Why NHL players don’t want to play in Canada (video)

[PromisedLand]

More hassles, less money.

Would you take that job if it was you ?

No, you would not.

The money thing (more tax in Canada) always comes up but I don’t know if it is true.

I bet buck a beer Ford would pander to Ontaio NHL fans … if the polls were low for him.

Here’s the plan: during the next Ontario election we’ll throw up a petition to “Make Ontario hockey great again” and propose Ontario match the best tax deal available in the USA (or beat it). Ford will be losing in the polls and he’ll need the freebie to get his base out to vote.

whichever Toronto GM / owner combo agreed to the salary cap and communist level revenue sharing deserves a special place in Hell.

Maybe fans should switch to the OHL ?

Would Buck-a-joint work ?

Or 6 free Ontario joints a year if you recycle diligently?

Money, IMO, is not really an issue

Some Sources:
Signing Bonuses how do they get taxed
https://ca.rbcwealthmanagement.com/...nals.pdf/2ebb1a52-d371-4152-8915-8a714163238a

US-Canada tax treaty for athletes/agents

Cross Border Taxes For Professional Athletes | US Tax Law Canada​

Are you an NHL MLB UFC Professional Athlete? US Tax Law can assist with Planning Consulting Compliance and Preparation of your taxes. Call 18448293678
ustaxlaw.ca

Generic Canada-US Tax treaty

The U.S./Canada Tax Treaty Explained​

The U.S./Canada tax treaty helps prevent U.S. expats living in Canada from paying taxes twice on the same income. Learn more about this treaty and how it can help.
www.hrblock.com



Media scrutiny is something that may be true but there is also an another side of it. If you win in Canada you will be absolutely legendary!

As a Leafs fan, the way Leafs treat their Alumni (even they didn't win any cup) is second to no other franchise in the league.

 

[colchar]

All teams like the Leafs can do is sign a ton of 1-way 1M contracts that can be buried for ample NHL Depth. Fringe NHLers love this, but it has been proven not to be a difference-maker for winning a cup.

That is because Kyle Dubious screwed up their cap situation, not because of the cap itself.

Players can easily take a better situation in Tampa, Dallas, Vegas, etc, and not have to worry about their legacy since the cap structure works better in those markets and the cup chances are higher overall.

It works better because their management did a better job of managing the cap.

Teams like the Leafs and Oilers are often made fun of around here, but it's a real shame either, or both of these teams aren't trading cups right now. If not for the cap, I'm pretty certain they would be.

Then why weren't the Leafs winning Cups before the cap?

The Leafs had to give up many of their non-core players due to the cap over the years (Hyman is a good example and there are several others)

So did the Hawks when they were winning, but they just kept on winning.

and the Oilers can't recruit the UFA market top-tier players who want to win a cup because they can't afford it.

Which is their own fault. Had they managed the cap better, they would be able to afford it.

 

[tmlms13]

Funny that high tax states like California or New York don’t have problems signing players. Heck my home stats of “Taxachusetts” always seems to get players in solid deals.

It’s not the taxes, guys.

Edit: sorry thought this was in main board and not team board.

We all know, or at least the informed ones, that it isn't tax or weather or media etc. Canadian teams don't have a problem signing UFAs, but over the hill stars or career Bottom 6 and pretty much all that is available. Stars rarely hit the market

Big stars don't come to Canadian teams because
1. They all spend to the cap and never have space (All 7 but especially Toronto, Edmonton)
2. Have or can make cap space but they suck (Montreal, Calgary, )
3. Have space their best players on good deals but need raises soon (Ottawa,Vancouver, Winnipeg)

For players it's usually their last big shot a long-term deal so they pick
1. Who can pay me the most and I don't care where, it's just a bidding war (see #1)
2. Who can win but also pay me market value - Leafs being #3 is how they got the Tavares and it's a mess now - lesson learned

 

[PromisedLand]

The tax issue gets a bit overblown for sure BUT there's also no denying that there's certainly a group of players in the league who definitely prefer playing in the US (and that group includes several Canadian born guys too).

