NHL Power Rankings: Rating the Hockey IQ of Each NHL Team's Fans
One of the things that makes the NHL such a great sport is the fans.
The fans in the NHL are loud, crazy, paint their faces, dress up in full-body leotards and put several things on their heads to urge their teams on to victory.
While the passion of NHL fans is something that nobody can debate, the hockey intelligence of individual fanbases are bound to be different.
It just seems natural that Canadian fans would know more about the game than American fans, as hockey has always been the No. 1 sport for Canada, never having to take a back seat to football, basketball or baseball.
So here is a ranking of the fanbase hockey intelligence for each NHL team.
Please note: This is not intended to offend anybody. I believe that all NHL fans are fantastic, and am merely comparing my take on each base's hockey intelligence. Nothing more, nothing less.
30. San Jose Sharks
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San Jose has awesome fans. They fill up that Shark Tank and make it rock on a nightly basis, but I had to put them at the bottom based on a conversation a friend of mine related to me.
A friend of mine attended one of the games between the Avalanche and Sharks in their playoff series last year and wore a Joe Sakic Quebec Nordiques jersey.
A fan behind him said to him, "Hey, I thought Joe Sakic only ever played for the Avalanche."
"He has only played for that franchise," my friend responded.
"Well then what team is that?"
I will grant that it has been a while since the Nordiques have been in existence, but come on—that is common knowledge right there.
Couple that comment with the fact that even though the game was 1-1 for a while, the Sharks fans did nothing but complain about how bad their team was playing and how much they sucked until the Sharks took the lead.
Once they took the lead, everything they were doing was suddenly amazing.
There is a lot missing as far as solid hockey knowledge goes in San Jose.
29. Florida Panthers
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This dates back all the way to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals.
Florida had a superstition going during the playoffs after one of the players killed a rat in the dressing room. Eventually, their fans started throwing plastic rats on the ice after every goal that they scored.
I never understood this, because it brought a stop to the game for a good 10 minutes every single time, making it nearly impossible for them to take advantage of any type of momentum.
Plus, there were occasions where it looked like they scored and fans started throwing rats on the ice even though the team hadn't scored, killing their team's offensive pressure.
Then there is just attendance. Florida has been in the bottom 10 in the league in game attendance five out of the last six seasons.
If you aren't getting fans in the building, then it's kind of hard for them to know the game.
28. Los Angeles Kings
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Hockey has remained pretty popular in L.A. even though the team has enjoyed limited success.
Much of that popularity can still be traced back to Wayne Gretzky and the time that he spent playing with the Kings, bringing that team up to respectability and success.
Still, the fact that hockey remains the fourth sport makes it so that some of the fans aren't fully aware of all the ins and outs of the game.
This is shown by an interview I saw with Willie Mitchell during a Kings vs. Avalanche game earlier in the year.
He had recently been traded from Ottawa and the Avalanche broadcasters asked him about the difference in the environment.
"What, do you mean about how Brown scored two goals last week, and then the fans threw hats on the ice after he scored in the shootout?"
Yeah, that would be the difference people were talking about. In Canada, no fan would ever throw their hat on the ice after a shootout goal, as they don't count in the standings.
Just a minor example about how fans in L.A., while they are great in size and passion, still have to learn some more about the game of hockey.
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27. Atlanta Thrashers
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The Atlanta Thrashers have been another team that has been involved in relocation speculation throughout the season.
Atlanta already lost an NHL franchise once when the Atlanta Flames relocated to Calgary after the 1979-1980 NHL season.
Since moving to Calgary, the Flames franchise has been to the Stanley Cup Finals three times (1986, 1989, 2004), winning the Stanley Cup in 1989 (note to Gary Bettman: See, it can work when you move an American franchise to a Canadian market).
The fact that the Thrashers now appear to be in danger of the same fate of the Atlanta Flames shows that this area either doesn't fully understand the game of hockey, or just doesn't want it. Quite possibly both.
It's one thing for a franchise to fail once, but when the same large metropolitan area fails twice, it says something about the fanbase.
26. Nashville Predators
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The Predators fans are kind of up-and-down.
When they are into the game, they are into the game big time. When they aren't into the game, they are one of the more silent houses in the league.
They also lose a few points for class. After every single goal, while singing the "Hey Song," they add on the tag line "you suck" to every single goal.
They chant this whether they are up three goals or down three goals, and it just shows a simple lack of respect for the game and the players.
A group that is more in tune with hockey tradition would not go here, in my opinion.
25. Phoenix Coyotes
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Phoenix fans perplex me a little bit. They make a big stink about how Phoenix is a hockey town, how they clearly love their Coyotes and how the team belongs there.
Well, if they were truly a hockey town, then there really wouldn't be an issue with keeping them there. If the fans loved their Coyotes, then maybe the team would have been able to make a profit in the 15 years that they've spent in the desert.
