px_eliezer_ 1) Many more NHL teams in the USA than Canada.
The whole ’Canadian team hasn’t won a cup in X years’ was something I never really understood. If the players were from the city/region, maybe it would have some relevance. But all teams are just a collection of players from different countries and depending on the coach/GM the style of hockey they play evolves over time. It’s not like there’s really any continuity for the same team, once you extend out over 5-10 years.
px_eliezer_ 2) US hockey fans are not as intense as Canadian hockey fans—hockey is like a religion in Canada and players have more scrutiny and less personal privacy.
It is an issue. I saw someone post this somewhere else:
Tyler Bozak. First year in St. Louis after leaving the Leafs… wins Stanley Cup.
Phil Kessel. First year in Pittsburgh after leaving the Leafs… wins Stanley Cup.
Tomas Kaberle. First year in Boston after leaving the Leafs… wins Stanley Cup.
Bernie Parent. First year in Philadelphia after leaving the Leafs… wins Stanley Cup.
Larry Murphy. Traded to Detroit… wins Stanley Cup that year.
Glenn Anderson. Traded to NYR… wins Stanley Cup that year.
And now Mitch Marner leaves the Leafs and is in the Cup final.
A few of those guys, particularly Kessel and Marner were regularly skewered by the media in Toronto as being players you just couldn’t win with.
And, aside from the money, don’t forget the weather. Much nicer to spend the winter playing in Florida than it is in Winnipeg.
