So 3 decent UFA's in 10 years. Wow. And, let's see, Pronger lasted what, 1 season before demanding a trade out of town for personal reasons (wife didn't want to live in Edmonton) and Peca was a trade acquisition, not a free agent signing, BUT I will still give you the 3rd player and even a 4th as Justin Schultz chose Edmonton, as did Dustin Penner. Regardless of how these guys actually played, they were big name signings when brought in.

Calgary, since 2004 has brought in named talent in the peak years of their career like:
Jay Bouwmeester (similar to Pronger, traded for his rights and signed him)
Roman Hamrlik-Well past his prime (his best years were in Edmonton)
Curtis Glencross-100% Bubba
Todd Bertuzzi (well, not the peak of his career)
Alex Tanguay- His second stint was not nearly as impressive as his first.
Jiri Hudler-Is he really a name?
Dennis Wideman-Sucks.

Both Edmonton and Calgary are big hockey markets, which is both a pro and a con for free agents, some love the atmosphere, others want to play in a quieter market where they can shrink away from the limelight a little bit. Where Calgary gets an edge is the fact that the weather is better (gotta love Chinooks), the mountains are closer and the city is larger. I lived in Edmonton for 10 years as a kid/teenager and have lived in Calgary ever since, and I strongly prefer living in Calgary.

Anyways, it's always fun discussing "bias" with Oiler fans who choose to troll Flame message boards...
- rmull905

If it weren't for our daily visits you wouldn't even have a thread.

Oh, and Eakins sucks!
- TandA4Flames

Agreed.

So 3 decent UFA's in 10 years. Wow. And, let's see, Pronger lasted what, 1 season before demanding a trade out of town for personal reasons (wife didn't want to live in Edmonton) and Peca was a trade acquisition, not a free agent signing, BUT I will still give you the 3rd player and even a 4th as Justin Schultz chose Edmonton, as did Dustin Penner. Regardless of how these guys actually played, they were big name signings when brought in.

Calgary, since 2004 has brought in named talent in the peak years of their career like:
Jay Bouwmeester (similar to Pronger, traded for his rights and signed him)
Roman Hamrlik
Curtis Glencross
Todd Bertuzzi (well, not the peak of his career)
Alex Tanguay
Jiri Hudler
Dennis Wideman

Both Edmonton and Calgary are big hockey markets, which is both a pro and a con for free agents, some love the atmosphere, others want to play in a quieter market where they can shrink away from the limelight a little bit. Where Calgary gets an edge is the fact that the weather is better (gotta love Chinooks), the mountains are closer and the city is larger. I lived in Edmonton for 10 years as a kid/teenager and have lived in Calgary ever since, and I strongly prefer living in Calgary.

Anyways, it's always fun discussing "bias" with Oiler fans who choose to troll Flame message boards...
- rmull905

Add in Ference as well on the Oilers end... Belanger was decent when we picked up as well... Add is Khabibulin as well... Dustin Penner as well...Petr Sýkora as well... Ulanov as well... Oates as well...

Sooooo...

Pronger
Souray
Peca
Ference
Belanger
Khabibulin
Penner
Sykora
Ulanov
Oates

But yeah... I stand corrected... Wow, look at that list of guys on Calgary... Amazing! I guess all UFAs are indeed lining up to play for Calgary. Calgary is definitely a preferred destination for the NHL's top players

Add in Ference as well on the Oilers end... Belanger was decent when we picked up as well... Add is Khabibulin as well... Dustin Penner as well...Petr Sýkora as well... Ulanov as well... Oates as well...

Sooooo...

Pronger (trade and sign--left year later cuz Edmonton smells)
Souray (dud)
Peca (old)
Ference(best years in Calgary
Belanger (who?)
Khabibulin (Besides the cup run, which was a perfect storm for the team, meh)
Penner (choked on contract)
Sykora (meh)
Ulanov (again, who?)
Oates (....I do like oates, won't beak him)

But yeah... I stand corrected... Wow, look at that list of guys on Calgary... Amazing! I guess all UFAs are indeed lining up to play for Calgary. Calgary is definitely a preferred destination for the NHL's top players
- laughs2907

We can belittle your UFA pick ups too

We can belittle your UFA pick ups too
- Saskabush

With the exception of a few, they're not all that good... Same with Calgary.

Let's not kid ourselves, children... Neither city has done all that well with UFAs. When we improve, that will likely change.