Sure, some people love the team, but that's going to be true about any city that has a team.
Plus, none of them seem to truly grasp why the Goldwater group is trying to hold up the sale of the Coyotes to the Chicago businessman.
Goldwater is actually trying to protect their tax dollars from being put at an unnecessary risk. Honestly, Goldwater is completely in the right with their actions.
It just seems that Phoenix fans are at a loss for a lot when it comes to hockey, especially the business side of things.
24. Tampa Bay Lightning
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Tampa has benefited from having some seriously good teams that have given their fans a reason to care about hockey.
Winning a Stanley Cup and making the playoffs several times is always a good way to keep your fanbase interested and learning the game.
The passion of Tampa's fanbase has definitely increased with the success of the team, but there is still some to learn as far as full knowledge of the game.
Example: I was watching the Avalanche play the Lightning a few years back when Milan Hejduk got a penalty shot awarded to him in overtime.
Naturally, the crowd booed. That isn't the bad part, it's the kind of boo that you hear. It wasn't the type of boo of a crowd that knew their team was in serious trouble; it was the boo of a crowd that literally thought it was a horrible call even though Hejduk was clearly free of the defense and was tripped by a guy who was several feet behind him.
It's little things like that. You can boo a call because you don't like it, or you can boo it because you don't understand it. To me, there is still a lot of not understanding going on in Tampa.
23. Dallas Stars
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Dallas fans have a similar issue with the Tampa fans.
They are an incredibly passionate group of fans that come and fill their home building up with a lot of noise, but just seem to miss some of the rules.
Several times I've heard horrendous booing given on calls that were clearly the right calls. I know that that is something that fans do—boo calls the don't benefit their team—but there is that type of boo where the fans feel like something egregiously horrible was done to spite their team.
Plus, I find it hard to give any fanbase a positive note when they introduce cheerleaders at hockey games.
I'm sorry, hockey and cheerleaders do not mix.
Dallas has great fans. I just wish they weren't so angry.
22. Carolina Hurricanes
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Again, I can't really feel great about a group of fans that require cheerleaders at their game and Carolina is no different.
Carolina has benefited from some good teams as well, and really was one of those stories that surprised people.
A lot of hockey fans, myself included, never thought that a team in Raleigh, North Carolina would be able to grab hold of any type of serious following. We were definitely wrong about that.
Carolina has been a great success story in that case, and they have some very knowledgeable fans, especially given their geographic location.
I suppose that the Carolina Panthers aren't cutting it for them.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets
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The Blue Jackets fans deserve credit for their perseverance.
They have never had a winning team and have only made the playoffs once, where they were quickly swept by the Detroit Red Wings.
I give the fans some good knowledge points for sticking around to see their team play even though they've struggled.
The team has fielded some great talent. Rick Nash is currently one of the league's best players and Steve Mason won the Rookie of the Year Award.
These fans are just waiting for their team to finally turn the corner and be a winner so that they can show the rest of the hockey world more about Columbus.
20. Anaheim Ducks
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The Ducks are another success story of the expansion era of hockey.
This team came into existence thanks to the Disney movie and was really hit-and-miss for the first few years of the franchise.
Despite having great players like Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, the Ducks really struggled to gain a following until they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Since then, people have realized what a great product the Ducks put out on the ice and they really recognize and appreciate the great talent that they still have today.
Props to Ducks fans.
19. Buffalo Sabres
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Sabres fans are very passionate, but you just never really hear about Buffalo as being a place where people are afraid to play.
The fans were very loud during the playoffs, but it just doesn't seem like they give the Sabres that real home-ice advantage during the regular season.
This could be a result of the fact that the Sabres also don't get a lot of national coverage and many people don't know much about the Sabres franchise.
18. Colorado Avalanche
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The Avalanche fans used to rate at the top of the league in pretty much every way, shape and form.
Lately, they have been quite disappointing.
The Avalanche fans know a lot about the tradition of the game and really got spoiled early on with the immediate success and the amazing players that played for this team.
Now, it seems that the Avalanche fans as a whole are showing themselves to be little more than fair-weather fans who are only interested in the team when they are playing well.
It's quite disappointing to me to see them ranked 25th in the league in game attendance. The Avalanche used to sell out all of their games no matter what; now they almost never fill the house.
That type of fair-weather attitude has dropped them a long way in my book, though there is still a solid foundation of fans that are very knowledgeable of the game of hockey and are very passionate as well.
Hopefully more of them will start returning to the Pepsi Center.
17. St. Louis Blues
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St. Louis was part of one of the early NHL expansions that paid off in spades.
The Blues fans have enjoyed a very successful franchise from the get-go and have been loyal to this team ever since they showed up.
