Four American NHL stars wanted out of Canada, and McDavid and Caufield just gave very different takes on why
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Four American stars have asked out of Canadian teams this year, but McDavid and Caufield just gave two very different takes on why.
Four American born stars have asked their way out of Canadian markets over the past year, and this week two of the league's biggest names finally addressed the trend, though they landed in very different places.
Connor McDavid fielded the question during the NHL's Player Media Tour in Las Vegas and wasn't ready to call it a trend about leaving Canada specifically.
He suggested it might be more about players not seeing a path to winning wherever they are, rather than anything about the country itself.
He pointed to Edmonton's own offseason additions of Americans Ryan Shea and Trent Frederic as proof that plenty of U.S. players still want to play north of the border, and he said he hopes any perceived exodus has nothing to do with nationality.
Caufield says he's not going anywhere
Cole Caufield gave the clearest answer yet from inside one of the markets that has actually lost a star.
Speaking with Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on the 32 Thoughts podcast, the Montreal winger made clear he has no interest in following Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes and Connor Hellebuyck out the door.
He talked about loving every night at the Bell Centre and how the city has taught him lessons through good times and bad, calling it a place where players have to earn everything.
"Only speaking for myself, I think being in Montreal, if you love hockey and have a passion for it, there's no better place or city to teach you lessons through the good and bad," Caufield said. "It's a city where you work and you earn things. Just every night at the Bell Centre is sweet. There's no better feeling than being out there... I really love to be there. Top to bottom, staff-wise, player-wise, it's just really exciting. I love it there, and it's tough to see myself somewhere else."
- Cole Caufield
- Cole Caufield
Caufield is signed through 2031 at a $7.85 million cap hit that looks like a bargain after his 51 goal season helped carry Montreal to the Eastern Conference Final.
McDavid's own deal adds context
McDavid's comments carry extra weight given his own contract.
He's entering year one of a two year extension at a team friendly $12.5 million cap hit, even as Cale Makar, Macklin Celebrini, Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard have all signed for significantly more since.
He framed the shifting money as a positive for the league rather than something to resent, calling it a long time coming and fun to watch.
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