The Ottawa Senators have traded their captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers so he can play with his brother Matthew. The fact is there was no way Brady was going to re-sign with the Senators so they had to trade him.
It got me thinking that of the 4 major pro North American sports locales Ottawa might be the least desirable place to play. The sport is played in winter and it is absolutely frigid in Ottawa. No one outside of Ottawa cares about the team because they are only 2 hours and 4 hours drive respectively from the Canadiens and Leafs (two original 6 teams with huge fan bases). It's a tiny media market and most of your fanbase is government employees or in some manner earn their living tangentially through the government's sphere, so they might root for you but there is a good chance they hate you if you don't conform to the approved groupthink.
Unless they were drafted by the Senators or overpaid to play for them, why would anyone want to play for the Ottawa Senators?
Is it the least desirable place to play in North American sports?
I’m in Southeastern Ontario, closer to Toronto than Ottawa and there are a tonne of Sens fans. I would say 30% Sens, 30% Leafs, 30% Habs and 10% other.
If I was a player I think the main sticking point would be the current arena location. Ottawa’s traffic is not GTA traffic but it sucks. Anywhere urban someone with beaucoup dollars would want to live in Ottawa could add 2 - 3 hours of travel time each day they are at home.
Otherwise, Ottawa is a pretty great small city, albeit conservative/buttoned up.
Are they Leafs haters like me? I might have to relocate. Haha
Ottawa > Winnipeg (Yes I been to both cities)
I’m with you. Winnipeg is like Rochester, NY without the scant culture and garbage plates.
And no Wegmans! Wegmans alone makes Rochester a decent city!
Yeah but Winnipeg is close to the border, doesn't have to compete with the Leafs and Canadiens is the only team in their province and also pulls fans from Northwestern Ontatio and part of Saskatchewan. Plus their uniforms are way nicer.
Winnipeg isn't as nice of a city but it might be a better place to play. Edmonton isn't as nice of a city but I am sure most players would rather play for the Oilers than the Senators.
I don't know enough about Ottawa to answer this poll intelligently
No one does. They are irrelevant even though they are the capital of Canada.
I did go to a Greek wedding in Ottawa once. Smashing plates was fun. That is my only fond memory of Ottawa.
It is beautiful in the very, very short summer.
I visited Ottawa twice in the '90s and genuinely enjoyed it -- some great bookstores and great bars. The fact that the exchange rate allowed is to stay super cheap in a nice hotel in the middle of everything didn't hurt.
But it probably helped that it was fall, not winter.
Go to Quebec City next time. Haha