TSN: Winnipeg, Toronto and Edmonton top NTC lists

[frankgrimes 1,836]

http://www.tsn.ca/report-oilers-jets-top-no-trade-lists-1.210362

From losing, to climate, to media, and in many cases a combination of all three and more, these places become completely undesirable to an athlete"I hate to say it, but it's the Canadian teams," another agent said. "Vancouver would be the most desirable out of those teams. There's Winnipeg and Edmonton, Toronto because of all the bad media and Montreal. Either you love it or hate it."

Maybe this finally gets the media to rethink their behaviour. It's no wonder that player don't want to play under that constant microscope or in a city where they can't order anything I'd they don't speak French. Winnipeg is a but surprising to me small town with a family feeling and an almost packed ring every time. Also some of the comments are disgusting and these fans are wondering why nobody wants to play there..lolMaybe treating the players with class and having respect for their privacy would be a nice start? I mean if both teams were equally bad I'd still rather play for a team like the Ducks - coming from someone who lives as cold as possible winners! - with no media instead of the 24/7 going shows Toronto and Montreal..who wouldn't. Edited February 20, 2015 by frankgrimes

[kliq 3,763]

http://www.tsn.ca/report-oilers-jets-top-no-trade-lists-1.210362

Maybe this finally gets the media to rethink their behaviour. It's no wonder that player don't want to play under that constant microscope or in a city where they can't order anything I'd they don't speak French. Winnipeg is a but surprising to me small town with a family feeling and an almost packed ring every time. Also some of the comments are disgusting and these fans are wondering why nobody wants to play there..lol

Maybe treating the players with class and having respect for their privacy would be a nice start? I mean if both teams were equally bad I'd still rather play for a team like the Ducks - coming from someone who lives as cold as possible winners! - with no media instead of the 24/7 going shows Toronto and Montreal..who wouldn't.

The media in TO is definitely brutal, they definitely make it harder on the team. I remember when Reimer was talking about how is wife was getting hateful tweets from fans. Just horrible.

Are you seriously criticizing people in Montreal for speaking french? Do you think that french Canadian players shouldn't play in Detroit because they have to speak English? Have you ever been to Montreal? You can get by speaking English.

Edited February 20, 2015 by kliq

[rick zombo 3,739]

http://www.tsn.ca/report-oilers-jets-top-no-trade-lists-1.210362

Maybe this finally gets the media to rethink their behaviour. It's no wonder that player don't want to play under that constant microscope or in a city where they can't order anything I'd they don't speak French. Winnipeg is a but surprising to me small town with a family feeling and an almost packed ring every time. Also some of the comments are disgusting and these fans are wondering why nobody wants to play there..lol

Maybe treating the players with class and having respect for their privacy would be a nice start? I mean if both teams were equally bad I'd still rather play for a team like the Ducks - coming from someone who lives as cold as possible winners! - with no media instead of the 24/7 going shows Toronto and Montreal..who wouldn't.

Good lord. When will it end?

I go to Montreal at least once a year for business and/or pleasure. I somehow manage to get fat, drunk, sometimes enlightened, and always highly entertained. My french is about as good as Archie Bunker's.

Edited February 20, 2015 by rick zombo

[frankgrimes 1,836]

http://www.tsn.ca/report-oilers-jets-top-no-trade-lists-1.210362

The media in TO is definitely brutal, they definitely make it harder on the team. I remember when Reimer was talking about how is wife was getting hateful tweets from fans. Just horrible.

Are you seriously criticizing people in Montreal for speaking french? Do you think that french Canadian players shouldn't play in Detroit because they have to speak English? Have you ever been to Montreal? You can get by speaking English.

Not only they've also phoned his mother because the club didn't want to reveal the injury. Best example of how bad the media can be would have to be Kessel over 30 goals reach year with Bozak as center and yet they are asking him if he's a coach killer basically..or constantly connecting him with trade talks.

No I haven't and not planning to do so, 1. distance 2. I can't speak French and I'm not criticizing them I'm just pointing out that it would be difficult..sure, players who are playing there long enough will learn the language but if you are just a rental I can think of easier places with less pressure.

[kipwinger 8,756]

First it was all, "you can't even order anything if you don't speak French". Which sounds horrible...so horrible as to be almost unreal. Then, once he gets called out it's, "I'm just pointing out that it would be difficult".