There may be family upbringing that doesn't get brought up a lot.

Players probably want their kids raised in a certain way, especially when it comes to "social" education in school; which some Canadian cities do not offer; and if players can find a way to get away from it and still get decent pay they will do that.

personal religious/political/other concerns will certainly have an impact on players' decision too

 

[Arzak]

no one here has ever heard of an accountant? or an RCA?

Tax heavens or trust don't exists either

 

[WillNy29]

Tax heavens or trust don't exists either

yeah apparently no one learned what marginal tax rates were and how stepped taxation works in Canada;

If you guys think these player pay significantly more taxes than one another regardless of their cities then I have ocean front property in Tajikistan to sell you.

there's a reason why Matthews gets like 85% of his salary as a bonus paid out in the offseason when he for some mysterious reason is residing in Arizona a 0 tax state. Similar to Clayton Kershaw on the LA Dodgers.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Ford couldn't do buck-a-beer successfully, beyond getting a couple of his friends to do it briefly, with such horrible crap that even people who drink Coors light couldn't stomach it.

I wouldn't trust him with anything important.

 

[barilko05]

What a load of shite.

Just because a few players don't want to play here does not mean that the majority of NHL players don't.

As for the alleged pressure places like NYC, Philly, etc. have as much or more pressure and players are fine with playing in those cities so that argument is shit too.

Agreed. A steaming load of...

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Maybe the fact most Canadian teams are dumpster fires has something to do with nobody wanting to play for them.

If a few pampered athletes don't want to play in Canada then who cares? It's not a huge blow the country can't recover from. We're talking about a handful of hockey players here.

The States can have them.

Somebody doesn't want to be here good for them. Nobody should want them here. Let them go be unappreciated playing on some crap American hockey team.

Let's not pretend this has anything to do with the money either.

These guys all make gobs and gobs of money. It's not like the Leafs and Oilers have had any trouble attracting free agents. If the rest of the Canadian teams were competitive they could attract more talent too.

Instead of having their star players demand trades to escape the shit mess those franchises are in.

 

[keonsbitterness]

I suggest we have a Canada only league, no Bettman, then a Canadian team can win a cup.

Wouldn't make a difference. The NHL owns the Stanley Cup.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Wouldn't make a difference. The NHL owns the Stanley Cup.

'Dems fighten words. Burn down the White House again, change the name if the Peace Bridge, no more access to our strip clubs, cut off Labatts sales, no more Canadian bacon, pull their Tim's points cards. Lord Stanley lived in Canada. Give it back Bettman!

 

[Anthrax442]

If they think the media pressure is strong here, they should look into some soccer markets, and players still sign there.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Did anybody actually watch the video? Taxes are mentioned as an afterthought at the very end, but other than that the video almost entirely focused on the "media pressure" angle.

Something about all of this doesn't sit right with me. These hockey players are essentially acknowledging that the rabid Canadian market is what makes their salaries so high. Yet they want no part of the side effects of such stardom. They want to make millions of dollar based on revenue sharing from Canadian markets, but want to play for fans that don't know who they are and don't give a shit about winning. It's just a shitty and selfish mindset.

 

[Cams]

Seems like the situation can be a big factor, and I'm sure it is. You still have to pay income tax in each city you play in, even on the road. So if at least 50% of your games (home) are in a place like Texas (no state tax?) it would be a big difference despite the millions you are making.

Also.....there are players, (aside from Gudas) over the years who didn't want to play in Toronto because of the media scrutiny/fan base - Ryan O'Rielly is a good example. A lot of guys don't like being in the spotlight all the time - can't go to the grocery store or dinner with your family without everyone knowing who you are. That lifestyle isn't for everyone. It's not being selfish. But others love it, and relish the perpetual spotlight - Nylander seems like that as one current example.

