Is it too hard to play in Canada?

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Is it hard to play for Barca? For Madrid? For Manchester ?

Players need to grow up and realize they’re PAID to play for max 25min.

Absolutely pathetic gen z like mentality to think the issue is a expectations and accountability

yes actually, it is hard to play for those teams. Plenty of great players failed there

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Can we not slam Gen Z? It is as stupid now as it was 18 years ago when Millennial was a curse word and it was all my fault for the state the world was in by the time I was old enough to vote

nah

 

[frontsfan67]

Is it too cold?

Don’t think guys that go to a hockey rink every day are going to be complaining about it being too cold personally but that’s just me.

Maybe whiny NBA players but they’re a completely other brand of diva.

 

[BLNY]

No to none of above for a retread thread.

Of the 4 teams left, there are 44 Canadians playing of potentially 98 players. Each team has more Canadians than any other country. Aside from the parade for the winning team, where there's a 75% chance that it will take place in the USA, the cup will spend more time in Canada than anywhere else this summer.

 

[NVious]

McDrai are basically putting up Lemieux numbers in the playoffs.

It's only hard if you're mentally weak or physically soft.

 

[crowi]

This is a thread a loser like Auston Matthews would make.

 

[Les LatterDaySkates]

It’s too hard to win in Toronto because the people are insane and entitled.

But every other team in Canada has won more playoff rounds than the Leafs since 2004, and every one of them has been to the conference finals at least once, with Edmonton, Montreal, and Vancouver appearing in Stanley Cup finals in the cap era.

Because the rest of the country isn’t comprised of insane, entitled babies.

 

[Eyeseeing]

nah

Ok Boomer
( I’m a Boomer )

 

[Melrose Munch]

Don’t think guys that go to a hockey rink every day are going to be complaining about it being too cold personally but that’s just me.

Maybe whiny NBA players but they’re a completely other brand of diva.

There are way more NHL divas these days.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

When did cowardice become normal and accepted?

There is a difference between a market putting pressure on players to perform and fans who cross the line and mess with people’s families.

I don’t think it’s “cowardly” to not want to have to deal with your family getting harassed on social media or IRL because some unhinged fan doesn’t like the contract you signed/didn’t sign, or how you performed in a playoff series.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Anyone who wilts under media and fan pressure should GTFO.

This doesn't affect players in other leagues for teams like the Celtics, Lakers, Yankees, Dodgers, etc.

Taxes and weather are probably legitimate factors tho.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

This. Montreal just broke the mold and everyone's been extatic including the players.

Yup. Very much see the Canadiens bucking this trend with the Hughes and MSL hires. Not too dissimilar to what the Canes have done. MSL didn't really have much coaching experience but he knows the game, is an all-time legend and commands respect from the players and they play hard for him. Same with RBA (obviously not quite same caliber player but you get the idea).

Hughes has made a lot of shrewd moves by weaponizing capspace and accumulating assets and has positioned the team very well for the future. They are young and talented and as some bigger contracts like Anderson, Gallagher, and Laine come off the books they will have even more to work with.

Look how quick their 'rebuild' has been compared to other teams even if it hasn't been perfect.

Interesting that this has all happened under Gorton who was run out of New York but now look where that team is.

 

[Strangle]

No, it’s not

Somewhere along the line hockey players got really soft.

Also, with all this talk of ‘noise’ and ‘pressure’ and ‘fans’ sounds like they’re talking about mostly the leaf haters online, not the leaf fans.

Because there are so many haters online, it must look from the outside as if its leaf fans making all these super negative posts, memes and ridiculous posts.

Doesn’t matter though, want to reach the top of the legends mountain? Win in Toronto

There is no other place winning a Stanley cup will even come close

 

[Jerzey Devil]

Canadian media is no worse than any other major city’s media for sports. And hockey players are supposed to be the toughest of the bunch.

 

[Fatass]

Is it just too hard to play and win a Stanley Cup in Canada?

