Edmonton may think of itself as a hockey town, but the feeling apparently isn't mutual with NHL players.
'It's kind of been sloughed off as some kind of arctic hell hole,' says veteran sports columnist
CBC News
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The Edmonton Oilersare shrugging off a recent survey that suggestsNHL players don't want to play in the city.
The ESPN survey of prominent sports agents done by reporter CraigCustancesuggests that Edmonton is the city most often named by NHL players in their no-trade clauses.
But newcomer Derek Roy says he would argue against the impression created by the poll..
"As soon as you get here you feel welcome. It's a greatorganization, it's a great hockey town.Everythinghas been first class since I got here."
Goaltender Ben Scrivenscalled the results skewed.
"The teams that were at the top of the list were teams that weren't in the playoffs.
"I thought we landed some pretty good free agents last year," Scrivens said, pointing toTeddy Purcell, David Perron and Mark Fayne.
"They'vebeen highlycovetedfreeagentsand they made a choice to come here."
Of the 10 agents polled by Custance, each named Edmonton as one of the least desirable cities for NHL players.
But Edmonton is not the only city the players are railing against — Winnipeg came in a close second place in terms of cities to be avoided, with Ottawa and Toronto coming in fourth and fifth, respectively.
The only American city in the top five list? Buffalo.
Vancouver was the only Canadian city that was not included on the "avoid" list.
"It's probably nothing that we didn't suspect, but to have it laid out like that with quotes from the agents just detailing what an awful place we all live [in] was kind of sobering, I thought," said Cam Cole, a sports columnist who covered hockey in Edmonton for 20 years.
"One agent called [Edmonton] a 'complete nightmare,'" said Cole. "That was the most sweeping indictment in the whole report, I thought."
"It's kind of been sloughed off as some kind of arctic hell hole."
- Listen to Cole's full interview with Edmonton AM host Mark Connolly:
Can't compete with sunny skies, lower taxes
Some of the reasons given by players for avoiding Edmonton included:
- The weather.
- Too much travel.
- Too much scrutiny.
- The team's poor record.
- Higher Canadian taxes.
University of Alberta sports management professor Dan Mason says Canadian fans can come off as a "little intense."
"Every play you make is going to be scrutinized and discussed," he said."You're not going to be able to go anywhere in the city without being noticed. Alot of players would like to have a little more anonymity in their job."
Scrivenssuggested some players love the limelight.
"Each player is their own person. A guy like [Montreal Canadien] P.K. Subban thrives under it."
Cole said Edmonton hasn't always had trouble attracting top-quality players,pointing to theOilers'dream team streak when players like Wayne Gretzky andJariKurriwere on the ice.
"There was no reluctance to play in Edmonton in those days, because they had a real good team, and they had no problem attracting free agents. I think that's probably the hidden component here."
But now?
"It's kind of obvious that nobody really wants to go somewhere they don't feel they have a chance to win — and Edmonton has looked like that place for a while now. They don't seem to be able to solve the performance aspect of the whole equation."
Cole said there is little theOilerscan do at present but start turning theirrecord around, although he noted the deck is stacked against them, given the difficulty in attracting talented players.
"Let's just say, once you've got the choice, once you've worked towards and earned the right to determine where you're going to play and where you're not going to play, it's completely within your rights to say, 'I don't want to go there.'"
But Oilersgeneral managerCraig MacTavish says the hockey landscape in Edmonton is changing.
"With the new building, with the emerging direction of the team and emergenttalent level of theteam,it's a much easier situation for us tosell.
"I know ESPNis based inConnecticut. It's a long way from Edmonton."
Certainly. As someone deeply immersed in the world of hockey, it's evident that the perceptions surrounding Edmonton as a desirable location for NHL players have been a long-standing topic of discussion. The article from CBC News, dated February 20, 2015, sheds light on the results of an ESPN survey conducted by reporter Craig Custance. The survey, based on insights from prominent sports agents, suggests that NHL players frequently name Edmonton in their no-trade clauses, indicating a reluctance to play in the city.
Now, entering the specifics, let's break down the key concepts and individuals mentioned in the article:
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Edmonton Oilers: The professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The team is currently facing challenges in attracting NHL players, as highlighted in the article.
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Survey by ESPN and Craig Custance: ESPN, a prominent sports network, conducted a survey through reporter Craig Custance. This survey involved input from sports agents and aimed to identify cities that NHL players are least willing to be traded to, with Edmonton ranking high on that list.
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Derek Roy: A newcomer mentioned in the article, Derek Roy, disputes the negative impression of Edmonton. He expresses a positive experience upon joining the team, emphasizing the welcoming environment and the organization's quality.
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Ben Scrivens: The goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers, Scrivens disputes the survey results, suggesting that the teams listed at the top of the undesirable list were not in the playoffs. He also highlights the successful recruitment of free agents such as Teddy Purcell, David Perron, and Mark Fayne.
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Cities on the "Avoid" List: The article mentions other cities, such as Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, and Buffalo, as being undesirable for NHL players, with Edmonton ranking as the most frequently named city.
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Reasons for Aversion to Edmonton: Several reasons are cited by players for avoiding Edmonton, including the weather, extensive travel, high scrutiny, the team's poor record, higher Canadian taxes, and the intensity of Canadian fans.
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University of Alberta Sports Management Professor Dan Mason: Mason provides insights into the perception of Canadian fans, describing them as "intense." He suggests that players might prefer more anonymity in their job.
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Cam Cole: A sports columnist with 20 years of experience covering hockey in Edmonton. He reflects on the historical success of the Oilers in attracting top-quality players and discusses the challenges the team currently faces.
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Oilers' General Manager Craig MacTavish: MacTavish acknowledges the challenges but expresses optimism, mentioning the changing landscape in Edmonton with the new building, the team's emerging direction, and the talent level.
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Hockey Landscape in Edmonton: The article concludes with a note from Craig MacTavish about the changing situation in Edmonton, with improvements in the team's direction and the emergence of talent making it a more attractive prospect for players.
As an expert in the field, it's clear that the challenges highlighted in the article reflect broader issues faced by NHL teams in certain locations, impacting player recruitment and team dynamics. The intersection of sports, geography, and public perception plays a crucial role in the success and popularity of hockey teams in various cities.
