Who’s on your 5-10 NMC list?

[Rabid Ranger]

Most people have already answered the main reasons but I guess I'll bite.

Healthcare, political landscape, gun laws and subsequent daily mass shootings in public places.

If you're NHL hockey player rich, particularly one that is goon enough to be signing contracts with NTCs, you can pretty much just ignore all those negatives and get to take advantage of thr positives America has to offer over Canada.

But if you're middle class or lower, those things are all pretty significant concerns.

The gun laws in particular, in a country with so much political unrest at the moment is enough for me to want nothing to do with it lol.

I wasn't trying to be provocative. Just curious. I agree this country has plenty of problems but on the other hand most people with means tend to be oblivious to them.

List insane crime. Ignore's places with actual high violent-crime rates like Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Stop reading sensationalist news and look at actual crime rates. NYC, LA and San Jose are lower than many other American NHL teams.

Crime statistics in several major U.S. cities are extremely misleading, especially with how sprawled out a lot of these metro areas are.

 

[93LEAFS]

I wasn't trying to be provocative. Just curious. I agree this country has plenty of problems but on the other hand most people with means tend to be oblivious to them.



Crime statistics in several major U.S. cities are extremely misleading, especially with how sprawled out a lot of these metro areas are.

You can't really alter murders significantly. To say I won't live in NYC or LA because of crime, and then ignore a place like St. Louis is just not understanding crime rates. Like, yes, NYC suburbs/neighboring cities like Newark have very high crime rates. But, I don't believe the region overall does.

 

[LokiDog]

Based just on my personality and the environment/spotlight, etc.

1. Toronto
2. Montreal
3. NY Rangers
4. Los Angeles

No big urban cities or intense media spotlight.

5. Winnipeg
6. Edmonton

I like winter but these are too cold

7. Florida

I hate Miami. Just not my thing.

8. Columbus
9. Pittsburgh

Just meh cities in a meh part of the country. Yes I’ve been, no Columbus isn’t actually that bad but as a pro athlete? Just pretty bleh.

10. Chicago

Forgot to put it in the other big cities list.


I left Calgary off because despite the weather I like rodeo and western culture. Left Boston off because it’s very urban but I love the colonial vibe.

My top destinations would probably be Dallas, Nashville, Colorado, Arizona. If I was going to be a rich athlete, that’s where I’d want to live. I know that’s like the opposite of 99% of lists. Oh well.

 

[93LEAFS]

Yep, there is a good reason why most practice facilities are in or nearby certain suburbs.

Toronto's practice facility is actually inside the city (not the old city though). As far as I know, very few players here live in the suburbs. Only one I can think of in recent memory was Derozan moving to Mississauga, and I believe Gausman lives in the suburbs. Most Leafs players live in downtown or Kingsway (closest rich neighborhood to the practice facility). Marleau and Dion lived in Mid-town/Uptown area.

I think the practice facilities being in the suburbs is probably more of an American phenomenon. While Canada does have ritzy suburbs, most of the major wealth is still concentrated inside city limits. Like, the richest parts of Toronto would be Rosedale/Forest Hill/Bridal Path-York Mills/Lawrence Park, and I believe the richest parts of Vancouver are West Side Vancouver and West Vancouver (and yes, it's confusing, but they are different neighborhoods very far apart). People move to the suburbs of Toronto generally because it's more affordable, while some people may prefer Caladon, Oakville, or Kleinberg, most of the wealthiest people tend to live inside city limits.

 

[ziggyjoe212]

Arizona
Winnipeg
Buffalo
Columbus
Calgary


Why Montreal? That city ain’t bad at all compared to other options. Or just because Habs?

Montreal is a lovely city. I've only heard good things about it. Reason Montreal is undesirable is
-high taxes
-crazy fans
-have to learn french
-lack of good players (which could also be a good thing).
-weather

 

[eanyills]

Edmonton
Calgary
Winnipeg
Ottawa

-Nothing against Canada but these cities do nothing for me.

Buffalo
Pittsburgh
Detroit

-I live in Buffalo, I love Buffalo, but if I were a young millionaire? Buffalo doesn’t have the sort of high-end amenities and lifestyle I’d be looking for. Pittsburgh and Detroit is similar.

