Do you honestly believe this?
A player getting 6 million in TB will pocket $500K more money than he would if he were to be playing in CGY. 500K is not chump change to these guys.
Which is why players always accept smaller contracts in cities with favourable tax rates. Right? Except they don't.
I also haven't heard a player complain about their take home pay changing after a trade. In fact, I've never heard anything to suggest that the difference in taxes sways a decision in any way. But I have heard countless examples of "if he's getting X, then I deserve Y."
I'm not saying it's chump change. In fact, I went out of my way to say "some" not "all" players. I know it matters. But it needs to be said that the dollar figure means a lot to these guys for reasons other than their bank accounts.
Doughty didn't just talk to the media about how much money he wants in what tax bracket, or how much he thinks he needs when he retires at 40. He talked about how much Subban makes, and said he wants to know how much Karlsson gets.