Taylor Hall knows exactly what it means to live and play under the microscope of a Canadian hockey market.
The Carolina Hurricanes forward has not played for a Canadian team since 2016, but he knows that playing in an American market doesn’t have the same spotlight.
“It’s definitely easier in a place like Raleigh,” Hall said when asked about the contrast between Canadian and American markets. “The NHL is unique in the fact that there’s seven teams in Canada, and all seven of those cities love their hockey, and as they should.”
The former first-overall pick of the Edmonton Oilers broke into the league with the weight of a hockey-mad country watching his every move. Now, after stops in multiple markets, including quieter U.S. cities, Hall has a clear perspective on the differences.
A major difference in Hall’s experience is that the passion and intensity extend far beyond what happens on the ice.
“The fans are still the same during the game. There’s sellouts, and they go crazy for the hockey,” he said. “But I think away from the game, on social media, in the media, it’s just a little bit different in Canada.”
Hall compared the experience to one of the most recognizable small-market giants in pro sports.
“If you look at a team like the Green Bay Packers in the NFL, that’s what it’s like to play for a Canadian team,” he said.
For Hall, that balance between pride and pressure has defined much of his career—from being the face of a rebuilding Oilers franchise, to a more low-key environment playing for teams like the Hurricanes and Arizona Coyotes.
Hall acknowledged that while the passion of playing in a Canadian market is special, it can sometimes cross into something more challenging.
“There’s been some really good Canadian teams over the years,” he said. “I do think there’s times where it gets a little bit too much, and maybe becomes a bit of a distraction—but it’s all because I’m Canadian, and we all have a lot of passion for hockey.”
For the Canadian NHL teams, the country’s Stanley Cup drought since 1993 has been a sore subject and carries extra weight.
Hall isn’t ready to connect the pressure of playing for a Canadian market as the reason behind the Cup drought, though.
“I don’t know. I mean, you’re… I think you’re looking for clickbait, but it’s been a long time, and that’s undeniable,” Hall explained. “I don’t think it’s the reason. I think there’s a lot of things that go into that; luck and randomness are definitely a part, but at this point it’s starting to get a bit weird.”