Social/political factors are probably not high on the priority list, but that can probably be at least something to consider, especially for players with families. Nik Lidstrom moved back to Sweden so his kids could go to school in Sweden. I know if I was in a similar situation I would want my kids to go to school here as opposed to a place like Florida or Texas (or the US in general). Heck...look at what could happen in the US next election - that's terrifying.

Regardless......you figure most players want to win first and foremost. Also.....a lot of players likely probably at some point in their careers would like to play close to home.

 

[MSZ]

^ And there are guys like Alfredsson, Antropov and Kaberle who have decided to settle down full time in Canada. Everyone's priority is different.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Did anybody actually watch the video? Taxes are mentioned as an afterthought at the very end, but other than that the video almost entirely focused on the "media pressure" angle.

Something about all of this doesn't sit right with me. These hockey players are essentially acknowledging that the rabid Canadian market is what makes their salaries so high. Yet they want no part of the side effects of such stardom. They want to make millions of dollar based on revenue sharing from Canadian markets, but want to play for fans that don't know who they are and don't give a shit about winning. It's just a shitty and selfish mindset.

You can call it selfish, but a lot of them are winning in cities where hockey matters less. With no Cups in Canada since 1993, they're having their cake and eating it too.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Pressure? The Leafs can't beat anyone, look pathetic in every series, they change nothing, and for the most part receive soft coverage. This is just more BS excuses from a Leafs homer. Just like the taxes, and other crap.

 

[JKG33]

The tax issue gets a bit overblown for sure BUT there's also no denying that there's certainly a group of players in the league who definitely prefer playing in the US (and that group includes several Canadian born guys too).

And that group is a lot bigger than most people are comfortable admitting. It ain't just cause of taxes, weather, or the media.

I know if I was a millionaire in the 18-40 age range I'd much rather live in the country who's government is more likely to leave me alone.

 

[mjd1001]

If they think the media pressure is strong here, they should look into some soccer markets, and players still sign there.

Yes, there are always exceptions but that doesn't disprove the general rule. Media (and more so fan) pressure is something players deal with. Some don't mind it..others do. You will have the option of signing those who don't sign there, but the pool you choose from is smaller. Its not al all-or-nothing thing, but genearlly, when you have a more suffocating fanbase, it hurts you overall.

A long time ago when I was really young I lived in Boston, and there were a lot of article written, and quotes directly from players, that to sign with the Redsox, it had to be all about the money (overpay). They would play there if the Sox overpayed, but many said all other things being equal, they go someplace else, because of the suffocated fanbase media.

 

[JKG33]

The other thing is, of the big 4 only the NHL has more than 1 team in Canada. I get that hockey is Canada's game and all that, but let's not pretend that Calgary/Edmonton/Winnipeg/Ottawa are major league cities, especially when the other leagues already got rid of Vancouver and Montreal

 

[Ianturnedbull]

The taxes certainly do affect the larger paychecks the most. You could compare Kucherov contract to Marner and see who takes home more actual dollars.

The pressure of the fans and media is also a real thing.

The players need to stop reading Post-game comments on HF.

 

[Yall are crazy]

A lot of Canadiens offended and calling these lies. Insanity. Stay on your 30 year cup drought sincebyoure picking your ego over fixing the problem

 

[Anthrax442]

Anyone who wins here (Canada) will be a forever God. They will name babies after them, highschools will be renamed. Just friggin win already.

 

[Canadian Finn]

hockey, like business, has the best and brightest moving far away from Canada.

unless you can give someone incentives beyond the norm, the USA takes our best and brightest. Athletes, doctors, businessman, all professionals.

we like to make excuses why so many leaders/high earners/smartest minds to go the USA.

but it's a reality, and professional sports is no different.

Canada shines for those who are average - at best.

 

[therealkoho]

The quality of life in Canada has gone to shit. And it's only going to get worse with more taxation. Toronto is getting its own special tax last I heard.

Add to the fact that we are obsessed and rabid imbeciles who issue death threats to players families on social media whenever something goes bad.

I wouldn't want to play here.

Please explain that opening gambit, because I was thinking of moving to Canada but now I'm not so sure.