Dallas
Florida
Tampa Bay

-The political landscape of these places is incompatible for my wife.


Not on my list, but I’d make it well known that I’d never resign in Arizona. No thanks on the state of the franchise. But if I’m good enough to have a NMC, that probably means I’m good enough to Artemi Panarin my way to somewhere I want to be….

 

[Osakahaus]

If I was a player, its probably the following

1-Arizona (Toxic environment, way too much bad press, and the market sucks)
2-Winnipeg (Way too cold)
3-Philly (Toxic and not exactly the best place to underperform)
4-Anaheim
5-Edmonton (same as winnipeg)

 

[Albatros]

Arizona - too much uncertainty about the future
Edmonton - wheels keep spinning but they're not going anywhere
Nashville - also not going to be successful anytime soon
NY Islanders - bleak future perspectives as well
Pittsburgh - lengthy rebuild ahead with few pieces to build around
St. Louis - everything about them is mediocre
Tampa - their glory days are inevitably over
Toronto - don't necessarily need all that drama in my life
Washington - don't want to be a part of the same organization with Ovechkin
Winnipeg - they're as good as they're ever going to be (not very)

 

[F L Y E R S]

I'm honestly a fan of having all 4 seasons where I live. Don't need to be by the beach all year. Feel like Nashville would be a great spot to land. Solid fanbase. Nice entertainment areas. You'd be able to walk down the street or go to the bars, and not be recognized, like in the north.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

No particular order.

Arizona
Dallas
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Calgary

 

[Edgelord]

Seems each year the trend is towards folks not wanting to live in Canada. I mean, there are obviously many good reasons that the US is preferable for those with income, but it's something I think is accelerating still.

I have noticed a fair amount winter in Florida, the stark contrast economically is easy to spot. A family friend (snow bird) used to do flooring and retired about 5 yrs ago, There was soo much work in Florida he reopend as a manager and what was him and 1 employee when he retired is now booming with 18 employees.
So for the average person answering from their own perspective Florida is probably a desired location and California is less desiried.

 

[elitepete]

Arizona
Edmonton
Calgary
Chicago
Detroit
Boston
CBJ
Washington
Carolina
St. Louis

 

[Roksta]

Seems each year the trend is towards folks not wanting to live in Canada. I mean, there are obviously many good reasons that the US is preferable for those with income, but it's something I think is accelerating still.

Fo news brain washing is working

 

[Nineteen67]

7 Canadian Cities
Seattle
LA
Minny

 

[Cas]

It's a pity there wasn't a poll.

 

[VaporTrail]

New Jersey - smells bad
Philadelphia - too close to Jersey
Pittsburgh - too blah
Washington - northeast too busy and not into all the politics
Toronto - just no lol
Montreal - fans too serious..not into death threats
Chitcago
Columbus - too blah
Calgary - players leaving in droves..something has to be wrong
Vancouver - not into fans destroying the city
Arizona - college arena lol no thanks
Seattle - too much rain and gray skies, and homeless people everywhere...pass

 

[pegcity]

Winnipeg isn't that bad. We get 3 months of decent weather...

 

[shakes the clown]

Chicago...bad local government

as a lifelong Chicagoan I can't argue with that.

 

[shakes the clown]

Anaheim: Mickey Mouse organization living in the shadow of another team
Montreal: when I was 11 a store owner refused to sell me Tobleron chocolate bar because I didn't speak French. F that place.
Winnipeg: never been and never plan to
Calgary: appears marginally better than Winnipeg
Edmonton: Ditto
Buffalo: brutal winters
Columbus: college town
Arizona: franchise too unstable, town couldn't care less if they stay or go

 

[Bobby9]

Winnipeg isn't that bad. We get 3 months of decent weather...

Is that construction season?

 

[pegcity]

Anaheim: Mickey Mouse organization living in the shadow of another team
Montreal: when I was 11 a store owner refused to sell me Tobleron chocolate bar because I didn't speak French. F that place.
Winnipeg: never been and never plan to
Calgary: appears marginally better than Winnipeg
Edmonton: Ditto
Buffalo: brutal winters
Columbus: college town
Arizona: franchise too unstable, town couldn't care less if they stay or go

The best part of this thread/post is how many people I personally know from Alberta who look down on Winnipeg.

