Why USA Players Exit Canadian NHL Hockey Cities *Other than Taxes...

[@schwamieboy1]

100% agreed. I said this in one off your videos before that Canadian MGRs have to get their head straight and learn from Treeliving's mistakes/successes from this offseason. I am a Peg boy but I lived in Calgary for over 25 years. I get the "living" condition reason.The Swedes that play in Calgary love playing in that city. I live in Sweden now and I play hockey here in a beer league and they all talk about how amazing it would be to live in Canada. It is an upgrade in the way you explained the USA/Canada. I lived in LA for a year and yeah its a big time upgrade in many ways. Like I said in that post before, Canadian GM's MUST trade the US players one year out from free agency, the JG affect is real.

[@SJFILM]

What’s JG effect?

[@schwamieboy1]

@@SJFILM Jonny Hockey

[@CryptidKeeperTCG]

Forced lockdowns, vaccine mandates, taxes are all reasons that would effect where players choose to play

[@cmacctron7787]

I agree 100% .. it wasn't really a big problem before all the nonsense started 2 + years ago

[@generalimlerith8356]

It’s no random coincidence that Calgary’s departures of American players got replaced with all Canadian players lol

[@millsy5094]

Its not a bad thing either imo. Keep drafting canadian born players and maybe we'll actually win some cups.

[@glenfisher6396]

JT Miller and Mathews is next and yeah not a bad thing. They shouldn't draft American players anymore. No loyalty

[@obelisk21]

When you are comparing taxes between the US and Canda you have to factor in the exchange rate as salaries are paid in US dollars and taxes are collected in Canadian dollars for Canadian players.

[@Katie-hb8iq]

in Canada, Signing Bonuses are taxed 15% instead of the regular tax rate, which is why many players get the bulk of their salary in signing bonuses. Matthew's base salary is only 700k for example. Tavares is 910k. Marner is also 700k. I partially think this is an issue due to a narrative the hockey journalism community is spinning. There are plenty of American players who also stay in Canada too. It feels like fear mongering to me at times. Every individual is different.

[@danielshays7161]

The tax structure will always allow players on US teams to keep more of their cash than those on Canadian teams and Bettman’s salary cap prevents Canadian teams for bidding higher if they want to, to balance that reality.

[@Katie-hb8iq]

@@danielshays7161 Yes, if the GMs pay the entire contract as salary. But this is why I am pointing this out because it actually makes it more comparable then people realize. Articles have been written about this to counter the media scare, and you can verify it on google.

[@marcsomero278]

Interesting perspective. As a long time Seattle Thunderbird season ticket holder, I'm much more familiar with the WHL than the USNTDP. I know the WHL has put in some rules in the last few years to limit trading younger players and also how many games a 16 year old needs to play so they aren't just getting scratched every night. One of the things I like about the league is getting to see players before and after they are drafted into the NHL. It is nice to be able to watch a NHL drafted player for 1-2 years after they are drafted.

[@HotGarbageSports]

It’s a great league no doubt !

[@rolkol66]

Episode suggestion. Breaking down our Jets first round pick Brad Lambert, benched for much of the Junior Championships. What Chevy may have overlooked, what Brad is possibly going thru, and other similar players that either broke down or rose up under potentially confidence killing situations.

[@dealy9268]

As someone who grew up in NY and in 1996 (as an adult) moved to NC I have seen this sport grow leaps and bounds in North Carolina. Many kids are coming out of NC and playing in top US devolopment teams. The youth hockey in NC has become one of the best in the US. Parents from up north are moving to NC so their kids can play here. Reason #1 Many NHL players have retired to NC. (Many who have never played for the Hurricanes) Their kids play hockey here and guess who is coaching those kids? Yes the ritired NHL players. #2 Many Northeners from US and Canada move to NC due to lower taxes, lower cost of living, and with all the growth everything is new. #3 With many Notheners and Canadians moving to NC you have great Powerskating coaches and goalie coaches here as well. About 15 years ago we formed a commity to convince Hockey Ministries International (HMI) to hold one of their Christian Athlete Hockey Camps in Raleigh. They agreed to commit to one camp. Glen Wesley was on that commity and was the pro player at the camp. This was the furthest south the camp had ever been. We filled all the spots in no time. There is now a waiting list for the Raleigh camp every year since. Now HMI has camps in Fl and TX as well due to the succes in NC. That is just one of the many hockey camps held in the Raleigh area each summer. People call Raleigh NC a small market. I have to disagree. Living in NY (Long Island) durring the 1980-1984 was tough due to me being a Rangers fan at the time when the Islanders were winning 4 cups in a row. But I don't remember the fans being as supportive of the Islanders as the fans are of the Canes here in Raleigh. Canes flags are everywhere. Last year Whalers night was the biggest ticket of any sporting event in NC. Over college basketball. That's saying a lot if you know anything about NC. Hockey is huge here now.

