Rank the cities where you would want to play the most if you were a NHL player

[WatchfulElm]

You can base your ranking on your emotional attachment to the city, to the quality of living, to the lifestyle, to taxes and the cost of living, to your desire to be in the spotlight of a big hockey market or not, etc. Don't base your ranking on the current team and players as this can evolve a lot with time.

The goal is to see which cities are the most attractive for a UFA, regardless of the quality of the team.

1- Montreal (my hometown and the most storied franchise of the NHL)
2- Tampa (hot weather, winning tradition, and so many people I know who spend their winter nearby)
3- San Jose (living next to the most beautiful city in North America (San Francisco)? Count me in!)
4- Vancouver (hockey market, mountains and sea... who wouldn't want that?)
5- New York (Rangers) (I could get used to the NYC lifestyle)
6- Ottawa (a hockey market one hour away from friends and family, that's not bad. Also, one of the safest city)
7- Anaheim (California lifestyle and weather, why not? Plus a winning tradition)
8- Vegas (I'd be happy in the desert)
9- Washington (lived there a few months and I greatly enjoyed the city)
10- Los Angeles (not a fan of the pollution and traffic, but I could deal with the beach and the sun everyday)
11- Chicago (original 6 team, would be higher is if wasn't for the criminality)
12- Denver (I could get used to the mountains too)
13- Sunrise (I'd love to live in Florida, but that's a weak hockey market)
14- Boston (I would need time to get used to the idea as a Habs fan, but I would truly love to live in Boston)
15- Philadelphia (big hockey market, like the city too)
16- Brooklyn (struggling franchise, but Brooklyn!)
17- Pittsburgh (winning tradition is appealing)
18- Dallas (Texas weather)
19- Minnesota (hockey market)
20- Detroit (original 6 team, but not very attracted by Detroit)
21- New Jersey (well at least I'm close to NYC and not too far from Montreal)
22- Phoenix (only for the weather)
23- Calgary (hockey market, ok city)
24- Nashville (indifferent)
25- St. Louis (indifferent)
26- Columbus (indifferent)
27- Raleigh (indifferent)
28- Edmonton (too cold... but at least there's some past winning tradition here)
29- Buffalo (for me it just rhymes with "snow")
30- Winnipeg (cold, small and isolated... the opposite of what I'm looking for)
31- Toronto (I just couldn't watch myself in the mirror if I was wearing that uniform)

Click to read more...

 

[Afterburner]

30- Winnipeg (cold, small and isolated... the opposite of what I'm looking for)

Damn Winnipeg. Cold, dark and no wifi

 

[Plub]

LA
Anaheim
SJ
NYC
Toronto
Vancouver
TB
AZ

 

[WatchfulElm]

Damn Winnipeg. Cold, dark and no wifi

Well I apologize to the people of Winnipeg. I'm sure I could enjoy it for 1 or 2 years. And I'm sure it's better in reality than what it looks like from the outside. This ranking is all about perceptions.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Montreal.I would prefer a real hockey market, and I come from there.

If I really had to choose another, just give me an O6 team or something like Ottawa or Philadelphia.

 

[PenguinSpeed]

Damn Winnipeg. Cold, dark and no wifi

-Eh, um the opposite.

-Tampa Bay is dead last for me. Hot, humid, sticky, bugs everywhere, major python problems, bees problem, hurricane problem, there is literally nothing that appeals to me about Florida. Been there 3 times, been through the whole state, and simply dont like it. If the idea of taking a shower 4 times a day in the summer appeals to you with bugs all around, Tampa is the place to go. If you want a real coastline move to California.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Calgary

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Toronto
Chicago
Manhattan
California cities
Phoenix
Vancouver
Dallas

 

[awegrzyn]

Best:
Vancouver
New York City

Then a big drop off
Then:

Vegas
New Jersey (because it's close to NYC)


Bottom Places:
Tampa (No know will agree unless you lived there)

 

[the4thlinegrinder]

Well I apologize to the people of Winnipeg. I'm sure I could enjoy it for 1 or 2 years. And I'm sure it's better in reality than what it looks like from the outside. This ranking is all about perceptions.

I’ve lived in Winnipeg for 3 years. It’s actually not a bad town. They’ve got a lot going on in terms of events, festivals, etc. The nightlife isn’t great but I suppose it depends what you’re into. The support for the Jets this spring was amazing!

That being said, I’m moving in literally 12 hours so I didn’t like the Peg THAT much...

 

[Machinehead]

Best

New York
New Jersey (because I can live in NY)
Nashville
Tampa
Dallas
LA
Anaheim
San Jose
Vegas

Worst

Toronto
Montreal
Minnesota
Calgary
Edmonton
Buffalo
Winnipeg

Nothing against those cities or Canada, but f*** the cold.

The rest I have no strong opinion on.

 

[Afterburner]

Well I apologize to the people of Winnipeg. I'm sure I could enjoy it for 1 or 2 years. And I'm sure it's better in reality than what it looks like from the outside. This ranking is all about perceptions.

