NHL 2011-12: Which Fans Deserve the Stanley Cup?

All isn't fair in love, war and hockey.

For a stretch in the mid-2000s, the hockey world watched teams from Tampa Bay, Carolina and Anaheim beat Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa to earn the sport's ultimate trophy, the Stanley Cup.

The irony was not lost on hockey fans, as cities who use the moniker "fair-weather" to describe fans and climate alike had snatched glory from committed, hockey-crazed cities in the Great White North.

In any sport, the most passionate fans can find themselves watching a championship celebration where most of the people attending the parade can name three players on the team and aren't entirely clear on the rules of the game. 

Such a sight can be oh so frustrating.

Thus, this list does not explore the teams most likely to win a Cup this season, nor the fan bases with the highest attendance last season. Instead, this is a ranking of the fan bases most deserving of a parade. 

Think about your favorite team. Is there ever an empty seat in the house?

Did fans proudly wear their team apparel in the best of times, as well as the worst of times?

Has it been years and years since the last time the city got to celebrate a hockey championship?

Depending on the answers to those questions, your fan base may either be completely undeserving of a moment in the sun, or long overdue for a parade around the city.

30) Phoenix Coyotes

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

There are some undeserving fan bases in the NHL, but Phoenix stands out for one reason: this time next year, they are almost assured not to have a team.

If you can’t even keep your team in the city (especially when they have made the playoffs in two consecutive years), you don’t deserve any hardware whatsoever.

In fact, the players deserve better than you (not including the members of the Phoenix Coyotes Hockey Headquarters, whose staff photo is depicted here).

Will They Win This Year?

Highly unlikely. If they do, you might as well make it the longest parade in NHL history:  Glendale to Quebec City. Or Kansas City. Wherever.

29) New York Islanders

Last Stanley Cup:  1983

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

There are a few faithful Isles fans out there, but unlike other squad, they can’t hide behind the excuse of playing in the South or being a new team.

There was a time when the Isles were the focus of New York, and nowadays they rely on passionate ex-Nordiques fans to fill the seats.

We’ve all heard that the Coliseum sucks, but that’s no excuse to have the lowest stadium capacity percentage of any team since the lockout. 

Case in point, the guy on the left seems to have no concern with saving the actual Islanders.  Whalers it is!

Will They Win This Year?

While improving, the Isles are still far from the Cup.

2011 is not the year. In fact, Long Island may be vacant before the franchise becomes competitive again.

28) Florida Panthers

Last Stanley Cup:  Never, but they somehow won the Eastern Conference in 1996, when the hockey gods were apparently sleeping.

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Let me put it this way: I feel like I can make any vulgar, insulting, degrading remark about the Panthers and never get a response in the comments section.

Is it just me, or does no one care about this team?

The fact that their attendance since the lockout is ranked 24^th is surprisingly good, but I’m inclined to assume most of that is the result of cheap tickets and Floridians wondering what ice looks like. 

The man in the photo is clearly pondering who would need to wear such a funny red sweater on a beautiful Miami day.

Will They Win This Year?

Not a chance. The team is stacked with players that have underperformed for real franchises. Upshall, Campbell and Versteeg are all playing in the one place where they cannot disappoint fans. Because there are none.

27) Anaheim Ducks

Last Stanley Cup:  2007

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Absolutely not. The Ducks won a Cup in ’07 and qualified for the playoffs in five of the last six seasons, but their attendance has blatantly declined every season since the championship. 

That trend reeks of the worst kind of bandwagoning: the kind where you only care once the Finals start. 

You won a Cup five seasons ago, Anaheim.  Most real fans would kill for that.

Will They Win This Year?

A strong maybe. With Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan leading the way and a healthy Jonas Hiller in net, California’s elite have reasons to mosey on down to the Honda Center, but the team’s slow start will breed apathy in SoCal.

If the team doesn’t turn the season around, California fans will spend their time watching Lakers games on ESPN Classic.

26) New Jersey Devils

Last Stanley Cup:  2003

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

They do not. The Devils are perhaps the most successful franchise since 1995, with the exception of Detroit, yet the team has always struggled to find a fan base.

They have boasted some of the greatest defensemen (Stevens and Niedermayer), forwards (Kovalchuk, Parise, Elias and Langenbrunner) and goaltender (I shouldn’t have to spell it out for you) of the past twenty years, but even a stacked lineup and a new stadium has the team selling at under 85 percent capacity.

Three championships since 1995 and an underwhelming showing from the crowd make the Devils the most under-appreciated team in hockey. The fans surely do not deserve another Cup they won’t celebrate.