[@dealy9268]

It's amazing how things have changed since I was 16 and was an American playing in Jr's in Canada before playing for team USA in the late 80's.

[@thekolt533]

Well thought out piece and I whole heartedly agree w you but I'll add this, when making your first rnd selection for a Canadian based team you still have to identify & take the best player to you no matter where they come from especially when drafting in the top 20. But just know this if they're an American born & developed player they should be viewed as more of a commodity than a franchise player in that you Will have to trade them one day because they won't sign long term and stay so sending them back to the US for a top tier Canadian talent should be the goal (easier said than done) like Cgy just did!! Again well thought out piece Coach!!!

[@freedom1028]

Very informative vid. Thanks .

[@lornemilton8875]

Agree 100%. I’ve seen several of his vids and one thing has stood out consistently. The man does his research. This vid has earned my sub

[@TheJamieC12]

A lot oF USNDP players have famous NHL dads that are Canadian, but the players get the invite to that program. I’m talking about guys like Cutter Gauthier and Red Savage. Both guys are OHL picks, but don’t want that grind.

[@briankennicott4397]

Great educational piece sir. Thank you as always!!

[@millsy5094]

Man watching this hurt. My dream as a kid was to play hockey but my mom couldn't afford it. Now I'm 29, live in the best province in the world for hockey, and feel like I missed the one thing I knew I was good at!! Hard pill to swallow..

[@jamesreape2613]

I enjoyed the discussion of the different leagues. Don’t know enough to say the experience impacts later choices, but an interesting thesis.

[@smithryansmith]

Ive always wished there could be some kind of draft option for young players to get drafted by their local teams. I think this would provide a better atmosphere, make recruiting players less mercenary, and most of all reward locations for producing good players. If, say Seattle, knows they will be training player who will play for the kraken it would motivate the area to develp local talent. Instead, we have players being sent to random places, and NHL locations like Nashville and Carolina producing NO nhl players in 20+ years, but still having good teams. I know it is a pipe dream in the current world ruled by money rather than local pride.

[@HotGarbageSports]

There used to be this for the Habs that’s how they won so many cups !!

[@smithryansmith]

@@HotGarbageSports yup. I think if your area is producing good, young players, they should have the option of playing for you.

[@WarioSaysSo]

To my understanding its split between economic and political reasons American born hockey players are of younger generations are not attracted by the Canadian NHL teams despite that the teams and hockey culture in general greatly tops the USA market and public interest. 1# Economics - Higher taxes and a weaker currency compared to the U.S = It is no secret that the taxes are much higher in Canada then the majority of US states and combind that with that the Canadian dollar is always weaker then the American dollar so that means less money in there pockets. 2# Politics - Far more liberal culture = To work and live in a country, you near must be able to accept there traditions and culture and Canada have in the recent decade really lost face for many young Americans for good and worse and that makes Canada and NHL not attractive. 3# The preassure is often much higher from the fans and owners in Canadian teams - that makes it harder and heavier to further develop your skills and expearience from young tallents. For my own, I grew up loving 2 teams and that was Toronto Maple Leafs with Mats Sundin in the East and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks with Teemu Sellane & Paul Kariya in the West. I always felt the Leafs was some very fine prestigue team to be part of and a loyal fan base. But I noticed later on that Toronto and all Canadien teams was rougher with young tallents, especally the Montreal Canadians. I remember Sundin and Salming from Sweden expressed only love from the city of Toronto and the sole reason they stayed so loyal with the franchise there over all there years in the NHL.

[@robertsquared2916]

Fox could have signed his entry level deal with Carolina, it wasn’t Calgary. He grew up in a die hard NYR home there was only one team he was going to play for..

[@ominousflames14]

Who would have thought that NHL players grew up as die hard fans of certain teams. Never happened before.

[@jddallan1115]

Hey coach! Need some more off-season content ! Your content is growing ! People need to hear your Xperrrrteaseeeeee

[@boodits]

You made many great points and my eyes are a bit more open as to why Americans don’t want to play in Canada but if Americans continue to leave Canadian cities, I hope they don’t get upset when a Canadian team decides to draft a European or Canadian before drafting a top American player.