This following has stuck with the team even through their poorer seasons, which is usually a sign of a fanbase that knows the game and appreciates the team regardless of the end-of-the-game result.
The Blues are one of the more knowledgeable fanbases in the NHL.
16. Washington Capitals
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People say that winning is the cure to everything, and they are absolutely right.
For a long time, the Capitals were one of the worst NHL franchises in the league and their fanbase wasn't very excited about their team.
Ever since Alex Ovechkin showed up in Washington, this team has not only gained a ton of wins, but have won fans' hearts.
With the increased interest in the game naturally comes an increased knowledge of the game.
The Capitals fans have definitely been on the rise as far as hockey knowledge over the past several years and are only going to get better.
15. New Jersey Devils
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The New Jersey Devils fans are another one of those fanbases that are quite angry.
Maybe it's just the Jersey mentality, but it does sometimes get in the way of the hockey knowledge.
They have enjoyed a lot of great success and are one of the most successful franchises in the recent history of the NHL.
This success provides a great tradition which will help the fanbase continue to get better. Not just in the noise sense, but in their appreciation for and knowledge of the game of hockey.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins
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The Penguins are another amazing group of fans that could easily rank higher on this list.
The thing that is the big knock against them—and this is going to get me in trouble with Pens fans, I know—is that they seem to have gotten a little soft.
Not in the sense that they don't cheer hard for their team and show a great amount of passion for the game. They absolutely do both of those things right up there with the best fanbases in the league.
What I'm talking about is that they are very sensitive about the treatment of Sidney Crosby. Any time something remotely questionable happens around him, they want blood.
It's still hockey, and it's still a rough game. Crosby is one of the best players—if not the best—in the game of hockey, and he'd be the first to tell you that hockey is going to be rough. He manages to play through all of it quite well.
That's my only real knock on Pens fans. Other than that, they know hockey just as well as anybody in the game.
13. New York Islanders
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From the late 70s into the early 80s, there was no team more dominant in hockey than the New York Islanders.
Their four Stanley Cup championships provide a rich tradition for their fans, but they seem to have become quite bitter lately.
This has been evident in their clashes with Penguin fans about the way a couple of their games went this year.
They chastise Mario Lemieux for his comments about dirty play because of people he played with and people that are on his team.
As an owner, Lemieux is very different than he was as a player because the roles are completely different, and it's really not fair to compare the two.
Their anger is warranted as their team has given the fanbase less and less to be happy about, though good times do appear to be ahead for the Islanders franchise. Let's hope it improves for the fans as well.
12. Philadelphia Flyers
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I don't think there is a franchise in hockey that is more like their fanbase than the Philadelphia Flyers.
Both are mean, a little bit dirty and incredibly hard to deal with as an opponent.
About the only strike against the Flyers fans when it comes to their knowledge of the game is that they are one of the most emotional groups of hockey fans in the NHL.
That emotion isn't a bad thing, but it does sometimes cloud their ability to call a spade a spade.
They have a tendency to be one of those groups of people who get all up in arms when something dirty happens to their team, but when one of their team members does it, they don't know what all the fuss is about.
Still one of the best fanbases in hockey.
11. Minnesota Wild
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Minnesota is really hard for me to put this far down on the list, as they could easily be in the top 10 and are easily just as knowledgeable about the game of hockey as any of the remaining fanbases.
Minnesota is really where hockey is the most supported from childhood through adulthood in the United States.
The success of their college programs should easily show you that and the rampant support of their newer NHL team shows the deep appreciation they have for the game.
Minnesota fans know their hockey.
10. Chicago Blackhawks
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The Blackhawks are the first original-six team mentioned in this article, and they could easily rank much higher on this list.
Many of my top 10 picks could be interchangeable.
The Blackhawks fans were victims of poor ownership for years, but things have definitely turned around for them in the past few years.
They are home to some of the greatest talent in the NHL today and also sport some of the greatest names from the past.
Now that the team has become more fan-friendly, the fans are really embracing every moment that they get with their Hawks. A great franchise with great fans.
9. Detroit Red Wings
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Easily in the top 10 of this list, and probably higher on other peoples' lists, the Detroit Red Wings fans fall to No. 9 here.
An original-six franchise still rich with history and championships, this fanbase, in my opinion, has become one of the more arrogant fanbases in the game today.
Who decided Detroit was Hockey Town? I mean, it seems to me that Canadian franchises would probably have more of a claim to that than Detroit.
The franchise has helped earn that sense of pride for their fans, though. With a small exception in the 70s and 80s, the Red Wings have almost always been one of the most dominant and competitive teams in the league, and their fans know it.
8. Boston Bruins
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Another amazing franchise with some incredibly passionate fans, the Boston Bruins don't get nearly enough attention in the hockey world, in my opinion.
