Agent survey reveals something surprising about Toronto
One of the biggest myths in hockey is that no star players want to play in big markets such as: Toronto, New York, etc. However, according to a poll of 41 NHL player agents, Toronto is the second most popular destination that agents recommend to their clients (money aside). The only team ahead of them are the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning.
There are many reasons for agents to want their clients playing in Toronto despite it being a tough market to play in. The biggest reason for this is because Toronto is the biggest hockey market in the world. The Leafs are front and centre in sports news everyday in Toronto and get similar national coverage to globally recognizable teams like the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys. Simply put, if you play for the Leafs, you instantly become marketable.
Role players on the Leafs in previous years such as Travis Dermott, Fredrick Gauthier, and Zach Hyman have all been featured in commercials in recent years. There is a lot more money to be made in endorsements playing in Toronto, so which agents wouldn't want their clients to play in a market like that?
There is another reason why agents recommend Toronto to their clients, and that is the way Kyle Dubas treats his players. We have seen Dubas go the extra mile in order to make sure that his players feel welcomed in Toronto. Whether it be when he stayed with Ilya Mikheyev in the hospital after he suffered a wrist injury in his first season with the team, or proving to be a man of his word and finding playing time within other organizations if the right opportunity is not available in Toronto. Dubas has shown that he will do the right thing for his players and treat them like people rather than assets. That goes a long way.
It may be a tough market to play in, but with that being said, there are plenty of reasons why agents recommend Toronto to their clients.