 

[shakes the clown]

The best part of this thread/post is how many people I personally know from Alberta who look down on Winnipeg.

yea I'm admittedly pretty ignorant to that part of the world. You could blindfold me and then drop me off in the middle of Winnipeg, Calgary or Edmonton and as long as I couldn't see the Saddledome I would have literally no clue as to which city I was in.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Toronto's practice facility is actually inside the city (not the old city though). As far as I know, very few players here live in the suburbs. Only one I can think of in recent memory was Derozan moving to Mississauga, and I believe Gausman lives in the suburbs. Most Leafs players live in downtown or Kingsway (closest rich neighborhood to the practice facility). Marleau and Dion lived in Mid-town/Uptown area.

I think the practice facilities being in the suburbs is probably more of an American phenomenon. While Canada does have ritzy suburbs, most of the major wealth is still concentrated inside city limits. Like, the richest parts of Toronto would be Rosedale/Forest Hill/Bridal Path-York Mills/Lawrence Park, and I believe the richest parts of Vancouver are West Side Vancouver and West Vancouver (and yes, it's confusing, but they are different neighborhoods very far apart). People move to the suburbs of Toronto generally because it's more affordable, while some people may prefer Caladon, Oakville, or Kleinberg, most of the wealthiest people tend to live inside city limits.

Most habs players live in the suburbs of Montreal. Very few on the island. The training facility is southshore but even before that player where living mostly in richer small sub (Rosemere, Fontainbleau, mostly)

The Leafs training facility is closer to Mississauga than Toronto downtown and fell very much to me suburbs, your mileage can vary.
I can understand why someone from Etobicoke would be upset being called suburbs

Ottawa, everything is suburbs even the main rink

Vancouver and Calgary have no training facilities. Every project so far concerning Van point out to a training facility located in the subs

Winnipeg practice at a facility at the western edge of the city.

Only Edmonton is a counter exemple with a facility build downtown.

I do believe its actually trending that way, players want quick acces to the training grounds and the airport where they go regularly much more than living downtown.

 

[thedustman]

To others, it doesn't matter if you are going out for TJI Fridays somewhere in Westchester County or in some suburb of Buffalo, St. Louis or Columbus.

There is more going on in St. Louis than "TJI Fridays". Money goes a long way here too.

 

[93LEAFS]

Most habs players live in the suburbs of Montreal. Very few on the island. The training facility is southshore but even before that player where living mostly in richer small sub (Rosemere, Fontainbleau, mostly)

The Leafs training facility is closer to Mississauga than Toronto downtown and fell very much to me suburbs, your mileage can vary.
I can understand why someone from Etobicoke would be upset being called suburbs

Ottawa, everything is suburbs even the main rink

Vancouver and Calgary have no training facilities. Every project so far concerning Van point out to a training facility located in the subs

Winnipeg practice at a facility at the western edge of the city.

Only Edmonton is a counter exemple with a facility build downtown.

I do believe its actually trending that way, players want quick acces to the training grounds and the airport where they go regularly much more than living downtown.

Most Leafs players tend to live downtown or King West with quick access to the QEW since the practice arena and Scotiabank are right off it. When the Athletic polled the Leafs players like 3 years ago (only 17 responded) it was like 24% downtown, 12% waterfront, 24% King West, and 18% in Yorkville (which are all in Old Toronto). 12% in Etobicoke and another 6% in North York. Not a single player responded lived in the 905. Not that players haven't, Cujo had a compound out in King City. Granted this poll is from 2020. It wouldn't shock me if older players like Brodie, Giordano, etc choose to live in more residential neighborhoods. I believe it's pretty similar for the Jays and Raptors. Raptors practice facility is on the Exhibition Grounds directly south of King West.

Maple Leafs player poll: The best and worst dressed, loudest, smartest, more!

We polled the Maple Leafs dressing room on questions ranging from the serious to the absurd. The results are sure to raise some eyebrows.

theathletic.com

Now this may change as the team gets older, as when the Leafs had an older team with Sundin, Domi, Tucker, Steve Thomas, Corson, etc most of the guys tended to live in Forest Hill or Lawrence Park which are mostly in the old city (Lawrence Park is split between old Toronto/North York).