Every sport (including synchronized swimming) has its diehard fans, but in the North American sports landscape, NHL fans seem to be the most fanatical. They pack arenas all over the United States and Canada and support their teams in good times and bad. Yet not all fan bases are created equal. There are several teams that struggle to attract and maintain a solid fan base.
Let’s take a look around the National Hockey League and 5 of the most LOYAL fan bases and 5 of the WORST.
WORST – Arizona Coyotes
It makes sense to start our list with the Arizona Coyotes. Besides being the worst fanbase in the National Hockey League, they might be one of the worst fanbases in North American sports. It doesn’t help things that the Coyotes are currently looking for their 3rd home since moving to Phoenix, but their first two arenas weren’t exactly packing in the fans. The team currently plays at Mullet Arena, which only seats 4,600 people. The lack of attendance over the years makes Coyotes’ fans the worst in the league.
LOYAL – Toronto Maple Leafs
The first of the Original Six teams to make our list. Toronto has the second most Stanley Cup wins with 13 but has not won the Cup since the 1966-67 season. Despite their long championship drought, yet on a year-by-year basis, the Scotiabank Arena is a near sellout every night. The Maple Leafs fanbase is extremely passionate, committed, and dedicated, which easily makes them some of the most intense in the league. Simply put, even without a lot of recent championship success, Leafs fans are one of the most loyal groups in hockey today.
WORST – Winnipeg Jets
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The Winnipeg Jets are another in a long line of teams that were forced to relocate, only to be reborn at a later date. The original Jets existed from 1972-1996 before relocating to Arizona. When the Thrashers couldn’t make it work after 12 years in Atlanta, they relocated to Winnipeg for the 2011 season. Things have not been much better after their rebirth. The Jets regularly rank towards the bottom of league attendance figures. An organization that was forced to relocate, was reborn, and still has trouble drawing fans to its home arena easily ranks as one of the worst in the NHL.
LOYAL – Chicago Blackhawks
It’s not really surprising to have another Original Six team on our list, as they have had more than enough time to acquire a deep and loyal fan base. Since their inception, the Blackhawks have won a total of 6 Stanley Cups, most recently in the 2014-15 season, and the team historically plays in front of a packed arena. Even with their current rebuild, Blackhawks fans typically flock to the United Center to watch their team play. Chicago fans are some of the most passionate and loyal fans around.
WORST – San Jose Sharks
Introduced for the 1991-92 season, the Sharks have made the playoffs in 21 out of their 32 seasons. When packed, “The Shark Tank” can be one of the loudest arenas in the NHL, but that’s the problem. San Jose regularly plays to a partial crowd, as the arena is usually about three-quarters full. It seems that Sharks fans come out when the team plays well and stay home when they don’t. The one common thread that the LOYAL teams have is unwavering fan support. Until San Jose gets that, they’ll remain here.
LOYAL – Edmonton Oilers
In the 1980’s the Edmonton Oilers were a dominant team. From the 1983-84 season through 1989-90, the Oilers won 5 Stanley Cups. Behind the play of Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, they were a team to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, not all good things last and Edmonton fell on some hard times. Although the team struggled, their fans remained steadfast in their support of the team. The fans’ patience has been rewarded with the best player in the game today and the team’s recent run of success. As Connor McDavid looks to lead the team back to the championship mountaintop, the Oilers can be guaranteed to play before a packed arena.
WORST – New York Islanders
The Islanders started playing in 1972 and 7 short years later they became a dynasty. From the 1979-80 season until ‘82-83, the Isles won 4 straight Stanley Cups and Nassau Coliseum was packed for every game. After the glory years, as the team suffered from money and management issues, a decaying arena, and a poor on-ice product, the fans stopped coming. The organization is currently playing in its 3rd arena since 2014, although its current home looks to be permanent (for now). But because Islander fans gave up on their team, they earned the rank as one of the worst.
LOYAL – New York Rangers
The New York Rangers have won a total of 4 Stanley Cups, in 1928, 1933, 1940, and 1994. That’s 4 championships since they were created in 1926: 4 in 98 years. For an Original Six team, those numbers are pathetic. Despite the yearly heartbreak in New York City, the fans continue to flock to Madison Square Garden. The “World’s Most Famous Arena” is a near sell-out 41 nights a season and the Garden Faithful is one of the loudest in the league. Without a doubt, fans of the Rangers are easily one of the best and most loyal in the NHL.
WORST – Ottawa Senators
Where to begin with Ottawa? The original Senators played in the NHL from 1917 to 1934 before contraction forced the team to relocate. However, during a period of expansion in the 1990’s the Senators were reborn for the 1992-93 season. Although the Sens appeared in the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, there has not been a ton of success in Ottawa. The team has struggled with poor on-ice performance and regional population issues, which has helped to suppress fan support.
LOYAL – Montreal Canadiens
We started with the easiest WORST pick, so we might as well end with the easiest LOYAL pick on our list. The Montreal Canadiens are the New York Yankees of the National Hockey League. The Habs have lifted Lord Stanley’s Cup a record-setting 24 times. While they haven’t had a recent run of success, as they’ve only made the playoffs in 3 out of the last 9 years, the Centre Bell Arena is constantly packed. Win or lose, good or bad, the fan base of this Original Six franchise is the most loyal in the sport.
