DISCLAIMER: I've been to Edmonton like ten times and I like it a lot. I've even been there in early January when tears freeze shut my eyelids and cars are encrusted in dirty ice. I really like the City of Edmonton and have shared a few times at HFOilers the places that I frequent when I'm there. It's a good city, but I know people there. I have ties there and know where to go. I watched Rogers Place go from two massive pits to a beautiful building.
So, you ask, Why? Cup window closed, extremely poor roster and cap management, not a good pipeline and it will become worse without reacquiring the draft capital that you need to sustain at a lower cost. Edmonton has had to overpay too many players and now look what has happened.
Other than that I think the effect of the weather up there is exaggerated cuz most players don't live in Edmonton during the offseason, and even if they did, summers there are great. In-season, they'll be jet setting around NA with loads of money half the time. Weather excuse is overplayed.
Taxes thing? idk maybe
Winning a Cup? MosDef!! But happening in Edmonton, with the utmost respect, nope for the reasons outlined above.
This is just me stepping into Draisatl's shoes imagining what it would be like to be in this situation for another 8 years. If I was him, I would be thinking, That was our shot together. I will become an UFA. I already have enough money for the rest of my life. We just hired an asshole of a GM who will definitely make some players not want to play here, thus diminishing our compete level. We don't have enough draft capital to sustain ourselves AND two young drafted, cost-controlled players about to leave cuz we ain't matchin'. And if we do match, the gymanstics that has to occur to make that happen sounds disruptive. Ceci and Kulak were two of our better D during the playoffs, but one of them will have to go to match. This is not a good situaiton for me.
Respectfully, I don't see it y'all.
Peace out and I'll be sure to hit Padmanadi soon.