Why are so many Canadian's(teams and players) coming to American teams?

Question

If it's THEIR game then WHY?

If it's THEIR GAME then WHY? It seems from the answers so far, they're sellouts.Not to say I blame them Most of our team are Canadian but either have dual citisanship or are American now

I know it's MONEY and Loyalty have nothing to do with it .Yeah we have allot of Canidian players but most if not all have duel citizenship.Why don't you just call it a GREAT game and leave it at that> I pride is so important then why not show it,not just in the OLYMPICS.

SEEMS LIKE I STRUCK A NERVE EAH!

Answer 1

Its unanimous... its all about the almighty dollar!

Answer 2

The NHL is still mostly comprised of a large Canadians and always has been. Comparatively Canada has 1/10 the population of the USA and has over 500,000 registered hockey player (pro and amateur) and the USA about 350,000.
Canadians have always made up the bulk of every team. In fact when it just the original 6 almost every player was Canadian. So Boston Detroit Rangers and Chicago back then would have been almost completely Canadian. Drafted played don't have a choice of where they play and as far as money goes the Toronto Maple Leafs have more money then about any NHL team so that argument is pretty much moot especially with the salary cap. The Nordiques and Jets are not large cities and simply couldn't afford to have a team with pre-cap salaries. Canada has 6 teams for it's 32 million population and the USA has 24 teams with its 350-ish population. The split actually makes reasonable sense.

Answer 3

It's not a question of "Canadian" player going to the USA. It has many factors involved. Hockey is a Canadian game. Invented and perfected by Canadians. Canada has a population of 30 million people, The united States has 300 million. The ability to form an NHL has everything to do with free enterprise (and Bettman) but thats a different topic lmao. You make your way to an NHL team in a number of ways. Drafted, traded, free agency (money) or waivers. As a player you only have one option to play where you want. Thats free agency. Also remember , the NHL consists of 65% Canadian born players 15% American and 20% european. Might i also add that one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen is Canadian Mr. Steve Nash!!!

Answer 4

This is a pretty simple answer. The league is made up of over 60% Canadian players. The league only has 6 Canadian teams, where else would they go. Players go to the team that drafts them and most Canadian players love to play in their home country or province.
The teams however are a different story. Canada has only 30 million people and a vast majority live of those people live in 6 or so major markets. If a team can afford to stay in Canada they would, if they can't they move. Just like Hartford, the Atlanta Flames (who moved to Calgary) Minnesota (who moved to Dallas)....it happens.

Answer 5

Because the majority of good hockey players are Canadian, so your bound to have Lott's of canucks on every team regardless if it`s an American team or Canadian team. With the salary cap being introduced into the NHL it wont be about cash so much anymore because all teams have equal money to work with.

Answer 6

Markets, supply and demand, etc.

But the true question is why are some so bitter about the expansion of Big League Hockey to the south?

Canadians should be proud of the heritage and history they have with the sport - not to downplay their current leadership of, and contribution to, the sport. It is a true complement to their culture that there is so much (though not nearly enough) interest in and demand for hockey in the States.

Exports are a sign of strength. People want what you're cranking out up there - be proud and enjoy that role.

Answer 7

yea thats pretty stupid to write that. canadians arent sell outs if they play in america.

like everyone has written. its all about money. hockey is a business. but lets get one thing straight. before some of you say us canadians suck. next time your american team wins the cup, do not chant. U.S.A USA U.S.A take a look at the roster and i can guarantee you 80% of hte players are canadians. the one with heart!

besides, you guys are just mad cause we invented hockey and basketball. :P

you can have your boring baseball. - on a side note, why do they call it the world series if its only american teams are playing? shouldnt it be called the american series?

Answer 8

Two main reasons: taxes and travel. It has nothing to do with salaries since all teams operate under the same cap.

Teams like Edmonton, Vancouver, and Calgary have to go on insane road trips. The time away from home puts a lot of stress of players and their families.

Answer 9

Hockey is hockey is hockey.

Playing for an American team doesn't mean they are selling out their country. I think that is a dumb thing to say. Hockey players get drafted and traded and 8 times out of 10 don't have a say in which team they play for.

Your question is dumb.

Answer 10

Hockey is becoming a southern sport. look at the last couple of Stanly Cup winners. All in the Southeastern division. But loyalty isn't a problem, neither is $$$. But when people come to America, they fall in love with it.

Answer 11

They know in Canada that they'll never make that amount of money...we have different priorities than the Americans