Will They Win This Year?

Probably not. Last season’s closing run was impressive, but the division is too good and Brodeur is on the decline.  The Devils’ time is up.

25) Pittsburgh Penguins

Last Stanley Cup:  2009

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

The girl wearing this shirt was single until Sidney Crosby was drafted.

Before the lockout, the Pens had the worst attendance in hockey. Their horrible performance and the cancellation of a season allowed the team to draft Evgeni Malkin and Crosby, building the stronger team we see today. 

Suddenly, Pittsburgh is a hockey hotbed (according to ESPN and other networks that know nothing about hockey).

Pens fans: you almost got your team relocated, and you still got a Cup less than four years ago. You do not deserve anything for quite some time.

Will They Win This Year?

Very possible. The team made a great run without Crosby and Malkin last year, and both players should play the majority of the season in 2011-12. 

24) Washington Capitals

Last Stanley Cup: Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Washington is like worse version of Pittsburgh: no one showed up for years, and suddenly the city is the darling of the NHL. Unlike the Pens, they manage to implode every postseason.

The only reason the Caps outrank the Pens on this list is because the team has never won the Cup and the franchise never openly considered relocation. 

But one thing to love about Gary Bettman’s favorite rivalry: these pathetic fair-weather fans deserve each other.

Will They Win This Year?

They have strong offense, strong goaltending, solid defense and a weak division, but they’re the Capitals, so expect an exit within the first two rounds of the playoffs.

23) Carolina Hurricanes

Last Stanley Cup:  2006

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

‘Canes fans are surprisingly knowledgeable when it comes to hockey, especially considering the fact that the team is located in a Raleigh suburb and has only existed since 1997.

Unfortunately, 2,500 more of them need to show up each game to fill up the RBC Center.

Fans in NC should probably sit on that ’06 championship for a while, because the team doesn’t deserve to be the face of the NHL anytime soon.

Will They Win This Year?

Not gonna happen. The team’s strengths are very strong, but the weaknesses are very weak. That kind of inconsistency makes it hard to be taken seriously in the NHL.

22) Dallas Stars

Last Stanley Cup:  1999

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

If I had made this list a year ago, Dallas would be much higher. The average attendance since the lockout hovered around 95 percent capacity, including many seasons selling above capacity.

But last year, Dallas lost almost 2,000 fans per game. 

For years, the Stars appeared to be hockey’s great success story in the South. That dream has apparently died.

Will They Win This Year?

It could happen. More than a month into the season, Dallas looks like the real deal.

It won’t be easy to keep San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim at bay, but this Stars team is apparently full of surprises.

21) Colorado Avalanche

Last Stanley Cup:  2001

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

For a young franchise, Colorado’s sellout attendance numbers looked impressive for years. But with the Sakic, Forsberg and Roy long gone, the Avalanche are going unnoticed in Denver. The team averaged only 80 percent capacity the last two seasons.

It’s a shame, because for years it seemed like Colorado would develop one of the most fiery fan bases in a non-traditional market.

Will They Win This Year?

No. The team is still rebuilding, and the fans are still wondering who the next Joe Sakic will be.

20) Boston Bruins

Last Stanley Cup:  2010

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Boston may be an Original Six team, but the apathy of the fans during the team’s bad years and the sudden enthusiasm of late reeks of bandwagonism.

On top of that, they got their long-awaited Cup, so it will be a long time before the hockey gods deem them desperate for another.

Besides, there are always the Pats, Sox and Celtics.

Will They Win This Year?

There might be a Stanley Cup hangover, but this team is still competitive.

As defending champs, they wear a target on their backs, but the B’s will get stronger as the season progresses.

19) Nashville Predators

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Nashville’s attendance numbers may not be the greatest, averaging 88 percent capacity since the lockout. However, that number has been consistent every year, leading this writer to believe that the 15,000 that do show up are very invested in the team.

Besides, this team is still performing well enough to stay off the Relocation Radar, despite having only won one playoff series in team history.

Hockey in Tennessee has yielded results that may be surprising to some hockey purists.

Will They Win This Year?

Probably no Cup, but they’ll make life hard for some major contenders in the West. The team has some tough characters and a hell of a goalie.

18) Chicago Blackhawks

Last Stanley Cup:  2010

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Chicago’s fans got their long-awaited Cup two seasons ago, and now hockey is apparently the talk of the town. I wanted to rank them lower, but I understand the atrocious issues with Bill Wirtz’s ownership made life tough for the Chi-Town hockey fan. 

