interesting, didn't know about him. On Eliteprospects he is noted as having dual citizenship but I don't know if he's already locked himself in by representing the US internationally?
A better example would probably be Jake Virtanen who qualifies for Finnish citizenship through his father but has chosen to represent Canada. Albeit it sometimes seem as though Canadian fans would prefer him not to
Coaches Coroner
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Chuck Downie
Cheese and olive
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All three of Ulfs sons played for the US.
Adam
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=272014
Philip
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=10809
Henrik
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=33217
Daughter Victoria plays for Sweden, though she was born there.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=368050
Hockeyfrilla
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I don't understand why so many Canadian born players on US NHL teams decide to retire in the states. European players playing for Canadian or American NHL teams usually go back home. American born players playing in Canada are almost guaranteed to go back home.
Heck there's many cases of Canadians playing more years in Canada then are traded to a US team that stay.
Alfredsson couldn't get his family out of Canada quick enough when he went to Detroit. Even after only playing one year for the Red Wings they stayed in Michigan another year.......I think they moved back this year.
Can't be the weather, Sweden, Finland etc weathers similar to Canada's.
Can't be taxes, Sweden, Finlands taxes are similar to Canada.
Hell, many Canadian born players retire to upstate New York. Even Canadian officials move to the US. The best players in history are all now/were American, Howe, Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux.
Leafs president Shanahan is now American, so is Joe Thornton. Former Leafs GM Dave Nonis lives in Vermont or NH.
In fact I think it's extremely rare for Canadian born players to move back home after they retire. Of course they may return, to visit Mom, Dad and the old family dog once in a while
Heck there's many cases of Canadians playing more years in Canada then are traded to a US team that stay.
Alfredsson couldn't get his family out of Canada quick enough when he went to Detroit. Even after only playing one year for the Red Wings they stayed in Michigan another year.......I think they moved back this year.
Can't be the weather, Sweden, Finland etc weathers similar to Canada's.
Can't be taxes, Sweden, Finlands taxes are similar to Canada.
Hell, many Canadian born players retire to upstate New York. Even Canadian officials move to the US. The best players in history are all now/were American, Howe, Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux.
Leafs president Shanahan is now American, so is Joe Thornton. Former Leafs GM Dave Nonis lives in Vermont or NH.
In fact I think it's extremely rare for Canadian born players to move back home after they retire. Of course they may return, to visit Mom, Dad and the old family dog once in a while
