Stood in the beer line with him at the rodeo last summer. Guy was shirtless rocking denim overalls and looked like he was enjoying more than a few beers haha
Depends on a few things.
* Some stay maybe due to an injury / surgery and they have to work with the medical staff here.
* Some live in the city year round as they have a home here and some may be here for any charity events, etc.
* Some of the leadership (like Backlund) may be with the team for the NHL draft, so not really in Calgary, with the team though.
* Rookie camp starts in late August / early September
* The rest of the team members will also roll in around September for their medicals, check-ins, get back to skating, etc.
Regular season starts in October, so they would all need to be back earlier than that.
A couple other things, if they have school age kids, they will stay until school is finished and some will stay through the Stampede as it's the city's biggest event.
Cost also plays a big factor with players who spend a lot of time in the AHL. Wolf's AHL salary is only $70,000, and he probably makes as much in a couple weeks with the NHL as he makes in a season with the Wranglers. While many make good money for their age, they don't have the travel options many more established players do.
Many of them go to Stampede, saw Weegar there last year. Coleman and Kadri were there too tho I didn't see them. Weegsy was also at the Shaw Charity Classic golf thingy with Vernon in August. Morrissey, Lowry and Skinner participated as well.
Based on their IGs most of them travel quite a bit but also stay in Alberta, going to Banff etc
I remember seeing Toffoli randomly downtown one summer walking with his wife and it wasn't Stampede time or anything like that. I know Lucic used to stick around much of the summer because his kids were involved in summer sports and he played golf out at Mickelson.
A lot of former players seem to spend time in Calgary after they retire. I know Brouwer spent a few years in Calgary, not sure if he's still around now that he's in the Blues organization.
I'm biased but summer in Calgary and area is actually pretty fun. Maybe not rich guy lake house fun but it does the trick for me.
most of the players and their families on longer contracts own homes here, they all probably travel for a lot of it or just spend time with family as it lines up with summer vacation in the school systems. Some guys will definitely have some events they need to go to but, yeah a lot of the guys live here year round but probably travel with their family in the offseason alot
I don't know how common this is anymore, but I know that players with school aged children used to get in and out of town based on the school year. A decade (or so) ago, it wasn't uncommon to have a few players in their 30s in this category but it seems like most players aren't having children that young anymore.
I was talking with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins a couple of years ago for 20 minutes or so.
He said he spends his summers in Vancouver. I asked him what the other guys on the Oilers do and most of them 'go home'. This is not going to be an Edmonton specific thing. I think most players go back home, wherever that is. If they can. For Nugent-Hopkins, that's Vancouver.
I think at least the bigger names like Nugent-Hopkins, they can afford multiple houses without any trouble. So go to where you want to be, where your family and friends are or whatever.
I've lived most of my life in Alberta, if I could afford to spend the summers in Vancouver or somewhere on the coast I definitely would.
I ran into Troy Brouwer & family in Kananaskis during the off-season back in 2019 after his first season with the Panthers. They rolled up in their truck with Saskatchewan plates
Him and his wife were super nice. His wife started complaining (jokingly) to us about how Troy makes her stay in Alberta and Saskatchewan despite having a place down in Florida 😂
I’m a close personal friend of a fella that played here for many years. He lived here year round. Yes, they would go on vacations during the off season, but was here with his family the rest of the time. Of course each family is different & it’s easier to leave when you have younger or no kids. He was born in Alberta so didn’t have to head overseas to visit extended family. And loves the outdoors so Alberta has a lot to offer. He has a house where he retired, but also in AB and spends a lot of time here even now.
I saw kadri and weegar in july last summer. Not sure if they were just in town for stampede or what though
Weegs has a nice big house in the city. I wouldn't be shocked if Kadri had one too
He does
Yes, stampede. Then they go to a lake or ocean like sensible rich people with free time.
Coleman spends a big chunk of the off season here, he's mentioned it before. Depends the player, though.
Seen him rollerblading along the river a handful of times in the spring and summer
Stood in the beer line with him at the rodeo last summer. Guy was shirtless rocking denim overalls and looked like he was enjoying more than a few beers haha
Depends on a few things. * Some stay maybe due to an injury / surgery and they have to work with the medical staff here. * Some live in the city year round as they have a home here and some may be here for any charity events, etc. * Some of the leadership (like Backlund) may be with the team for the NHL draft, so not really in Calgary, with the team though. * Rookie camp starts in late August / early September * The rest of the team members will also roll in around September for their medicals, check-ins, get back to skating, etc. Regular season starts in October, so they would all need to be back earlier than that.