Attendance has been outstanding for three seasons, but not so long ago, the United Center was the quietest hockey rink on the planet.

The team is certainly the least appreciated of the Original Six, and they deserve to be ranked no higher.

Will They Win This Year?

They’ve got a good shot. The team is improving and recovering from the post-Cup salary dump. If Crawford continues to develop in net, watch out for the revitalized ‘Hawks.

17) Columbus Blue Jackets

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

The state of Ohio was hit hard by the economic crisis, and the Blue Jackets are the youngest franchise in the league (tied with the Wild, not considering the reborn Jets). Those are the reasons Columbus earned a No. 17 ranking: they still have excuses.

Who can blame an Ohio native for not showing up to regular-season games?

Nonetheless, attendance is terrible and Rick Nash’s talents are wasted in Columbus. Hockey could still catch on in Ohio one day, but a lot has to change before that day comes.

Will They Win This Year?

I’m not entirely convinced the Jackets will win another game before 2012, much less a Stanley Cup. 

16) Tampa Bay Lightning

Last Stanley Cup:  2004

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

The Lightning are shockingly ranked eleventh since the lockout in terms of average attendance (though their capacity percentage is lower due to the large St. Pete Times Forum), but the organization’s attendance has declined dramatically in the last three years. 

The team may see a spike again in 2011-12, but let’s face it: fair-weather fandom is rampant in the Sunshine State. The team’s southern home and short history redeem the fans a bit, as does the fact that Tampa garners more attention than its FLA partner, the Panthers.

There’s only room for one ice rink in Florida.

Will They Win This Year?

Don’t count them out. The team is a few good trades away from a serious Cup run and a totally re-energized fan base. Fans in the North might be pulling their hair out this June.

15) Los Angeles Kings

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Considering the franchise is in Southern California, the fact that the Kings have sold at nearly 95 percent capacity since the lockout is an impressive stat. You might chalk this up to the growing “trendiness” of hockey in Hollywood, but there’s no denying that Kings’ fans are making themselves known to the NHL.

That said, the team’s fan base doesn’t compare to the major markets, and bringing in 18,000 fans per game in a city that has 15 million residents in the metropolitan area isn’t an overwhelming accomplishment.

All points considered, LA’s fan base is nothing special (Taylor Swift notwithstanding).

Will They Win This Year?

Very possible. The team has made a strong commitment to winning by acquiring one of the league’s best two-way forwards in Mike Richards. LA’s time is soon.

14) St. Louis Blues

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Since the lockout, the St. Louis Blues have been an interesting team to follow. They have only made one playoff series in that time, and they have not won a single playoff game. 

However, the team saw its abysmal attendance numbers in 2005-06 and 2006-07 right themselves in the last four years, without any significant success on the ice.

For a city in the Bible Belt that has dealt with 25 straight seasons of playoff berths without a single Stanley Cup, St. Louis has shown its hockey team a lot of love.

This may not be the most intimidating fan base in hockey, but if the Blues do win, the celebration will be well-deserved.

Will They Win This Year?

Probably not, but it could happen. The team has been rebuilding for a long time, and one of these days the Blues will burst onto the scene with no mercy.

13) Ottawa Senators

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Ottawa’s attendance percentage since the lockout is over 99 percent, with the total attendance numbers ranking sixth overall. Like any Canadian city, Ottawa loves its team. 

While the franchise is young, the team has picked up a following that doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, despite the team going right to the basement of the Eastern Conference.

The team suffered a heartbreaking Finals loss to the Ducks in 2007, but the Scotiabank Place has still been the hot spot in Canada for years.

The only reason they aren’t higher is because Ottawa is the only Canadian team not to sell to capacity every season since the lockout (the one exception: Edmonton’s average was seven seats short in 2005-06).

Will They Win This Year?

No. No, no, no, no, no. Ottawa is years away from returning to its former, near-Stanley-Cup glory.

12) Winnipeg Jets

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Looking at the statistics of the last six seasons is pointless, because Winnipeg’s fans were a 26 hour drive away from the team that would eventually find its way to Manitoba.

Obviously, the fan base in Winnipeg is small, but a lot of credit has to go to any city that loses its team and manages to bring them back. Even if the Jets don’t sell out this year, the team has earned temporary consideration for having the most passionate fans.

Hopefully the Jets can stay in Winnipeg this time around.

Will They Win This Year?

Keep in mind, this franchise is the former Thrashers. They’ve never won a playoff series, and now they have the toughest overall travel schedule in the entire NHL. No hardware this year.