With the exception of a few, they're not all that good... Same with Calgary.

Let's not kid ourselves, children... Neither city has done all that well with UFAs. When we improve, that will likely change.
- laughs2907

Not arguing that....I do think that Calgary has an advantage in overall city appeal. As an outsider, I think Calgary is by far the nicer city (especially if you have money!!). The only thing I like about Edmonton is the easy road layout, if you can count it's pretty hard to get lost in that city....other than that Edmonton is poop in my eyes

We can belittle your UFA pick ups too
- Saskabush

Ulanov was awesome you Donk!

Not arguing that....I do think that Calgary has an advantage in overall city appeal. As an outsider, I think Calgary is by far the nicer city (especially if you have money!!). The only thing I like about Edmonton is the easy road layout, if you can count it's pretty hard to get lost in that city....other than that Edmonton is poop in my eyes
- Saskabush

Born and raised in Edmonton, live in Calgary. Calgary is prettier but devoid of any art,music or culture and the majority of people here all pretend to be rich as they take out a 2nd and 3rd mortgage to buy the newest hot car.

Born and raised in Edmonton, live in Calgary. Calgary is prettier but devoid of any art,music or culture and the majority of people here all pretend to be rich as they take out a 2nd and 3rd mortgage to buy the newest hot car.
- Jeropotato

You might like Saskatoon (not being biased ), cities getting more and more beautiful by the year and has established a vibrant art/festival scene. Always something fun going on down by the river during the summer


Another 10 years this could be a very attractive NHL destination (could support it now but our infrastructure needs upgrades, it'd be better not to rush it)

Ulanov was awesome you Donk!
- Jeropotato

Wait, he was the pig on Dragon Ball Z right?

You might like Saskatoon (not being biased ), cities getting more and more beautiful by the year and has established a vibrant art/festival scene. Always something fun going on down by the river during the summer


Another 10 years this could be a very attractive NHL destination (could support it now but our infrastructure needs upgrades, it'd be better not to rush it)
- Saskabush

I do like Saskatoon, I might move there with the company on a year or 2.

Wait, he was the pig on Dragon Ball Z right?


- Saskabush

So in other words your commenting on a player you have zero memory of?

So in other words your commenting on a player you have zero memory of?
- Jeropotato

Ya... you caught me. I wasn't kidding when I wrote who ....fine I'll do some googling since you made me feel like an ass


Edit:

O.K fine, but the first stint was a trade (maybe trade and sign not sure but he wasn't lured by Edmonton) and the actual UFA signing was at the end of his career after a PTO contract by Toronto's AHL team. Not really a great UFA in the context of the argument this originated from. Left for Russia a year or so later

I say this now -who knows if I were actually skilled enough that I was a commodity - but (frank) I'd play anywhere. There wouldn't be a damn place I'd refuse a trade to, if coaches and management were trying to trade for me or sign me.

Bunch of prima donna bumholes...

I say this now -who knows if I were actually skilled enough that I was a commodity - but (frank) I'd play anywhere. There wouldn't be a damn place I'd refuse a trade to, if coaches and management were trying to trade for me or sign me.

Bunch of prima donna bumholes...
- Morris

If I was a star (or at least moderately good) I would want a say in the city I raise my family, as well as going to a team that had a chance to win a cup (the dream of every Canadian kid).

I always ask people this: Are you good at your job? Yes? What if I told you to go do that same job for the same pay in Fort McMurray (pooptiest place I could think of). Would you be happy?....I sure as hell wouldn't be.

If I was a star (or at least moderately good) I would want a say in the city I raise my family, as well as going to a team that had a chance to win a cup (the dream of every Canadian kid).

I always ask people this: Are you good at your job? Yes? What if I told you to go do that same job for the same pay in Fort McMurray (pooptiest place I could think of). Would you be happy?....I sure as hell wouldn't be.
- Saskabush

Exactly, as non NHLers we would be happy just to play in the league, but when you know you're an NHL player, you're going to want to live and play somewhere appealing. Would you rather live in winnipeg where its ridiculously cold in the winter and tons of snow, or in Cali where you can go out and lay on a beach in the middle of january? Plus how is it going to be for your family? you may not be home much because of travel, but your family still has to deal with all the crappy weather or busy cities. Location is big and a chance to win the cup at any stage of the career is priority #1 for a lot of these guys.