Quoting: CD282
Toronto might be more central, but Edmonton doesn't have to deal with Pearson every time they travel!
I'm not sure the Leafs do either. When they charter at least to some destinations, believe they take downtown Bishop airport.
I think travel is big concern to players especially those with families. The Metro division very cosy, especially the three "New York teams". Atlantic pretty cosy too except for the Tampa and Florida.
That Central.....West to Phoenix, east to Nashville and north to Winnipeg....a killer. The West Coast teams aren't so bad, in the Pacific but certainly the Oilers and Flames have a lot of travel to get to the West Coast.
I don't know if Pearson is so bad......but Air Canada is. It's really fallen off the board as a good airline, as has West Jet. Teams take charter flight so they don't have to deal with "the public" or airlines.
Hamilton is a nice airport forty minutes south west from Pearson and is really under-utilized.
To me, I don't understand how hockey and basketball players handle the travel. It's not a game a week in football, or three or four days in playing a series in baseball. It's often one and done on the road and back on the plane.