11) Detroit Red Wings

Last Stanley Cup:  2008

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Despite difficult economic times, Detroit has managed 98 percent capacity since the lockout.  In terms of overall attendance numbers, the team ranks second in that time frame. 

There is a reason the word “Hockeytown” is etched into the ice at Joe Louis Arena. 

The only reason Detroit is not higher on the list is because no team has been more successful in the last fifteen years than the Red Wings. The fans have plenty of trophies to celebrate, and when the team is this successful, there is really no excuse not to sell out entirely.

Will They Win This Year?

It’s the Red Wings. Would you bet against them?

10) Edmonton Oilers

Last Stanley Cup:  1990

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

The darlings of the WHA joined the NHL in 1979 and soon took the league by storm behind Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. The franchise quickly became legendary, and like most Canadian teams, the Oilers sell to capacity night in and night out. 

The main reason the Oilers aren’t higher is because of the Rexall Place’s low capacity and the team’s dynastic status in the 1980s. 

Will They Win This Year?

The Oilers may have finally burst onto the scene after years of rebuilding.

Most fans would argue that such a young team lacks the playoff experience for a serious run at the Cup, but something tells me this young, exciting core doesn’t care what the doubters think.

9) New York Rangers

Last Stanley Cup:  1994

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

As an Original Six team in the biggest city in the United States should, the New York Rangers consistently sell at or near capacity in order to fit the team’s demanding fans into Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers have had trouble finding playoff success since their epic 1994 Stanley Cup run, but blue-shirted fans continue to fill the seats to receive the NYR salute at the end of every home game. 

A Cup in the Big Apple may not be as rewarding as the one earned in 1994 after 54 years of disappointment, but the Rangers loyalists have nonetheless earned a shot at hockey’s Holy Grail.

Will They Win This Year?

Possibly. As always, the Rangers made offseason moves to bolster the roster, and the changes are beginning to pay off. The real test for this squad, as always, comes in the spring.

8) San Jose Sharks

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

By all rights, Sharks fans should have no reason to be revered by the hockey world. The team is only two decades old, located in a non-traditional market, and has famously struggled when the games really count.

Yet somehow, the Sharks have sold near or above capacity the last five years, and the Shark Tank has a surprisingly intimidating reputation.  On top of it all, this is a team that seems to be a Stanley Cup contender every single year, and the fans constantly deal with heartbreak. 

It remains to be seen if the stadium will continue to fill up if the Sharks head to the Western Conference basement, but for all intents and purposes, these fans have earned a shot at the Cup.

Will They Win This Year?

Consider them one of the favorites. Management seems committed to building a team that won’t choke come playoff time, and San Jose has a very balanced roster for 2011-12. 

Expect a high seed and a deep playoff run this spring.

7) Minnesota Wild

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

The Wild, along with the Blue Jackets, are the youngest franchise in the NHL, but unlike Columbus, Minnesota has a group of fans that truly love hockey.  While the team has not won a playoff series since 2003, Minnesotans brave sub-zero temperatures to support the likes of Mikko Koivu and Cal Clutterbuck. 

For the first five seasons since the lockout, the Wild sold tickets at a rate that put them significantly above capacity. Although attendance dropped last year, the team’s six-year average is a whopping 102 percent capacity. Only the Maple Leafs have a more impressive six-year average.

Besides, between the Wild and the North Stars, Minnesota has never seen a professional hockey championship. It’s about time they did.

Will They Win This Year?

The Wild are off to a good start, but the Western Conference is simply too stacked for this group to make an impact come playoff time. They’re still a season or two away from being a true contender.

6) Vancouver Canucks

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Every time the Canucks make a significant playoff run, the city of Vancouver begins to tremble in excitement.

Unfortunately, in their three Stanley Cup appearances, the Canucks have run into a dynasty in the New York Islanders, a team of destiny in the New York Rangers and the greatest-ever performance by a goaltender in the Finals when Tim Thomas and the Bruins won last year’s championship.

The city famously rioted after failing to capture hockey’s most coveted trophy last season, perhaps the result of the frustration of more than 40 years in the NHL without a single Cup. Many hockey fans were critical of the reaction, but one must acknowledge that the actions, however irresponsible, were evidence of the fans’ passion for the team.

Like any good Canadian city, Vancouver doesn’t know what an empty seat in the house looks like.

Will They Win This Year?

The question is not whether or not they will have a shot, but whether or not the Sedins and Luongo are capable of carrying a team to a championship. I’ll believe it when I see it.

