Who’s on your 5-10 NMC list?

[JonathnTaylorTavares]

1) LA
2) SJ
3) ANA
4) TB
5) FLO
6) NYR
7) NYI
8) VGK
9) AZ
10) CHI

Hates the sun

 

[Antonche]

Hates the sun

Yep.

 

[Rob Brown]

Majority of violent crime happens in major cities. Where there are wide arrays of races, ethnicities, and wealth gaps.

Canada has maybe 5 cities in terms of population that are bigger than the 30th US city (pulled from my ass but an educated guess).

Obviously there are other reasons for the disparity in crime but having a population that is neither that large nor concentrated, helps when it comes to limiting crime.

Of course, you're just reinforcing my point. The poster I was originally responding to made it seem as though lots of players would prefer not playing in Canada as they 'can't protect themselves', implying that it's safer in the US, which isn't accurate.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Of course, you're just reinforcing my point. The poster I was originally responding to made it seem as though lots of players would prefer not playing in Canada as they 'can't protect themselves', implying that it's safer in the US, which isn't accurate.

It isn’t safer. But it’s also naive to make the assertion that the US is some third world country or some of these African/middle eastern countries and they have some horrific crime issues.

Yes there are certainly problems but those are usually concentrated in certain areas. Violent crime is still ridiculously low percentage of happening.

The main point is, the safeness between the US/Canada isn’t enough to sway a large majority of these guys away from the other benefits the US offers over Canada. Especially when 100% of these guys will be able to live in areas where the ugliness of this country would very rarely ever touch them.

 

[Rob Brown]

It isn’t safer. But it’s also naive to make the assertion that the US is some third world country or some of these African/middle eastern countries and they have some horrific crime issues.

Yes there are certainly problems but those are usually concentrated in certain areas. Violent crime is still ridiculously low percentage wise of happening.

The main point is, the safeness between the US/Canada isn’t enough to sway a large majority of these guys away from the other benefits the US offers over Canada. Especially when 100% of these guys will be able to live in areas where the ugliness of this country would very rarely ever touch them.

I agree with your third paragraph, but I also didn't suggest that the US was a third world country or something.

 

[RandomJetsFan]

Cincinnati cyclones
Utah grizzlies
Adirondack thunder
Florida everblades
Kalamazoo wings
..........I just don't have that type of talent to be an nhler lol

 

[Gardner McKay]

Just curious- think it could be kinda fun if people don’t take it personally. Let people have their opinions, let’s not turn this into a back-and-forth battle. So, if you were a super talented NHLer and got either a 5 or 10 nmc list, who’d be on it for this season?

For me:

5) Montreal. Media, pressure.
4) Toronto. Same as above.
3) Calgary. Directionless, disorganized.
2) Philadelphia. Same as above.
1) Winnipeg. Same as above.

Winnipeg, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, Calgary, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, New York *Islanders*.

No desire to play in Canada with absurd taxes and pressure, sans Edmonton and Vancouver. Vancouver would be on my top 5 preferred destinations given how beautiful the area is.

No desire to play for any hated metro division rivals or to move back to to the NY/NJ area where I am from.... unless I'd be playing for the Rangers.

Top 5 destinations?

Vancouver
Seattle
Miami
Raleigh
Tampa

 

[Rafafouille]

Sharks, Kings, Ducks, Canucks, Kraken, Leafs, Sens, Rangers, Devils, Islanders.


Want to avoid high taxes, left wing politics and high population centers. Could make an exception for Montreal because of family but would FO to Texas for the rest of the year.

 

[Bocephus86]

Yeah, Seattle is a prime destination for an athlete not a bottom one. Some of the choices folks are making are just completely bonkers crazy.

It's pretty clear a lot of posters cutting off certain places are doing so for political reasons, and the type of politics ascribed to is likely feeding them a bunch of BS about said places.