Is the media too much?
Are there too many taxes?
Is it too cold?
Way too many no-movement clauses with Canadian teams on them?
Is the salary cap too strict?

Is it all of these, one of these or none of them?

What is the issue here? 32 years since the last cup win for a Canadian team.

Guys can make their millions down south and live their lives in total anonymity. Sure there’s little to no passion for the game away from the rink in the USA but players might prefer that.

 

[SensontheRush]

There is a difference between pressure affecting people and cowardice... it is mind-boggling how people think every single person should rise to the occasion under pressure.

This is being said by a bunch of people who likely took very few risks in life and lived a very normal life, calling people who worked like crazy to live their dreams cowards.

?

Feels like oddly conflicting sentiments?

 

[Fatass]

No, it’s not

Somewhere along the line hockey players got really soft.

Also, with all this talk of ‘noise’ and ‘pressure’ and ‘fans’ sounds like they’re talking about mostly the leaf haters online, not the leaf fans.

Because there are so many haters online, it must look from the outside as if its leaf fans making all these super negative posts, memes and ridiculous posts.

Doesn’t matter though, want to reach the top of the legends mountain? Win in Toronto

There is no other place winning a Stanley cup will even come close

Don’t even need to win in TO to be loved and respected. Just play your hardest and always put the team first. Other than Bobby are there any players with statues outside rinks down south?

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Don’t even need to win in TO to be loved and respected. Just play your hardest and always put the team first. Other than Bobby are there any players with statues outside rinks down south?

This Wayne Gretzky guy has one in LA I heard. Dustin Brown has one there as well

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

No, it’s not

Somewhere along the line hockey players got really soft.

Also, with all this talk of ‘noise’ and ‘pressure’ and ‘fans’ sounds like they’re talking about mostly the leaf haters online, not the leaf fans.

Because there are so many haters online, it must look from the outside as if its leaf fans making all these super negative posts, memes and ridiculous posts.

Doesn’t matter though, want to reach the top of the legends mountain? Win in Toronto

There is no other place winning a Stanley cup will even come close

This is a Toronto pushed narrative though. To the players... they don't care where they win for the most part. Being the guy or coach or GM that put Toronto over the edge to break the curse? Sure it would be a story that would be talked about for a long long time but it matters more to the fans and the city rather than the players.

Now are there SOME players that absolutely care a lot of winning as part of the Leafs? Yes. Tavares, Spezza, and others in recent years. But you can also say that about a lot of players for other teams... and this is why people hate the Leafs and their fans because they come off like their franchise or them doing anything is more important and it's not. It's more important to them. Not to other people.

 

[Lshap]

nothing special other than all players want to play in these markets (and not in Canada), and they all seem to sign for much better bargain contracts than those that teams in Canada or northern American cities have to pay.

But maybe its nothing.

Your original point was that sunbelt teams are better. They're not. Now you're claiming everyone wants to play there. They don't.

I'd suggest, "The sunbelt teams are warmer". At least your argument would stand a chance.

 

[Fatass]

This Wayne Gretzky guy has one in LA I heard. Dustin Brown has one there as well

In TO there are statues outside the rink to Salming, Sundin, Sittler, Clark. Guys who never lead the the Leafs to a Cup but Amare loved by the fans for their combination of being a great player and a guy who have everything for the club. No need to be a Cup winner or the greatest player ever.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

In TO there are statues outside the rink to Salming, Sundin, Sittler, Clark. Guys who never lead the the Leafs to a Cup but Amare loved by the fans for their combination of being a great player and a guy who have everything for the club. No need to be a Cup winner or the greatest player ever.

I mean sure... but you didn't ask that. You asked if there were other statues outside of arenas in the US other than Bobby (I'm assuming Orr) and the answer is a definitive yes. Apparently there is another statue of Bobby (Hull) and of Stan Mikita in Chicago outside the United Center.