It's almost like he was using hyperbole, bordering on xenophobia and fear mongering, to make a point and then immediately backpedaling once it became clear that A) the point is invalid, and B) we're not as dumb as he thinks we are.

Here's the thing Frank, every single place has some drawbacks. Even your beloved Newport Beach for example. The chances of you experiencing an earthquake, traffic congestion, smog, or urban decay in California are probably much greater than a millionaire being unable "to order anything because he doesn't speak French" in Montreal.

Last time you were in the Los Angeles area did you not notice any of the substantial problems it has? Or do you avoid going there (and don't plan to) because of all the Hispanic people speaking a language you don't understand?

[WingsallTheway 383]

Regarding Montreal,

That is a very bilingual city. You can speak french or english anywhere.

The thing with the team is they are all so hopped up on being proud frenchmen that media and coaches need to be all fluent which is just sad

[kipwinger 8,756]

I travel constantly for my job, all over the world. The only place I've ever been where people don't speak English regularly, and aren't really willing to try, is Russia. It was difficult to find English speakers there. However that did not, contrary to popular belief, stop me from eating, drinking, traveling around, ordering a cab, etc. It just required marginally more effort than usual.

Literally every other place I've ever been, not only DID people speak English...but they were dying to speak English to me. Because here's the thing about learning another language, once you know it you want to use it. That's the fun of it. Nobody wants to spend all the time, effort, and frustration of learning another language only to never use it again.

Edited February 20, 2015 by kipwinger

[Mckinley25 679]

Literally every other place I've ever been, not only DID people speak English...but they were dying to speak English to me. Because here's the thing about learning another language, once you know it you want to use it. That's the fun of it. Nobody wants to spend all the time, effort, and frustration of learning another language only to never use it again.

Which is frustrating when you spend all this time learning a language, are all excited to speak it, go to France, speak French to someone and they speak English back to you because they know you're American and they speak English better than you speak French.

[kipwinger 8,756]

Which is frustrating when you spend all this time learning a language, are all excited to speak it, go to France, speak French to someone and they speak English back to you because they know you're American and they speak English better than you speak French.

Haha, that is exactly right. I do it with Arabic all the time. People in the Middle East are fluent in English and I try to struggle through my Arabic with them to hilarious results.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

As a Montrealer, I welcome you Frank. You would be very surprised with how bilingual the city is. I've lived here 10 years, for the first 4 i was in school and barely spoke a word of french - It's quite easy to get along. Everyone greets you with "Bonjour, Hello" at stores.

The media would be a huge turn off for players, though. It's one reason why I actually like Khan and St. James. When you have media that really presses the players and organization, I don't see a whole lot of positives that come out of it.

Of course, I am incredibly biased, but these are reasons why I think Detroit would be very attractive to players. It's a real hockey city with a great history, but without the level of media pressure and high profile of players in Toronto, Montreal, NY, etc. Think of Datsyuk. A player of his caliber was able to fly under the radar for a long time here as far as media coverage. Just think of how they would have treated him in Toronto.

Edited February 20, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[rick zombo 3,739]

As a Montrealer, I welcome you Frank. You would be very surprised with how bilingual the city is. I've lived here 10 years, for the first 4 i was in school and barely spoke a word of french - It's quite easy to get along. Everyone greets you with "Bonjour, Hello" at stores.

In fact, he might even get a "positive surprise"

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

As a Montrealer, I welcome you Frank. You would be very surprised with how bilingual the city is. I've lived here 10 years, for the first 4 i was in school and barely spoke a word of french - It's quite easy to get along. Everyone greets you with "Bonjour, Hello" at stores.

The media would be a huge turn off for players, though. It's one reason why I actually like Khan and St. James. When you have media that really presses the players and organization, I don't see a whole lot of positives that come out of it.

Of course, I am incredibly biased, but these are reasons why I think Detroit would be very attractive to players. It's a real hockey city with a great history, but without the level of media pressure and high profile of players in Toronto, Montreal, NY, etc.

Huh? I can see that 10 years ago, but not anymore. Your quote reminds me of Holland's quote last year of "I don't know why they're not coming here".

