"People dont realize this"? Actually, no, most reject it because its a false narrative. If it was a problem why didnt McDavid or Matthews stay seated at the Draft's? It was only a problem for Lindros because he didnt trust or like Marcel Aubut and history proved him right. Wayne Gretzky had outgrown pretty much every market in the league with the exceptions of Toronto, NY & LA, and as his then future wife, most of his celebrity friends all lived down there, in love, enamored with the culture of SoCal, playing for a team in one of the biggest markets on the map & resultant off-ice business opportunities (sponsorships) such a scenario would have & did produce for him.... pretty much a no brainer for Wayne. But how many Wayne Gretzkys' are there in the League? Have there ever been? Just one. One-off. Hardly typical uh? Remember as well, NY his second choice for his final contract. Wanted to finish his career a Leaf.
Or Mario Lemieux. He didnt complain about Pittsburgh. A city that for years was on a lot of players No Trade Lists. Mario Lemieux turning a sow into a silk purse, changing perceptions of that much maligned market & city and now look where he is, what he's accomplished. I dont buy this whole argument that the either the NHL or the NHLPA & its members have some negative bias towards Canadian (or any) markets. The PA has in fact demanded a seat at the table pursuant to Expansion, have actually called for the Relocation of certain US based teams, are in favor of moving or adding teams to markets like Southern Ontario & Quebec so I dont know where your getting the idea that their against Canadian teams, existing or not. The NHL & ownership however telling them to go whistle. Their so called "partners".
The NHLPA wants a healthy league, doesnt care where the teams are. They just want the franchises, all of them to be stable, making money. They dont care where they play & will make the best of their situations. Careers for the vast majority short, very very few ever even getting the opportunity to dictate where it is they play. Those that do get the opportunity deciding based on opportunity, offers, who's coaching, who's on the team, are they contenders, what role will they be expected to play & so on. Contract term & length. Quality of life is what you make of it regardless of where you live and if your a 20 something millionaire you'll enjoy a beyond wonderful quality of life regardless of whether your playing in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Nashville, Carolina or South Florida. Ya youve got more of a Fishbowl like existence in places like Vancouver, Montreal & so on, Canadian markets, but so what? Comes with the territory. Your playing the game you love, set for life pretty much, so if youve got a problem with where your playing (and I dont mean you despise the owners, Manager & Coach clearly Morons, thats a different situation altogether)... then you've got a problem period that goes beyond the game.