According to this list there looks to be a lot of them. So, this kind of proves my point about Toronto thinking it's so special because it has statues of some guys who never did anything. Lots of statues around and it's cool because most of these players actually won something

Anaheim Ducks	The Anaheim Duck AKA "Wild Wing"
Boston Bruins	Bobby Orr
Buffalo Sabres	The French Connection (Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert, and Rick Martin), Tim Horton
Chicago Blackhawks	Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, 75th Anniversary Statue
Detroit Red Wings	Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe
Edmonton Oilers	Wayne Gretzky
Los Angeles Kings	Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, 50th Anniversary Monument (Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, Rob Blake, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown)
Minnesota Wild	Herb Brooks
Montreal Canadiens	Howie Morenz, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, Maurice Richard
New Jersey Devils	Martin Brodeur, "Iceman"
Philadelphia Flyers	Ed Snider, Bernie Parent & Bobby Clarke
Pittsburgh Penguins	Mario Lemieux
St. Louis Blues	Brett Hull, Bernie Federko, Al MacInnis
Tampa Bay Lightning	Phil Esposito, Dave Andreychuk
Toronto Maple Leafs	Legends Row - Johnny Bower, Ted Kennedy, Darryl Sittler, Borje Salming, Mats Sundin, Syl Apps, George Armstrong, Turk Broda, Tim Horton, Dave Keon, Charlie Conacher, Red Kelly, Wendel Clark, Frank Mahovlich
Vancouver Canucks	Roger Neilsen, Pat Quinn

 

[Fatass]

I mean sure... but you didn't ask that. You asked if there were other statues outside of arenas in the US other than Bobby (I'm assuming Orr) and the answer is a definitive yes. Apparently there is another statue of Bobby (Hull) and of Stan Mikita in Chicago outside the United Center.

According to this list there looks to be a lot of them. So, this kind of proves my point about Toronto thinking it's so special because it has statues of some guys who never did anything. Lots of statues around and it's cool because most of these players actually won something

Anaheim Ducks	The Anaheim Duck AKA "Wild Wing"
Boston Bruins	Bobby Orr
Buffalo Sabres	The French Connection (Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert, and Rick Martin), Tim Horton
Chicago Blackhawks	Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, 75th Anniversary Statue
Detroit Red Wings	Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe
Edmonton Oilers	Wayne Gretzky
Los Angeles Kings	Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, 50th Anniversary Monument (Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, Rob Blake, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown)
Minnesota Wild	Herb Brooks
Montreal Canadiens	Howie Morenz, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, Maurice Richard
New Jersey Devils	Martin Brodeur, "Iceman"
Philadelphia Flyers	Ed Snider, Bernie Parent & Bobby Clarke
Pittsburgh Penguins	Mario Lemieux
St. Louis Blues	Brett Hull, Bernie Federko, Al MacInnis
Tampa Bay Lightning	Phil Esposito, Dave Andreychuk
Toronto Maple Leafs	Legends Row - Johnny Bower, Ted Kennedy, Darryl Sittler, Borje Salming, Mats Sundin, Syl Apps, George Armstrong, Turk Broda, Tim Horton, Dave Keon, Charlie Conacher, Red Kelly, Wendel Clark, Frank Mahovlich
Vancouver Canucks	Roger Neilsen, Pat Quinn

You are making my point. In TO players are immortalized if they are the best on the club and give all they have to win. The core four in TO would be equally honoured if they gave it their all.

 

[Sol]

It’s not only hard, it’s throbbing for the players to play under such heart pounding situations where they’re forced to satisfy such a fanbase.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

You are making my point. In TO players are immortalized if they are the best on the club and give all they have to win. The core four in TO would be equally honoured if they gave it their all.

My point is that no one outside of Toronto cares what they do or don't do with statues or otherwise. Immortalizing players who didn't win anything isn't a badge of honour. It's signaling that your team has been bad for 50+ years and this is the best you have to offer