“Ohh It’s the final countdown, We’re leaving together, The final countdown, We’ll all miss her so It’s the final countdown (the Final Countdown), Ohh, it’s the final countdown” are the lyrics to the 80’s hair band Europe‘s power ballad The Final Countdown as you can probably tell. I thought the song, as cliche as it may be was quite appropriate as we finally count down to the Top 10 fanbases of the NHL. By this point on the list I’ve likely annoyed the fanbases of at least 1/2 of the league’s teams. So I’d like to pass on something that may have been ignored from my first article. Every team has a portion of die hard fans that more or less have a strong emotional, financial and intellectual investment in their teams. The size of that group of die hards does indeed vary by team, and some of these franchises do benefit from existing in areas where the game of hockey is a traditional part of life. Does that mean every non-traditional hockey market is doomed to be rated amongst the league’s worst? Not necessarily. It may be a bit easier to draw fans for the game of hockey in parts of the continent where it gets cold enough for lakes and rivers to freeze over but that doesn’t mean they can shun their team if it is mired in a constant cycle of failure. So the results of the list often surprise myself once the numbers are all tabulated.
I also understand how personal the feelings of a fan can be. To be questioned or criticized is not taken lightly especially when it is about something you love. Its why this series of articles can lead to a firestorm of comments, many of which are pretty harsh. However, without stepping on individual toes I would ask that fans of those teams who feel greatly disrespected take a step back and ask themselves if it fair when you place your team against the 29 others in the league? So with all that being said I will ask (knowing all too well that this as if you’re asking people leaving a burning theatre to keep their voices down as they exit the building) that if you do comment, please keep it clean and tasteful. But I welcome comments, but I will delete anything that gets vulgar.
Each of the league’s 30 teams will be assessed on two basic criteria: 1. Attendance average for the last 3 seasons. This will entail tabulating the season average against the maximum capacity of the arena they currently play in based on statistics provided by The Hockey News‘ 2010-11 Yearbook. At least 75%-80.9% will equal 6.0, while anything below 75% capacity would equal a 5. 81%-85.9% will equal 7.0, 86%-89.9% equals 8.0. 90%-99% equals 9.0 and anything over 99% will yield a score of 10. A portion of this grade will take into account the team’s average finish during that span of time. So if a team had a poor record but great attendance it would reward that club with a more favorable rating, and if a good team had poor attendance it would have a more unfavorable rating. 2. A simple Google search taking note of amount of blogs and team-related message boards listed as well as message board activity. Each component will be graded on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being outstanding or perfect and 0 being very poor. In the case of online presence teams are awarded .1 point for every individual blog or team-focused message board that is out there and can receive a maximum score of 100 which would equal a 10 on the 1 to 10 scale with partial points included. You may think this sounds like “Klingon Mathematics” but in my opinion it provides the best chance for true fairness even if its an ‘attempt at scholarship’. No, I do not want to tabulate users on message boards because those numbers can be highly misleading. So for now I am going to stick to a website based count. For every assessment there will be an explanation for the grade. I would also like to toss out a small disclaimer. While the title of the article is the best and worst fans of the NHL it does not mean that all of the fans of any particular NHL team are bad. It just means the support for the team; one way or the other isn’t as great as it may be between various teams. The team’s will be listed with their total score tabulated next to it.
So let’s get to the final countdown…
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#10 Edmonton Oilers Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 6.0 Total Fan Points: 16.0
Rationale for ranking: Edmonton Oilers’ fans have endured a lot the last few seasons. Underperforming teams that have often been far out of the playoff race by the time the of the All Star break or Olympic Break as the case may be. Underachieving performances from most of their veterans like Ales Hemsky who has struggled to be healthy or Shawn Horcoff but most notoriously in defenseman Sheldon Souray has served to undermine the Oilers before they really had a chance. Billionaire owner, Daryl Katz has tried to help by demanding the team be aggressive in luring top free agents to the NHL’s most northern city but so far all the Oilers have felt is the sting of rejection. So with the high profile free agents uninterested in showing up, the fans only hope has to come within via the draft. The Oilers feel they might be on the verge of its best young core of talent since the dynasty days of the 80’s as Magnus Paajarvi, Jordan Eberle and best of all 1st Overall pick from 2010 in Taylor Hall could very well be the long-awaited relief to their duldrums. All 3 players will likely get their shot this season. Oilers’ fans have done well to fill an antiquated Rexall Place each night, but a new arena is needed to take full advantage of the boom of fans that are likely going to want to witness this new youth movement. Online the Oilers have a reasonably strong presence, and so far seem to be patiently waiting for their Pittsburgh / Chicago-like turnaround to happen. Expectations are low for now, but in a few years if the resurgence hasn’t happened the pressure could become intense.