Their franchise, another original-six franchise, is one that is also filled with history and some of the all-time greats in hockey history.
Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Ray Borque. These are all household names in the hockey world that came out of Boston.
Their fans respect the tradition of this team, and allow that tradition to feed their passion for their team. It's hard for me to rank them this low, but I have my reasons.
7. New York Rangers
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Another original-six team, the Rangers fans know their hockey.
Despite the fact that New York has several other professional sports teams, including another hockey team, the Rangers have never had trouble attracting a crowd—even when they are playing poorly.
A common theme that you see in markets with knowledgeable fanbases is that they all have a rich tradition that stretches back over several years.
The Rangers have always been one of the great American teams in the NHL and have always produced some of the best and most knowledgeable fans in the game.
6. Calgary Flames
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You may have noticed that the top six fanbases are all of the Canadian fanbases.
My belief is that based on the fact that Canadians are more exposed to hockey as a part of their culture means they have a better understanding of not only the rules, but the tradition and history of the game than your average American fan.
The Calgary Flames have great fans that are very knowledgeable and their franchise has a great history.
They are the only team other than the Montreal Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup in Montreal.
Fans in that city are well aware of the significance of their Stanley Cup win and always honor the members of that team that got them there. They also expect a lot in return from their current players.
5. Vancouver Canucks
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Vancouver is another team that is very passionate about their hockey, and have waited a long time for a winner to come around.
They've been close a few times in their franchise's history and have always been very aware of what it will mean for their team and their city when they do finally win a Stanley Cup.
Their knowledge of the game is also helped out by their knowledge of players, as well.
The fans in Vancouver were a huge part of getting Todd Bertuzzi out of town after his horrendous assault on Steve Moore, and very few have ever made any attempt to justify his actions years after.
This fanbase is very smart and very passionate, and they will hopefully see their franchise's first ever Stanley Cup this year.
4. Edmonton Oilers
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I must start this one off by saying that I'm very disappointed by the fact that the Oilers organization has fallen to the level of adding "Ice Girls" to the games.
Hockey doesn't need cheerleaders, especially in Canada. The fans there want to watch the game, not some cheerleaders dancing to "All the Single Ladies" during a power play.
The Edmonton Oilers fans get props for their knowledge just as much as they do for their passion.
Edmonton has been the worst team in the NHL the last two years running, but that team fills their seats every single home game because the fans still know that there is something to cheer for.
Several American franchises only enjoy success in the stands when the team is winning. Fans in Edmonton know that their team might not be winning, but there is still a lot of good hockey to watch.
It's for that knowledge that Edmonton makes it just inside on the top five.
3. Ottawa Senators
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Ottawa is another team with a rich history that the fans are well aware of.
Ottawa has not won a Stanley Cup since the 1920s, but have come close in recent history.
Fans in Ottawa live and breathe this game, and help make up half of one of the fiercest rivalries in hockey between the Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The "Battle of Ontario" is one that brings out the absolute best and worst in each of the fans because of the great history between the two teams, who have battled it out over the course of several decades.
It's hard to play for any Canadian market because the fans are so knowledgeable of the game that they expect greatness from their team.
Besides, they live in their country's capital—they had better have a deep knowledge of the national game.
2. Montreal Canadiens
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The Montreal Canadiens are a franchise that is loaded with tradition.
Another original-six team, the Canadiens also boast the most Stanley Cup championships by any franchise in the history of the NHL—24 times.
They have also employed some of the greatest players ever to play the game of hockey.
From Maurice "The Rocket" Richard to Jacques Plante. From Jean Beliveau to Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion. This team's rafters read like a record book of hockey fame.
The fans of this team have been a huge part of their history, and their knowledge of the game is absolutely top-notch.
Like the rowdy Quebecois or not, they are easily in the top level of NHL fans when it comes to knowledge of the game.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
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I have to rank Toronto atop the list, because it really is the "Hockey Mecca" of the world.
In addition to having one of the original six NHL teams and one of the most historically successful NHL franchises, the city of Toronto also houses the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Anybody in this city is able to go and get a great history lesson on the game of hockey in the middle of downtown Toronto whenever they want.
This fanbase has high expectations for their teams and is one of the most harsh on their players because of their deep understanding for the game and its history.
In Conclusion
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Now, I am bound to have ruffled a few feathers here in this article.
It is my hope that nobody was offended by my take on the fanbase of their particular team. It is important to note that I am not speaking about any person as an individual, but must make generalizations about a fanbase.
Could I be wrong about a few of these? Absolutely.
I'm certain that many of you will have a different opinion on who is the most knowledgeable fanbase, and I encourage you to share your opinions with me.
Just please make certain that you do so in a respectful manner.
I thank you in advance for your comments.
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