NYR have it easy. They can sell off assets whenever they want and replenish in the offseason, because there's always a lineup in FA wanting to sign with them.
While we have had a slight edge and managed to sign guys, it's really not always desirable for us as fans...
I mean, look at how many we nabbed and how they panned out over the last 10 years. How many guys want to end their career in NYC but it just ends up being mediocre for us, as a team. Or how many NCAA FAs have interest but NJD grabbed the best one in recent history! NYC in general is a very attractive location. So is Montreal, as a place to live, but NYC is NYC and there's less media pressure, too. I believe a competitive NJD team (like we're now seeing) and NYI team (like I suspect we'll see soon, especially if Tavares sticks around) will be just as attractive. MTL would be right up there without the insane media and the current WTF'ery going on. The French thing is a turn off to many, I suspect, and that's actually ramped up in recent years unbelievably. TOR will attract a lot. Another great city imo, though not as great as MTL/NYC but none of the Franco stuff and a franchise that's clearly turning itself around vs. regressing like the Habs. We'll see how many still want to join NYR as our rebuild advances. That will certainly have an impact, and that's where NJD and NYI can be great options for guys who love the area.
I think Vegas will benefit from that. Seattle could. Lots of great places to play for guys who are pursued by many teams. But yes, I do know NYC in general is a huge draw. You can play for any of the three teams and still walk around downtown without getting mobbed. And there's a lot more respect from the media. That helps. Hampers the big Canadian teams/cities.
edit: On-Topic = I'm a fan of Miller in general. I think he really plays to win and gets frustrated (probably too frustrated) with a losing atmosphere, which I do recognize is undesirable from a coach's perspective and can mess with a room. But if he can use that drive/passion on a winning team like Tampa where the room is already solid, that's good energy. I do understand now, to a degree (NY is very hush hush...), why he was offered and it wasn't working out. I just don't see him having that same issue in Tampa. At least not this season.
And McD is McD. Likely a weird adjustment, but man that's such a luxury to have for the playoffs if he's settled... Having one or more of Hedman, Stralman and McD on the ice at ALL times... makes it real hard to match-up offensively deep teams to you. You've got both the O and the D depth. Balanced. Should be real interesting to see.