That being said, I think I'd have the following:
1. Edmington (weather)
2. WInnipeg (weather)
3. Calgary (weather/org)
4. Arizona (org)
5. Minni (location)
6. Chicago (org)
7. Buffalo (location)
8. Dallas (location/do not like Dallas)
9.
10.

I think I only need 8.

Maybe I'd round it out with Montreal/Toronto for personal fandom reasons, but I'm not sure that'd be true is I was a legit pro. Both are nice places to live & play.

 

[NyQuil]

Well, this thread is unfolding pretty much how I expected.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

I agree with your third paragraph, but I also didn't suggest that the US was a third world country or something.

Not saying you did but others in this thread have implied it and meant it more so to the angry mob than directly at you.

Top 5 on my end would be Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, and DC/Philly (f*ck the Capitals and Flyers). Gun to my head and this would be changed to Calgary.

 

[Jamaican Patty]

Canada except for Vancouver & Montreal
Philly
Boston
Columbus
Arizona
Buffalo
New Jersey

 

[The Burdened]

7 Canadian teams & the 3 California teams.

 

[missionAvs]

1. Winnipeg
2. Edmonton
3. Calgary
4. Toronto
5. Arizona

For me it's tough to choose between Toronto and Montreal for the last Canadian team spot but ultimately I went with Toronto to add to the list because I love poutine.

As far as the next 5 goes:

6. Montreal
7. Dallas
8. Columbus
9. Buffalo
10. Detroit

 

[CycloneSweep]

I’m Canadian

Winnipeg, Florida, Tampa, Chicago, Arizona

 

[HuGo Sham]

Well, this thread is unfolding pretty much how I expected.

this. what a shit show

 

[TKB]

7 Canadian teams & the 3 California teams.

SImilar, but I would play in So Cal. Trade Kings and Ducks, for Arizona and Seattle on the list.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Edmonton
Winnipeg
Toronto
Montreal
Calgary

Honestly I think the next 5 would be more interesting for me. Especially since the Canadian teams generally are such easy choices.

If I had a 10 team list I think it would be:

Minnesota(Weather + Taxes)
San Jose(Taxes)
Ottawa(Location/Weather + Taxes)
Buffalo(Taxes)
Washington(Location + Taxes)


I would be willing to deal with the high tax rates of some teams if it meant living in LA/New York.

 

[Rich Nixon]

Have you been to DC?

Every nitwit with an axe to grind comes to DC to riot/protest. Doesn't really matter political leanings or reasonings, DC is the default protest zone for near every objection, every location in the US.

Washington, DC is a 68-square mile city of over 700,000 people with a sprawling 6-million person metro area that spans the District and 2 other states. Large-scale and disruptive protests are relatively uncommon, but usually occur in a very consolidated central area (that granted, the arena is near). Unless you are planning to live in a Congressional office, you really don't have to interact with any of THE POLITICAL ever save a once-in-a-blue-moon traffic diversion on game night. It's just a regular-ass East Coast city.

Yeah, Seattle is a prime destination for an athlete not a bottom one. Some of the choices folks are making are just completely bonkers crazy.

Seattle rules. Absolutely beautiful natural features out there. Great restaurants spanning a breadth of cuisines. Great weather in the summer. Not terribly difficult to get around. Also one of the best-looking cities person-for-person of any town I've been to on this continent (although Montreal is still tops).

 

[93LEAFS]

Majority of violent crime happens in major cities. Where there are wide arrays of races, ethnicities, and wealth gaps.

Canada has maybe 5 cities in terms of population that are bigger than the 30th US city (pulled from my ass but an educated guess).

Obviously there are other reasons for the disparity in crime but having a population that is neither that large nor concentrated, helps when it comes to limiting crime.

Canadian population is highly concentrated, probably more than the United States. About a 3rd of Canada's population is in Southern Ontario. and over half is located if you combined the Lower Mainland, Southern Ontario and Montreal and it's suburbs. There are pretty obvious reasons on why violent crimes are higher in the United States, and it's the ease of access to firearms.