#9 Calgary Flames Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 6.0 Total Fan Points: 16.0
Rationale for ranking: I think the whole league chuckled at the Flames offseason moves this summer, as the team added underperforming former players in Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay as its solution to its scoring woes it felt las season. Add to that confusion by the decision to buyout Ales Kotalik; a trade deadline acquisition who now has effectively become an expensive $1.5 million mistake that will be on the books for the next four years. Needless to say these moves baffled most, and the fanbase is very anxious and apprehensive. The last few years, the Red Mile has been vibrant and loud but they’ve wanted to see success only to be underwhelmed. Patience is wearing thin and while I do not expect to see an exodus from the Saddledome, I do expect to see the fans calling for the heads of the Sutter brothers who seem to have the complete confidence of ownership despite their questionable decisions. Online the fanbase is strong, and more than willing to offer up criticism for uninspiring performances and even franchise stalwarts Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff are feeling the heat. The fans in Calgary want to see more than just making the playoffs; they want to see a team that is showing it can succeed in the post-season and if that doesn’t happen this spring you may just a Red Mile revolution.
#8 Pittsburgh Penguins Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 6.3 Total Fan Points: 16.3
Rationale for ranking: The struggle of the early part of the decade has given way to being a perennial contender each season. A Stanley Cup victory in 2009 was a great accomplishment from an organization that came dangerously close to re-location just a few years ago. How times have changed as they’re about to start the 2010-11 season in a brand new 18,087-seat Consol Energy Center. The beautiful open concourses (cough, wonder where they got that inspiration from, cough) will be a great compliment to watch one of the league’s most star studded teams with NHL poster boy Sidney Crosby leading the way with flashy Russian Evgeni Malkin hoping to come off a somewhat disappointing season last year. I have no doubt the fans will fill the bigger arena but expectations will be high and they will have to continue to be one of the elite teams if they wish to keep it full each night. Online the Penguins have a dedicated legion of fans that are active on message boards and a number of high quality team-focused blogs. So as long as the team remains successful there is no reason to believe the buzz in Pittsburgh will diminish.
#7 Minnesota Wild Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 6.1 Total Fan Points: 16.1
Rationale for ranking: There are signs a storm could be brewing in the State of Hockey. Two mediocre seasons which put the team out of the playoffs but not bad enough to yield them a Top 10 pick in addition to some ugly contracts have created a general malaise about the direction of the franchise. Mikko Koivu was given a hefty contract extension, and while he clearly is the Wild’s most complete player many question if his production justifies the big $6.7 million cap hit. It has been more about the underwhelming peformances with players like Martin Havlat who was supposed to be the savior after the departure (for nothing in return) of Marian Gaborik and talented but misdirected and often concussed Brent Burns that has Wild fans very anxious. Add into that an expensive contract to Pierre-Marc Bouchard who only managed to play one period of hockey before being out for the rest of the season with a concussion that was so severe it prevented him from exercising until this summer and you perhaps you can understand why there are not many Wild fans that are hopeful about this season’s outlook. General Manger Chuck Fletcher for most part has recieved positive reviews but the same cannot be said of Head Coach Todd Richards who at times seemed to struggle despite the same rhetoric spoken after nearly every game. If the team struggles out of the gate, I think Richards could find himself on the hot seat in a hurry. Currently, the team still carries the longest consecutive sellout streak in the NHL with 409 and counting but most think that will be in jeopardy especially if 2010-11 brings more inconsistent play from game to game. 18,568 used to be automatic, but not anymore. Online the fanbase is strong with great attendance both on message boards and team-focused blogs despite having lots and lots of hockey options (high school and college) to choose from. The Xcel Energy Center is 10 years old and still provides one of the best stadium experiences in pro sports and continues to be a model of success but the novelty has worn off and now this team is being judged with objectivity and the franchise will have to be successful on the ice in order to keep its fanbase excited and filling the seats.