5) Calgary Flames

Last Stanley Cup:  1989

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

The Flames haven’t won a playoff series since the dramatic run to the Stanley Cup in 2004, but the Saddledome has nonetheless been filled every night. This is an especially amazing feat because of the relatively small population in the metropolitan area; the team is drawing from a population about half the size of Vancouver’s, and they share the province of Alberta with the Oilers.

Most of the teams in the top eight have been waiting longer for a Stanley Cup, which is the only reason that this passionate, committed Calgary fan base isn’t ranked higher than No. 5.

Will They Win This Year?

It’s going to be a long year for Flames fans. The team doesn’t look ready to make a playoff run, rumors of a Jarome Iginla trade won’t go away and the rivals in Edmonton are finally seeing some success.

My heart goes out to the Fiery Faithful.

4) Buffalo Sabres

Last Stanley Cup:  Never

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Oh, do they ever.

The attendance numbers don’t quite match up to Canadian teams or the more popular American teams, but the franchise has survived the financial debacle of the Adelphia scandal and saw hockey glory snatched from its grasp by one of the most controversial series-winning goals in hockey playoff history.

Located between major hockey hotbeds in Toronto and New York City and dealing with a much lower metropolitan population than most teams in the Northeast, the Sabres have sold near or above capacity each of the last five years.

By sheer attendance numbers, Buffalo should not be quite so high on the list, but considering all this fan base has gone through, it’s hard not to hope they get their Cup soon.

Will They Win This Year?

The Sabres will make some noise in the playoffs. The Northeast Division will be competitive this season, but Buffalo’s strengthened blue line could be the difference between another first-round exit and a deep playoff run.

3) Montreal Canadiens

Last Stanley Cup:  1993

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

The team did win a Cup relatively recently, in 1993.  But when your franchise has won 24 Stanley Cups in its history, an 18-year drought feels like forever. 

No stadium in the NHL holds more than the Bell Centre, at 21,273. Montreal’s average attendance since 2005?  21,273. That average attendance is 1,500 more fans per home game than any other team.

Good luck getting a ticket.

The team’s struggles do not match those in Buffalo, Vancouver, or other cities desperate for a Cup, but every home game, there are 21,273 reasons that Montreal is one of the most deserving franchises in hockey.

And for what it's worth, the photo used in this slide was taken at an away game against the Boston Bruins.  Yeah, Habs fans don't mess around.

Will They Win This Year?

It doesn’t look good. Buffalo and Toronto are getting better, and the Habs are getting worse. Expect to hear a lot of swearing in French when the playoffs roll around.

2) Philadelphia Flyers

Last Stanley Cup:  1975

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

Philly fans have a reputation for being the most despicable, rabid and rambunctious in all of hockey, and the City of Brotherly Love has been a hotbed for hockey since the days of the Broad Street Bullies.

Since 1975, the Flyers have made the Finals six times, with no Cup to show for it.

The Flyers have the fourth-largest stadium capacity in the NHL, and they’ve managed to sell above capacity in each of the last six seasons, with the exception of the team’s abysmal 2006-07 campaign that saw the Flyers finish last in the league.

Despite the dismal performance, the team sold at almost 99 percent capacity.

For reference, the photo shown depicts Flyers fans watching Game 7 against the Bruins in 2010...on the scoreboard. How many teams would kill for that kind of turnout, much less for a game that was being played four states away?

Fan loyalty, unwavering passion and a Cup drought approaching 40 years make Philadelphia the most championship-worthy fan base in the United States.

Will They Win This Year?

The team has started strong, and the dramatic roster changes appear to be paying off, but can a roster with so many rookies hold up come playoff time? There lies the test.

1) Toronto Maple Leafs

Last Stanley Cup:  1967

Do The Fans Deserve to Win?

44 calendar years have passed since the Toronto Maple Leafs could be called champions. In fact, the team has not even been to a Stanley Cup Final since that ’67 championship.

The Leafs have failed to qualify for the playoffs every season since the lockout.

Despite that, the Leafs are as popular as ever. They have sold at 103 percent capacity since the beginning of the 2005-06 season. When other teams host the Leafs, they see boosts in ticket sales, because Leafs fans are so omnipresent. 

No matter how much the team struggles, it’s the toughest ticket in town. The waiting list for season tickets is 2,500 names long.

When the day does come that the Leafs win their Cup, the entire hockey world (except Montreal) will celebrate with these passionate, committed fans and the city itself may very well achieve a collective nirvana. 

Will They Win This Year?

The Leafs look as dangerous as they have in years. More than 19,000 fans in the Air Canada Centre truly believe Toronto’s time has come, and that belief alone could guide the team deep in the playoffs.