Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers – Imagn Images
One former Maple Leafs GM has explained the real reason why Brad Treliving and the Leafs have such a difficult time in the NHL’s trade market.
One very prevalent piece of information that has been passed around quite a bit over the last few years is that a lot of NHL players have been listing Canadian markets on their no-trade lists.
Considering how popular, rabid, and fun Canadian markets can be, they are also some of the toughest to play in with th3 added pressure and media scrutiny. If you’re not being persecuted by the media, then you’re definitely hearing something from the passionate fan bases.
Some can deal with that pressure, but it seems that if given a choice, most players will avoid playing on Canadian teams if given the choice.
That can now start to be an issue when it comes to the trade market, because if given the opportunity to join a contender like the Toronto Maple Leafs or Colorado Avalanche, players are expected to lean heavily towards the American markets.
However, while pressure from the media and fans can be a driving force, former Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke dove into the real reason why this is becoming an issue, alongside Jeff Marek:
“I used to put 8 teams on my do not trade lists, that was my maximum… All 7 Canadian teams are on most of those lists, including Mark Giordano, who was my captain in Calgary. I called him and asked him, ‘why are you putting Canadian teams on here?’ and he said that’s what my agent told me to do. It’s because of the tax differential, so I get it, not mad about it, but my favourite cities to work were Canadian cities. I loved living and working in Calgary, in Toronto, and in Vancouver. I’ll go back to any of them in a heartbeat.”
The clip with Burke’s explanation can be viewed here.
Taxes have become a talking point because teams in States with no income taxes, like the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Dallas Stars, tend to get players to sign to more favourable deals with lower AAVs, which helps them build a perennial contender much easier than in States or Provinces with high income taxes like the Maple Leafs have in Ontario.
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
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Ex-Maple Leafs GM Explains Why Brad Treliving Faces a Huge Challenge in the Trade Market
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