from Roy MacGregor at the Globe and Mail,

Goaltending takes the usual blame for coming up short, just as goaltending gets the usual credit for going all the way. Montreal’s Patrick Roy was the clear hero in the Canadiens last two victories – and Price the near hero in last year’s surprising run. Edmonton’s Mike Smith is still being roasted for a few misplays that are said to have ended the Oilers’ chance to reach the final....

The reality is, unfortunately for Canada, that a great many veteran players who gain control of their destiny rarely see Canada as a destination.

Back in 2015, ESPN.com polled hockey agents to see which NHL cities are most often listed in players’ no-trade clauses. Edmonton and Winnipeg claimed the two top spots, with Ottawa and Toronto coming in fourth and fifth.

There are many factors that come into play when a superior free agent contemplates going to a Canadian team. Chances are good that he will have a family, perhaps even have married an American citizen. Canada is freezing cold compared to, say, Sunrise, Fla., where the Panthers play. There are increasingly frustrating border crossings. Taxes are higher, in some instances much higher.

There is also the not-insignificant matter of scrutiny. To play for a Canadian team is to be instantly recognizable whether on the ice or entering a restaurant. Schoolyards are vividly aware of how the local team is doing, how some new kid’s father isn’t living up to all the hype of the summer signing.

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