[@HotGarbageSports]

I don’t think they will as the NHL has that max 950k contract. Where as in the NBA and NFL the pay is based directly on what number you are drafted in the round. So unfortunately players are happy (happier) to fall if they get a better situation for themselves since there is no financial penalty for falling

[@danielrobbins150]

excellent synopsis, great insight!

[@HotGarbageSports]

Thank you kindly!

[@briangeary7684]

It truly depends on the player. Canada is a gem and the people are fantastic. Growing up in Northern MN on the Iron Range, we basically were Canadian. Curling, skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, ice fishing, hockey and of course some adult beverages and a sauna. Some US cities I would never want to play for, Philadelphia, Jersey, even LA unless you like traffic as examples. The US did cut the player development gap and the college route is a fantastic route for many kids. Living in Minnesota we have 5 great D1 programs + Wisconsin all within driving distance. I’m glad you explained the Western League, as we hear about these leagues but it’s never been explained for me. Great show. It explains the hard core Canadian player coming up, hunt or be hunted mentality, where in the US it is about player development. Very interesting…staying away from the money / taxes but I think in the past there was resentment for American players trying the Canadian route by the Canadian players. Maybe you could elaborate if this was true or not..

[@chaiwarrior11]

Toronto and Singapore are like NYC, but like...clean.

[@HotGarbageSports]

Toronto is an amazing city but I still got nyc as 1

[@wordscythe4450]

I am curious to know whether governmental policies (i.e. lockdowns, masking, distancing), and the resulting population mental health decline in Canada and the US have some sort of indirect or principalled effect on some of these decisions. A beautiful city is meaningless if you can't take your wife to dinner and your kids are forbidden from in-person play and/or schooling. Any thoughts (that you can share) on that idea?

[@Vancouverallday]

Ppl news to stop with these....all the American that are leaving is the lame cities like Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg..... Mathews staying in Toronto...Miller stayed in Vancouver and Montreal with Cole.....

[@renegademan83]

Don't forget. After taxes, the player has to pay their agent. The agent has to take a percentage of the salary.

[@alexandrethibault2482]

Here's what's happening. I'm from Montreal. If you're a "true" leader, performing in top markets & winning there is the ultimate goal. LeBron winning with Lakers. Winning baseball game Playing for the Yankees. Playing soccer in Barcelona. Play Hockey in Montréal, and win there.

[@biffdanielson2820]

I'd pull a Tkachuk and head for the beach. Cold weather gets old real fast.

[@maxrates]

I don't have an issue with a guy like Gaudreau. He gave Calgary many great years and never asked for a trade, he had earned the right as a UFA. The Tkachuk situation is a lot worse, he just saw that one guy didn't re-sign and thinks that's enough to demand a trade?!

[@facepainter7297]

This makes sense when talking about the elite of elite USNDP program. However, the vast majority of US players are in the USHL and then go to college. I would equate that with Canada.

[@HotGarbageSports]

That’s all we are talking about is the elite most age groups (draft classes) only contribute 35-55 NHL players (100+ games) and maybe 10 -20 top end players so when you have 20 top Americans on one team how many do you think are crushing it?

[@jordanfedirchuk1558]

Taxes and Trudeau

[@slipperynodd578]

So what I learned is you should draft Canadian or European players.

[@Casperburna]

How does the schooling work do all young guys go to like private schools ?

[@HotGarbageSports]

If you play in the CHL you are in public school in the town you play in. Our public schools here are very good Many top 12-14 year olds go to private hockey academy schools to before they play CHL

[@freecanadaplease]

I think your forgetting about the wives. Lockdowns and miles away from family. My father is friends with Hakan Loob, and his wife was 100% responsible for moving back to Sweden. He then became a player coach and sold computers as a day job. Dont forget the wives.

[@richmayo2266]

Good video as always.

[@HotGarbageSports]

Thanks again!

[@billyweeps8610]

I am not a hockey player. Never was. What I am is an outdoorsman that has never been to Canada but I would love to live up there. I doubt I'll ever set foot into the country though because it is decades ahead of the US as far as Socialist politics is concerned. And the way the US is going, that is a very scary thought. I worked in Australia for a while and felt the same way about that place. Great people, superb country but there is no way I could live there.

[@danielshays7161]

The biggest bill of goods sold by Bettman and his pals to Canada was that there should be a one size fits all salary cap.Twenty five per cent of the league plays in a different country with its own currency and tax structure and they are all supposed to be competing as if these fundamental differences do not exist. Anyone who really wants to know why no Canadian team has won the cup since 1993 need look no further than this obvious finger on the scale in favor of US based teams.