#6 New York Rangers Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 6.5 Total Fan Points: 16.5
Rationale for ranking: New York always loves being the biggest and the best of everything. With that means the demands and expectations are always high. The same is true for the New York Rangers. In Glen Sather‘s tenure, the Rangers have had mixed levels of success. The Rangers failed to make the post season by one game, and scoring an issue that was supposed to have been solved by the addition of Marian Gaborik who started out red hot only to flatline during the 2nd half and with his stalling production so did the offense for the whole team. The team may not have a whole lot to scare other teams, as Henrik Lundqvist gives the Rangers a chance to win most nights with stellar play between the pipes but they do have some great talent in their prospect pool. Yet any team in New York is under a microscope and that certainly is the case each night with 18,200 filling the aging Madison Square Garden each night and a strong and loud fanbase that will aire its displeasure without hesitation. Online its much the same as they have a strong presence on message boards and numerous high quality blogs. Fans and the media are wanting to see some return and with a hard-headed coach like John Tortorella they will only put up with this edgy personality so long if their not winning. The pressure is always on, but it will be an uphill climb in an already tough Atlantic Division.
#5 Washington Capitals Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 6.7 Total Fan Points: 16.7
Rationale for ranking: Last year Yahoo!’s Puck Daddy criticised me for rating the Washington Capitals so high. I wonder how much flak I might recieve this time for rating the Capitals in the top 5 fanbases in the NHL. Capitals fans have completely bought into Alexander Ovechkin-mania, but they felt a huge dose of sour last season when they were ousted in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens. The Capitals ran away with the Southeast Division but they return with a team that is more or less the same as it was last year. It is a sea of red at Verizon Center each night, and the Capitals have provided plenty of goals from its stable of young talent like Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexandre Semin and Mike Green to keep the fans entertained and cheering. However at some point its more about regular season dominance and they need to bring a championship to the nation’s capital which is something that hasn’t happened since the 1991 Washington Redskins. So far the novelty and popularity of the team is at an all time high, but team owner Ted Leonsis has to know they’ll need post-season success to keep the momentum going. Online the team has a vibrant presence as clearly the team has managed to ignite lots and lots of younger fans to want to talk and discuss the team which is no small feat in a non-traditional hockey market.
#4 Vancouver Canucks Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 6.2 Total Fan Points: 16.2
Rationale for ranking: I have to admit, it almost makes me cringe ranking the Canucks this high but in all honesty its well deserved. For many Eastern Conference fans they have been a sleep a for an hour or so by the time the Canucks start games and they may not be familiar with their incredibly fanatical fanbase. Yet they may have seen a glimpse of it at the 2010 Winter Olympics when Vancouver did a fantastic job as host and really brought the intensity for any of the hockey matchups. If you asked any fan of the Northwest Division they’re all too familiar with the Canucks and their fans as they serenade the home team to loud chants of “Louuuuuuu” for goaltender and team captain Roberto Luongo. Henrik and Daniel Sedin lead a strong puck possession team which can drive the opposition crazy with their incredible ability to cycle the puck. Feisty forwards Ryan Kesler and Alexandre Burrows round out an attack that can also burn you in transition. The time for Vancouver is now after acquiring defenseman Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard as the team hopes to emerge from the shadow of being an also ran. The team’s hard work and success on the ice have built up an impressive string of sellouts despite high ticket prices. Vancouver has a very rabid online fanbase and their CDC message boards have become somewhat of a plague to the rest of the team as its members love to flood opposing message boards with their unrelenting love of the Canucks. If you find yourself thinking this behavior is annoying but imagine if this team ever wins a Stanley Cup?