Oh I get it's perceptions, I was just adding the famous wifi quip cuz I can't help myself. And most places I think are better in reality than portrayed on the outside. I just hope we come to be known more for the awesome hockey and less for the cold, barren, yadda yadda. I do agree Montreal would be kickass to play in though.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Top New York.

Bottom Montreal
I hate driving there. Pot holes everywhere. Tiny lanes. Terrible drivers. Nice to visit but not deal with those things on the daily for me.

 

[Dale Best Goalie]

New York pretty much exclusively. There's not one city on Earth that can match the Manhattan lifestyle.

 

[the4thlinegrinder]

I have family/connections to most Canadian NHL cities so I suppose I should say ‘somewhere in Canada’, but if I’m being honest I’d probably prefer some play with a team in the southern US that is/should be competitive. Tampa, Dallas, Anaheim, something like that. Living in relative anonymity and going to the rink in shorts and a t shirt likely beats -30 and signing autographs at the grocery store.

 

[PenguinSpeed]

New York pretty much exclusively. There's not one city on Earth that can match the Manhattan lifestyle.

-Ever been to Manhattan Beach, California? Manhattan NY is awesome. Manhattan CA is awesome too

 

[Malkinstheman]

Any Canadian city (Preferably Toronto) and Pittsburgh. Love Canada and Pittsburgh from all accounts seems to be a great place to live.

 

[PenguinSpeed]

Any Canadian city (Preferably Toronto) and Pittsburgh. Love Canada and Pittsburgh from all accounts seems to be a great place to live.

-For entertainment value, location, and food Pittsburgh is top notch. One of the best cities around. Only problem there is crime and some pollution.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

1-31. Winnipeg Jets

Now after that, the other 30 teams + Seattle. The Jets are my only team.

32. Chicago Blackhawks
33. Detroit Red Wings
34. Minnesota Wild
35. Ottawa Senators
36. Montreal Canadiens
37. New York Rangers
38. Pittsburgh Penguins
39. Calgary Flames
40. Columbus Blue Jackets
41. Vegas Golden Knights
42. Los Angeles Kings
43. Colorado Avalanche
44. Nashville Predators
45. Buffalo Sabres
46. Tampa Bay Lightning
47. St. Louis Blues
48. Edmonton Oilers
49. Philadelphia Flyers
50. Seattle
51. Carolina Hurricanes
52. Washington Capitals
53. Dallas Stars
54. Boston Bruins
55. New York Islanders
56. Anaheim Ducks
57. Vancouver Canucks
58. Florida Panthers
59. Toronto Maple Leafs
60. New Jersey Devils
61. Arizona Coyotes

 

[Malkinstheman]

-For entertainment value, location, and food Pittsburgh is top notch. One of the best cities around. Only problem there is crime and some pollution.

Eh, you can say that about any city nowadays.

 

[member 116861]

1. Colorado Avalanche
2. Vancouver Canucks
3. LA Kings
4. Anaheim Ducks
5. San Jose Sharks
6. Florida Panthers
7. Vegas Golden Knights
8. Tampa Bay Lightning
9. Arizona Coyotes
10. Carolina Hurricanes
11. Chicago Blackhawks
12. New York Rangers
13. New York Islanders
14. Philadelphia Flyers
15. Boston Bruins
16.Montreal Canadiens
17. Toronto Maple Leafs
18. Washington Capitals
19. Pittsburgh Penguins
20. New Jersey Devils
21. Dallas Stars
22. Nashville Predators
23. Calgary Flames
24. Columbus Blue Jackets
25. Buffalo Sabres
26. Winnipeg Jets
27. Edmonton Oilers
28. Ottawa Senators
29. Detroit Red Wings
30. St. Louis Blues
31. Minnesota Wild

 

[TMLeafs18]

1. Toronto - dream would be coming true
2. Vancouver - beautiful city, lots to do around the area
3. New York - love the city, endless things to do, not sure I could live there my whole career though
4. LA - looks like a cool city, nice weather
5. Colorado - Go Broncos!
6. Nashville - that city has it going on right now
7. Tampa - awesome weather and I really like the area
8. Anaheim - warm climate, in an area where there is a lot to do
9. Carolina - warm, nice city. Had an awesome time when I was travelling there.
10. Vegas - maybe not for a whole career but a couple seasons would be awesome

* Ottawa would be number two for me if they got their new arena. I hate the sens but love the city.

Obviously this isn’t taking team strength or current situation into account just what cities I would love to play in.

Places I wouldn’t want to play

1. Winnipeg - Brutal weather and nothing to do in the area
2. Montreal - cool city, but hate the team and the language barrier would suck
3. Detroit - not a big fan of the city

 

[Dale Best Goalie]

-Ever been to Manhattan Beach, California? Manhattan NY is awesome. Manhattan CA is awesome too

Agreed.

 

[boredmale]

Ignoring taxes

1. California
2. Vancouver
3. Colorado
4. New York
5. Florida
6. Nashville

 

[Not So Mighty]

Anaheim



New York City (with a Summer home in California)
Nashville (with a Summer home in California)

San Jose
Boston (with a Summer home in California)
Chicago (with a Summer home in California)

The Rest (with a Summ... well you get it)