[@biffdanielson2820]

Bettmam took over in '92 😁

[@Nathanielhiggerson66]

Yeah nah. Bettman doesn’t control government income taxes 🤦‍♂️

[@biffdanielson2820]

@@Nathanielhiggerson66 no, but he did torn the game into figure skating.

[@dr.spurgeonthesturgeonsurg3009]

So...if it's working so well in the USA ...they did all the legwork and proof of concept. We just start a Canadian development program. Problem solved.

[@boodits]

There are 16 active teams in the USHL, there are at least 60 teams in the CHL, the logistics behind trying to get all 60 teams in one league? Mind boggling...

[@glenfisher6396]

Didn't johnny go straight from college hockey?

[@matthewokner8860]

Thats not totally true. alot of minnesotan players stay in minnesota for u17 with their highschool because ushl scehdule will conflict with that

[@rolkol66]

That was one of your finest episodes bordering on depressing. So I’d say you have nailed it in terms of mindsets. I didn’t know why, until now, but I’ve suggested the Jets and a couple other cities need to focus on European and Canadian talents with a penchant for blood. Watching players demand a way out of Canada has been pissing me off since Trouba. One way I see the Jets staying relevant and fans craving more, is consistently build a home base that resembles a hornets nest for visitors. Grateful players only with the odd twinkletoe from south of the border sprinkled in. Well done.

[@giannicardinali175]

I like Coach Ryan but he is prone to thinking too much. He is right it's not simply one reason. It's 2 reasons mostly. Geographical distance and taxes. He brushes off the tax thing "can't do anything about it". Doesn't mean it's not a big reason. Tkachuck takes home nearly 2 million more in Florida then if he played for Calgary. That's a lot! Johnny Hockey wasn't about money he was about distance. He grew up on Philadelphia area suburbs. Do you think friends and family want to travel to Calgary in western Canada to see him play? Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver are just too far away for many US players along with less pay! No one likes giving away 60% of their paycheck to government who then squanders it.

[@Nickh4929]

Canucks dont even have a Canadian player on their team. All Americans.

[@stanleyfranks9891]

Taxes!!!!!!!! And Fidel Castro’s Son up there just being a Terd Sandwich!

[@Nickh4929]

Your wrong. Im watching canucks 2023/24 season and the whole team is full of american players all across the board.

[@buggernut3643]

I guess it's one of the more bearable Canadian cities to live and play in.

[@mafmaf6417]

Because it's all about money today, not the sport.

[@Pedro-A-88]

It's has been about money for 100 years, the difference is before you could only get top dollar by playing in TOR, MTL, BOS and NYR

[@lornemilton8875]

I’ll agree to this comment to an extent, but I thinks there’s way more to it. I think coach Ryan hit the nail on the head when he mentioned mind set. Taxes might have something to do with it but it’s not the deciding factor in the big picture. Wanting to win trumps money to Canadian players. If you take Kadri for an example. He could have signed with the Islanders for the same amount, pay less in taxes maybe, but would he have won a cup in those 7 years? His chances are much higher of winning in Calgary who’s mindset is to win NOW. Not sometime down the road. Americans want the money. Canadians want the cup

[@hassam363]

So basically Hockey Canada needs to do better.

[@HotGarbageSports]

I think the pipeline system in Canada is great we still utterly dominate with our low population numbers. We owned 50% of the 2021 2020 drafts in round 1. I won’t say hockey Canada is going great as we all know that story by now lol

[@joeschmoe2659]

Daily assist!

[@bucketsoyeah]

Interesting

[@ramilm9793]

Is it Flames related only? FFS!!!

[@dreamerzone8]

This goes along with my theory that some of the top American players care more about their personal success more than the team's success and winning. Which I also find is one of the main differences between American and Canada in general. Americans are more individualistic, and Canada has more of a herd mentality.

[@dm0ney743]

Yet the Jets continue to target Americans hahahah

[@stanleyfranks9891]

You Ranked Toronto one of Top 3 Greatest Cities in North America and just leave out the Biggest City in North America in Mexico City?? Lmao

[@HotGarbageSports]

My god we are talking cities that can host an NHL team gtfo with it … we aren’t talking soccer towns.

[@yellowsnowman9157]

Unfortunately Canada has been lost under Trudeau whether people want to admit it or not. Canada has not only lost it's way, Canada is gone and never coming back. The societal decay in Canada is palpable. Now it's also true in America but at least in America you have the societal decay but you keep more of your money and the weather is better.

[@placentalsaute]

7/8 of habitable Canada is a desireable place. Problem is: the country is ruled by one nepotistic French province.