#3 Toronto Maple Leafs Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 6.3 Total Fan Points: 16.3
Rationale for ranking: For the NHL, they’re the league’s version of the Chicago Cubs. The loveable losers, well maybe not quite that bad or that loveable either. Yet they now currently have the longest Stanley Cup drought at 43 years and counting. That hasn’t stopped Leafs fans from obsessing over their team despite being a massive failure on the ice. Air Canada Center has the highest ticket prices of any NHL team yet that does not stop the Leafs from selling out each night. There is always a lot of pressure on any players that play in Canada’s largest city, so when you consider the pressure on Phil Kessel you start to begin to understand just how intense that spotlight can be especially when you consider what the Maple Leafs gave up to get him. Edina, Minnesota-native and Leafs GM Brian Burke has steadily shaped the team to fit his ideal adding lots of toughness in Mike Brown, Colton Orr, the agitating Colby Armstrong and crowned by defenseman Dion Phaneuf and Toronto fans hope this formula of skill and toughness bring their team back to prominence. Online the Maple Leafs’ presence is predictably strong, and reflects the undying hope their fans share that it will again hoist a Stanley Cup banner to the rafters. Leafs fans travel very well throughout Canada and in specific American markets that are situated near the border like Detroit or Buffalo for example. Leafs fans are often considered the bain of other Canadian teams as they feel the team earns an inordinate amount of press in comparison to their success, but the fact the Canadian media panders to them is a testament to the fanbase’s influence throughout the nation.
#2 Chicago Blackhawks Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 7.1 Total Fan Points: 17.1
Rationale for ranking: It is amazing to think of how far the Blackhawks have come in the last 5 years. From being outdrawn by their American Hockey League neighbor, the Chicago Wolves to now drawing the most fans of any team in the NHL the last two seasons. Chicago’s path to resurgence has been well documented and has been another shining example of how to build through the draft. With star talent such as Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, and Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith and his defensive partner Brent Seabrook the Blackhawks will remain a force in the Central Division for many years. The United Center hasn’t been this full since the NBA Bulls’ dynasty days of the 1990’s, as the area averaged to stay at 104% of capasity (21,536 average per game). Lots of new fans yes, but also lots of old fans that were turned off by the frugal practices of deceased former owner William Wirtz. His son Rocky has been far more progressive and the team has flourished. Online the Blackhawks have a thriving presence, with strong message board activity as well as a vast collection of team-focused blogs. The Blackhawks have set themselves up to be a tough act to follow after last year’s Stanley Cup winning performance but so far the fans seem to be ready to support such an encore.
#1 Montreal Canadiens Attendance grade: 10.0 Online presence: 7.0 Total Fan Points: 17.0
Rationale for ranking: For the 3rd year in a row, the Montreal Canadiens top my list as the best fanbase in the league. Another season of sellouts with the same almost scary level of detail fans in Quebec demand of their team make playing for Les Habitants perhaps the most stressful place of any team in the league. Players must at all times be on the watch for team-following papparazi that will snap pictures while they’re out at their favorite places and girlfriends quickly become the focus of speculation especially if that player’s performance on the ice doesn’t meet the high expectations of the fanbase. Just ask the Wild’s Guillaume Latendresse of how nice it is to be out of that environment. Since I’ve mentioned the intense pressure of the fans and media, it certainly will make for an intriguing story to see just how goaltender Carey Price handles the strain of being the undisputed #1 goaltender. As Jaroslav Halak quickly became the playoff hero as the team shocked just about everyone by qualifying for the Eastern Conference finals as the 8th seed, but the team deemed him to be too expensive and sent him to St. Louis in a trade. Expect the key piece of the Halak trade, former Blues’ prospect forward Lars Eller to also feel the heat. The environment inside Bell Centre is always festive but there is a high standard of play held by the home crowd and they are quick to sound their disdain for players that do not meet those standards. Price already understands how fast this crowd can go from ally to enemy, so it will be interesting to see how he handles it now that the brunt of the goaltending load will be on his shoulders. Online the Canadiens have a tremendous following of both English-speaking and French-speaking message boards and team focused blogs. Perhaps its this team’s sizeable multi-lingual fanbase that makes them seem that much more fanatical and importance to a segment of Canadian society which sets them apart from any other Canadian team other than perhaps those that compete in the Olympics.
There you go, that’s the 3rd annual list of the Best and Worst Fanbases of the NHL: 2010 Edition. So fire off those comments and let the debate begin!
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