I'll tell you why. Detroit doesn't have a reputation nationally as a great town with lots of things to do and a great place to live. Whether those stereotypes are accurate or not is a different story. But there's no use pretending they don't exist. Players wanted to come to Detroit in the past despite the stereotypes, because the team was loaded with talent and was a Cup contender every year. That's not the case anymore.

I and many others have blamed Holland in the past for not being aggressive with free agent acquisitions, but the "Detroit" factor comes into play also. This isn't the attractive free agent spot it used to be.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Huh? I can see that 10 years ago, but not anymore. Your quote reminds me of Holland's quote last year of "I don't know why they're not coming here".

I'll tell you why. Detroit doesn't have a reputation nationally as a great town with lots of things to do and a great place to live. Whether those stereotypes are accurate or not is a different story. But there's no use pretending they don't exist. Players wanted to come to Detroit in the past despite the stereotypes, because the team was loaded with talent and was a Cup contender every year. That's not the case anymore.

I and many others have blamed Holland in the past for not being aggressive with free agent acquisitions, but the "Detroit" factor comes into play also. This isn't the attractive free agent spot it used to be.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying. If you reread my post you'll see that I was talking about the it from the angle of media and fanbase. Detroit has a large hockey community that is supportive of the team, but lacks the overly intrusive media of some other hockey cities.

I didn't say that on the whole it would be an attractive destination. I said, for those reasons, it would be attractive. Of Course, there are reasons why it would be unattractive to certain players - Such as a lower level of corporate endorsements availablethan if you lived in NY or LA. For many, the city does have a stigma and would be a negative. It depends on each player's individual motivations which reasons sway them in their decisions.

I think a huge reason (much bigger than any "Detroit factor") for us missing out on players last year was the perception of our franchise as fading rather than rising. With the injuries to D and Z and Weiss, and our unproven young players, there was a lot of uncertainty. I think that would have been the most glaring thing staring back at UFAs. I think a different impression will confront UFAs this year.

Edited February 20, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Not really surprising. One is a media cirus, the other two are cities that are incredible cold for 3/4 of the year.

[Tane 17]

Talked to a buddy of Corey Perry a couple years ago when the rumors were him getting traded to Toronto. His buddy said not in a million years would he go there, and he'd retire before suiting up in Toronto. Strictly due to the media.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

As a Montrealer, I welcome you Frank. You would be very surprised with how bilingual the city is. I've lived here 10 years, for the first 4 i was in school and barely spoke a word of french - It's quite easy to get along. Everyone greets you with "Bonjour, Hello" at stores.

The media would be a huge turn off for players, though. It's one reason why I actually like Khan and St. James. When you have media that really presses the players and organization, I don't see a whole lot of positives that come out of it.

Of course, I am incredibly biased, but these are reasons why I think Detroit would be very attractive to players. It's a real hockey city with a great history, but without the level of media pressure and high profile of players in Toronto, Montreal, NY, etc. Think of Datsyuk. A player of his caliber was able to fly under the radar for a long time here as far as media coverage. Just think of how they would have treated him in Toronto.

Oh sounds totally different from what I've read/heard

Yeah the media in Toronto and Montreal is tough, for every Dreger, LeBrun and MacKenzie there seems to be a Feschuk, Cox and no player should have to keep up with that crap if they have a choice. Yeah the rings in other places may not be as packed but there is also a middle ground between over the top coverage and no coverage at all.

I think the Wings used to be so attractive for a ton of reasons, loaded with over the top talent (hall of fame guys), paid probably the highest salaries in the league and of course the change to compete for the cup almost annually but nowadays yeah the city and I'm sure the uncertain future of Babcock and other stuff might work against this team.

I think a huge reason (much bigger than any "Detroit factor") for us missing out on players last year was the perception of our franchise as fading rather than rising. With the injuries to D and Z and Weiss, and our unproven young players, there was a lot of uncertainty. I think that would have been the most glaring thing staring back at UFAs. I think a different impression will confront UFAs this year.

I think it was a combination of a lot of things but let's not forget that other clubs offered more (term and $wise) for the big UFAs. This is something that has to change if the Wings plan to add some significant pieces come July 1. The times where players were willing to take a paycut in exchange to play for a stanley cup contending team are gone.

What I hate about that article all other teams are hidden behind a paywall, would be nice to see the standings of other teams including the Wings.