 

[93LEAFS]

Plenty of reasons to not play in Vancouver and, of course, to each their own. But I think I’ve seen a couple people note “cold” as a reason not to play there. That’s… odd. I sometimes feel like people see the Celsius readings and get confused.

Anyways, my choices would be to exclude the teams based on the following priorities:
- travel time over course of season (less is better and east coast teams are LUCKY)
- city population size (larger probably better than smaller)
- probably not Florida

The tax issue is really overblown here. And when it comes to evaluating team decisions, some people seem to overestimate the significance of winning to the players. We don’t want to hear it, but everybody works a job. Family considerations, lifestyle, etc. likely count for way more to people who have secured their position in the league.

Vancouver isn't cold, but I'd best describe it's weather during the NHL season as dreary. Grey and constantly raining, in many ways, I'd take snow and -5, over grey, rainy and 5-10 degrees. Cold rain just sticks to you, snow if dressed for it just bounces off.

Vancouver is great if you love the outdoors. It wouldn't be on my NTC, but I wouldn't exactly be lining up to move there. It didn't earn the nickname No fun city for no reason, it lacks in cultural and night life events relative to many cities of comparable size.

 

[Rich Nixon]

I'm legit curious how many posters are putting cities they've never been on their list or just have these preconceived notions. Seems like 95% of these posts are just ignoring the lifestyle of cities. This thread seems like a ton of people having preconceived notions of places without ever stepping foot there.

It is a fun offseason break from people spouting their hot takes on players they've never watched, though.

 

[CascadiaPuck]

Vancouver isn't cold, but I'd best describe it's weather during the NHL season as dreary. Grey and constantly raining, in many ways, I'd take snow and -5, over grey, rainy and 5-10 degrees. Cold rain just sticks to you, snow if dressed for it just bounces off.

Vancouver is great if you love the outdoors. It wouldn't be on my NTC, but I wouldn't exactly be lining up to move there. It didn't earn the nickname No fun city for no reason, it lacks in cultural and night life events relative to many cities of comparable size.

I mean, none of what you’re saying is news to someone who lives here. The point was that there are people who legitimately think it’s cold here. That sentiment always cracks me up. Not just here on HF - I’ve had friends and colleagues in places like Boston and Chicago express this POV. It’s weird.

 

[93LEAFS]

I mean, none of what you’re saying is news to someone who lives here. The point was that there are people who legitimately think it’s cold here. That sentiment always cracks me up. Not just here on HF - I’ve had friends and colleagues in places like Boston and Chicago express this POV. It’s weird.

I find this thread overall pretty ridiculous. In my answers in this thread I've tried to avoid commenting on cities I haven't been to or experienced first-hand. I know which cities I like and dislike from having visted them. For example, from what I've heard of cities like St. Louis, Raleigh, and Columbus sound like cities I would become insanely board in pretty quick given my upbringing and how I choose to live my day to day life. But, I really can't comment on them because they are places I've never been, and to say I'd never choose to work/live there without ever experiencing the city sounds ill informed/dumb to me.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Canadian population is highly concentrated, probably more than the United States. About a 3rd of Canada's population is in Southern Ontario. and over half is located if you combined the Lower Mainland, Southern Ontario and Montreal and it's suburbs. There are pretty obvious reasons on why violent crimes are higher in the United States, and it's the ease of access to firearms.

Laying out entire provinces and adding some together isn't what I would call “concentrated”.

The combined population of just Los Angeles and New York city and suburbs make up right around the entirety of Canada’s entire population. Almost 3 times the population of Toronto alone.

In the US, about 1.5% of the population is involved in a violent crime. Not just gun related but in totality. Is there a problem with gun access? Yes. But to live in fear because of it like media protrays you should or your countries media does, is comical at best.

Like I said earlier, the minuscule chance something horrific happens to one of these NHL players does not outweigh the other benefits that the US provides over Canada.