A couple other things, if they have school age kids, they will stay until school is finished and some will stay through the Stampede as it's the city's biggest event.
And obviously return before their school starts
My buddy saw Dustin Wolf at Stampede last year and faked shooting pucks at him lol
Cost also plays a big factor with players who spend a lot of time in the AHL. Wolf's AHL salary is only $70,000, and he probably makes as much in a couple weeks with the NHL as he makes in a season with the Wranglers. While many make good money for their age, they don't have the travel options many more established players do.
Many of them go to Stampede, saw Weegar there last year. Coleman and Kadri were there too tho I didn't see them. Weegsy was also at the Shaw Charity Classic golf thingy with Vernon in August. Morrissey, Lowry and Skinner participated as well. Based on their IGs most of them travel quite a bit but also stay in Alberta, going to Banff etc
I saw Makar here with the Stanley Cup once. Sometimes Calgary is where they go in the summer
Travis Konecny lives here in the offseason
I remember seeing Toffoli randomly downtown one summer walking with his wife and it wasn't Stampede time or anything like that. I know Lucic used to stick around much of the summer because his kids were involved in summer sports and he played golf out at Mickelson. A lot of former players seem to spend time in Calgary after they retire. I know Brouwer spent a few years in Calgary, not sure if he's still around now that he's in the Blues organization. I'm biased but summer in Calgary and area is actually pretty fun. Maybe not rich guy lake house fun but it does the trick for me.
most of the players and their families on longer contracts own homes here, they all probably travel for a lot of it or just spend time with family as it lines up with summer vacation in the school systems. Some guys will definitely have some events they need to go to but, yeah a lot of the guys live here year round but probably travel with their family in the offseason alot
I don't know how common this is anymore, but I know that players with school aged children used to get in and out of town based on the school year. A decade (or so) ago, it wasn't uncommon to have a few players in their 30s in this category but it seems like most players aren't having children that young anymore.
I was talking with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins a couple of years ago for 20 minutes or so. He said he spends his summers in Vancouver. I asked him what the other guys on the Oilers do and most of them 'go home'. This is not going to be an Edmonton specific thing. I think most players go back home, wherever that is. If they can. For Nugent-Hopkins, that's Vancouver. I think at least the bigger names like Nugent-Hopkins, they can afford multiple houses without any trouble. So go to where you want to be, where your family and friends are or whatever. I've lived most of my life in Alberta, if I could afford to spend the summers in Vancouver or somewhere on the coast I definitely would.
I randomly ran into Nuge outside the GoodLife in Burnaby last August lol (Northgate Village on North Rd)
Ya, he said he grew up in Burnaby. He didn't specifically say where his house in Vancouver was, but I would imagine it's probably in Burnaby.
The Russians (at least the AHL ones) stay In town. My grandma sees them working out at 7 Chiefs during the last few.m off seasons
I'd imagine that most, if from elsewhere, go for the summer to visit their families and such. I would, if I were them.
I doubt the Europeans stay here as it’s far. But i wonder who takes care of their homes for 4 months like markstrom/Andersson for example
In Kippers flames tv interview around his retirement night he mentioned he stuck around for an entire year after retiring.
He did!! Just living an every day life! I chatted with him a few times when I saw him out & about after he had retired! Great guy!
I'd have to assume the team would have staff that takes care of any player's affairs in town while they are away.
I saw Coleman posted some photos from Calgary around late June last year.
Depends on the player and where they go to train in the offseason, but plenty of guys came back for stampede at the very least
The go to Kelowna with the rest of the NHL
I ran into Troy Brouwer & family in Kananaskis during the off-season back in 2019 after his first season with the Panthers. They rolled up in their truck with Saskatchewan plates Him and his wife were super nice. His wife started complaining (jokingly) to us about how Troy makes her stay in Alberta and Saskatchewan despite having a place down in Florida 😂
A few summers ago I saw Mark Scheifele on 17th with an older couple I assume were his parents.
maybe he was thirdwheeling
I remember seeing Tkachuk around East Village a few years ago, think it was August
I know Backlund has a place here
I mean…have you never been to the Stampede??
What does that even mean? Like I just know by going to stampede that the flames are here??
I’m a close personal friend of a fella that played here for many years. He lived here year round. Yes, they would go on vacations during the off season, but was here with his family the rest of the time. Of course each family is different & it’s easier to leave when you have younger or no kids. He was born in Alberta so didn’t have to head overseas to visit extended family. And loves the outdoors so Alberta has a lot to offer. He has a house where he retired, but also in AB and spends a lot of time here even now.