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

[Nineteen67]

Oh boy, let me tell you about healthcare costs in the US…

True, but if you have a job that provides health insurance , and live in certain states, it’s pretty good. I wouldn’t trade mine for Canada’s.

NHL players are treated more like what I mentioned above.

 

[therealkoho]

True, but if you have a job that provides health insurance , and live in certain states, it’s pretty good. I wouldn’t trade mine for Canada’s.

NHL players are treated more like what I mentioned above.

Canada's system is fine no matter the late night spooky stories you may have heard. Neither system is perfect, Canada's will never make anybody seel their house to maintain treatment for any kind of long term disease. My heart guy is one of the world's top heart surgeons and runs Queens U cardiac department, so even an ordinary retired schmo like me has access to world class physicians.

 

[Nineteen67]

Canada's system is fine no matter the late night spooky stories you may have heard. Neither system is perfect, Canada's will never make anybody seel their house to maintain treatment for any kind of long term disease. My heart guy is one of the world's top heart surgeons and runs Queens U cardiac department, so even an ordinary retired schmo like me has access to world class physicians.

I have more Cardiologists in my neighbourhood than the entire province of NB and maybe the Maritimes.

 

[keonsbitterness]

I have more Cardiologists in my neighbourhood than the entire province of NB and maybe the Maritimes.

Sure you do.

 

[Nineteen67]

Sure you do.

Sadly enough there are…..

 

[SanderSen]

True, but if you have a job that provides health insurance , and live in certain states, it’s pretty good. I wouldn’t trade mine for Canada’s.

NHL players are treated more like what I mentioned above.

As a Canadian the first eye-popper when I was much younger was a person I dealt with for business also worked in a bar in the evenings because that job provided health care.

Also talked to folks who won't look for another job even though they would like to because of the coverage; or they have developed a health problem or condition that would not be covered if they switched jobs so they stick to a job or employer they really don't like because they need the coverage - indentured servitude or what.

And I have had some interesting discussions with parents of soon to be graduates where health care is a major factor in deciding on a job. For my kids it was about finding what they would like and financials, without the overlay of worrying about basic health coverage.

Canadians don't really think about the mobility and flexibility we have with a universal health system but it is pretty nice. For people making serious coin it is never an issue anywhere of course.

 

[Squiffy]

Man, I don’t care to completely catch up on where this thread is at, but I’ll say again I don’t think taxes are any problem for the Leafs attracting players. Pressure maybe.

Star players are just not taking a wash on taxes, hell they probably have a department that deals with that. Heck, even the jobbers. You also get the best of everything hockey support from a club that can be provided. For a Canadian market, the Leafs specifically, are not at disadvantage.

Team like say the Jets, a thing, no disrespect.

 

[Nineteen67]

As a Canadian the first eye-popper when I was much younger was a person I dealt with for business also worked in a bar in the evenings because that job provided health care.

Also talked to folks who won't look for another job even though they would like to because of the coverage; or they have developed a health problem or condition that would not be covered if they switched jobs so they stick to a job or employer they really don't like because they need the coverage - indentured servitude or what.

And I have had some interesting discussions with parents of soon to be graduates where health care is a major factor in deciding on a job. For my kids it was about finding what they would like and financials, without the overlay of worrying about basic health coverage.

Canadians don't really think about the mobility and flexibility we have with a universal health system but it is pretty nice. For people making serious coin it is never and issue anywhere of course.

One change I’d like to see is to pool all the small business employers so they could offer affordable health insurance and access.

What I have is far better than my sibling in Canada and I wish more people had the same coverage and access to care. For example, on a typical work day, I could go to the Ortho at 7 am and have an MRI scheduled that same afternoon ( boys played football and baseball so we’ve done it a few times).

 

[SanderSen]

One change I’d like to see is to pool all the small business employers so they could offer affordable health insurance and access.

What I have is far better than my sibling in Canada and I wish more people had the same coverage and access to care. For example, on a typical work day, I could go to the Ortho at 7 am and have an MRI scheduled that same afternoon ( boys played football and baseball so we’ve done it a few times).

The US certainly has the best care available for those who can access it. Best to you, nice to have a civil exchange on a board!

 

[GQS]

In my opinion I think the main reasons why many players choose the US is because:

1. weather - can't avoid the cold and winter anywhere here compared to the US where many NHL cities have great weather and/or milder winters

2. cities - out of the 6 Canadian cities Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are the only ones that are decent to live in. Few if anyone would choose to live in Winnipeg and to a lesser degree Edmonton or Calgary.

3. cost of living - many states have low taxes and many if not most things in the US are cheaper. Even if you're a millionaire athlete, why wouldn't you still want to save some money and have lower expenses?

Seriously can anyone think of many significant advantages about living in Canada compared to living in the US outside of lower crime rates in most places?

 

[Americanadian]

True, but if you have a job that provides health insurance , and live in certain states, it’s pretty good. I wouldn’t trade mine for Canada’s.

NHL players are treated more like what I mentioned above.

As a Canadian living in America with work-provided health insurance I can attest. My health insurance+ federal/state taxes is cheaper than provincial+federal income tax in Ontario.

 

[SanderSen]

In my opinion I think the main reasons why many players choose the US is because:

1. weather - can't avoid the cold and winter anywhere here compared to the US where many NHL cities have great weather and/or milder winters

2. cities - out of the 6 Canadian cities Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are the only ones that are decent to live in. Few if anyone would choose to live in Winnipeg and to a lesser degree Edmonton or Calgary.

3. cost of living - many states have low taxes and many if not most things in the US are cheaper. Even if you're a millionaire athlete, why wouldn't you still want to save some money and have lower expenses?

Seriously can anyone think of many significant advantages about living in Canada compared to living in the US outside of lower crime rates in most places?

Oh my, only those 3 cities are decent to live in, eh. I lived in Toronto for 8 years and much prefer Ottawa. If you are single and have cash, big cities can be great and I can see that for young hockey players.

 

[mjlee]

It's ironic that the one player who isn't bothered about playing in a market like Toronto, who actually seem to like it, and isn't bothered by the pressure, or the traffic is the one a sizeable portion of the fanbase want to see shipped out.

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

I don't want to turn this into a political debate because then I'll just get banned.

Look into cost of living, housing/rental cost. Food inflation and gas. specifically. Canada is ripe with division, taxation and inflation.

Every country in the world is dealing with inflation, Canada is doing better than most.

 

[Drytoast]

Every country in the world is dealing with inflation, Canada is doing better than most.

Highest household debt now in the precious G7.

 

[Joeffice]

I would say the pressure and scrutiny of playing in cities like Toronto and montreal to be offputting for a lot of players.

Also, i'm not saying life in Canada has gone to shit (that's extreme, and there are lots of American markets that aren't as nice to live in as some Canadian cities), BUT living in Toronto has gone to shit in the last 10 years. Especially just getting around the city. The construction situation is a FUKCING NITEMARE! I don't know how this current state was allowed to happen, but it's city planning, city politics at its goddam worst.

No kidding. Having lived in some much larger but better planned cities, I can tell you this is fact.

Toronto's infrastructure is stuck in a 1930-40s timewarp.