The Best and Worst fans of the NHL, 2009 Edition: The top 10

Perhaps in some way I was inspired by David Letterman's Top 10 list, but I can't stand his show with his lists being the one redeeming quality of it. I know I've used that concept for a few post-season banquet speeches at the conclusion of a sports season and admittedly its a very effective delivery style. Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) of Wayne's World fame used to also utilize their Top 10 lists and just like the shootout I can't pry myself away until its over. Hopefully 30 thru 11 has you captivated much the same way. While some hockey purists hate the shootout, how many of them shut the TV off during the shootout? Precisely. They don't, they watch with perhaps just slightly less interest than those who either have embraced it or the very least accepted it as a way to conclude a regular season game. Before I go too far off on a tangent about the shootout I will redirect this back to the main point of this series. Is there really a definitive way to determine whose fans are the best? In all honesty, I don't really believe there is. That may seem as though I'm compromising this entire process but what I am suggesting that perhaps this is one way to compare teams' fanbases. Every team has fans who live, eat and breathe everything their organization does. Yet every team also has its share of 'bandwagoners' as well as much-loathed puckbunnies. If I had an unlimited amount of time and resources I could do surveys and other extemporaneous research to make this list perhaps even more accurate but so far as I look it over I'm fairly satisfied with my results. Is it what I thought it would be when I started? No, I was shocked that in my system a team like Detroit falls from 2nd to 13th. Yet I could've allowed it to drop further. I kept it at 13 because I did give it the benefit of the doubt with their struggles with the economy as well as their fans seeming ability to be at almost every arena in the league throughout the season. Their sizeable numbers on road games to Chicago and Columbus is something unique for an American-based team. Any of these teams in the Top 10 could make a decent case for having some of the best fans in the league. While that sound very touchy feely, its true. The fans of the Top 10 teams all have one thing in common. They sell out virtually every game and they have a considerable online presence that follows their team's every move. Will there be complete agreement by all the fans how the final 10 shape down? Not a chance. So just to reiterate the following from my original article. In an effort to improve the accuracy of my rankings I am going to utilize a more strict set of criteria for placement. Each of the league's 30 teams will be assessed on three 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. 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. 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. A portion of this grade will take into account the team's average finish during that span of time. 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. 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 begin with the top 10 shall we?#10 - Washington Capitals - 16.0Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 99.3% (18,097, 13th in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.0Last Year's rank: 20th Justification: The Washington Capitals have really risen to the top as one of the league's marquee teams not only for their strong play but more so due to their plethora of young talent led by reigning Hart Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin. The fans now routinely fill Verizon Center, many of whom are sporting red or white Capitals sweaters. A few years ago that certainly was not the case as empty seats as well as apathetic fans were commonplace. Led by team owner, former AOL executive Ted Leonsis, the Capitals have a burgeoning online fanbase who give Washington a surprising web presence. Leonsis himself has his own blog, 'Ted's Take' and has taken it upon himself to help promote other team-related blogs which is unique to the rest of the league. The Washington Capitals are getting closer and closer to earning their way to the Stanley Cup Finals which should only make the fanaticism already swirling about the team throughout the D.C.-area just explode. No other team in the league has embraced bloggers quite the same way and it is this forward thinking that has helped make the Capitals a marketing success story. #9 - Calgary Flames - 14.2 Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 100% (19,289, 6th in the NHL) Online Presence: 4.2 Last Year's rank: 8th Justification: Any Wild fan can attest to the power of the "Red Mile" which is one of the most intimidating sights in the NHL. No other fans in the league unify in one color quite the same way as the Flames fans do for every game. When the Flames can get their crowd going, Calgary seems to transform into a steamroller and games often take a dramatic change for the worse if you're the opposition. Whether its cheering a Jarome Iginla goal or a hit by Dion Phaneuf the fans at the Pengrowth Saddledome can really bring it if they have the motivation to do so. Yet despite the incredible fantacism in the arena it is not matched online. The team has a fairly small online presence in comparison to the rest of its Canadian kins, at least by my search it appeared that way. Flames fans do love to talk about their team on local radio stations but that is hardly unique nor is it incredibly exceptional in its volume. The Flames have disappointed their fans the last few years by fielding a strong team only to have it bow out early and it will be interesting if another disappointment will see the sellouts come to a stop. Yet, as the 2003-04 Stanley Cup Finals proved, Calgary can go absolutely crazy for its team and that great feeling has carried over as long as it has is a testament to their fans tremendous dedication. #8 - Edmonton Oilers - 16.1Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 100% (16,839, 19th in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.1Last Year's rank: 10thJustification: To a person glancing quickly at the rankings it may surprise some to see that the Oilers averaged just under 17,000 fans per game, but that's every seat in Rexall Place. A new arena is coming soon so perhaps Edmonton fans will finally be able to show that they too can bring the fans in with the rest of the elite (attendance) teams in the NHL. No doubt the memories of the Oilers' dynasty of the 80's still has a strong aura in Edmonton, but what one must remember is that for many fans in the 18-25 range that most of those glory days were at a time before they were born or really barely able to remember. That lack of shared memory of the 'glory' years may eventually play out in the team's struggle to keep their arena full if the team continues on its standby pattern of winning and losing. Fans in Edmonton crave the up-tempo game that was typified by the Gretzky-Messier-Kurri-Coffey power years, but the teams they've had of late have not had a lot of offensive firepower. A Stanley Cup run in 2005 delighted in Edmonton, but it has been downhill since then. Star calibre players like Chris Pronger (and his subsequent defection to Anaheim) and the refusal of very lucrative offers to come to Edmonton by Marian Hossa and now Dany Heatley has made some fans wonder if the team will ever be able to attract superstars anymore. Online Oilers fans have a strong following, which love to debate the issues surrounding the team and asking themselves if the hirings of Tom Renny and Pat Quinn is a good thing. The organization has a great history, and it has done a fair job of embracing that by using its throwback jerseys and was the first NHL team to host a large outdoor NHL regular season game with the Heritage Classic. Eventually that would morph into the NHL Winter Classic which has been a surprising New Year's Day success story. #7 - Pittsburgh Penguins - 16.2Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 100% (16,975, 18th in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.2Last Year's rank: 14thJustification: Success usually leads to more people talking about you; one way or another and that has certainly been the case with this year's Stanely Cup Champions. Like the Washington Capitals, it was not all that long ago that this team was circling the proverbial drain and seemed to be a likely candidate for franchise relocation. A draft lottery jackpot of having the right to draft then wunderkind Sidney Crosby and fortune seemed to smile on Pittsburgh. As Crosby and many of the other high draft choices started to quickly turn the franchise around from laughing stock to contender the fans started to return to the oldest arena in the league. Mellon Arena, 'the Igloo' as its better known is antiquated and small by today's standards and about the only unfortunate thing going for the Penguins this season was that its new (in construction) arena was not built to take full advantage of its two Stanley Cup runs. Online, the Penguins have a strong presence of blogs and message boards. Many of these bloggers grew up watching Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr during the Penguins other mini-dynasty during the early 90's and now are enjoying a renaissance of sorts with Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Sure, its easy to talk about a winner but a bad season or two can get the discussion to become pretty twisted rather quickly. #6 - Philadelphia Flyers - 16.2Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 100% (19,545, 4th in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.2Last Year's rank: 6thJustification: The fans that can boo Santa Claus or in the case of the 2008-09 season, Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin may not be the kindest fans in the league but they are one of the best fanbases in all of pro sports. Philadelphia sports fans are loud and at times obnoxious but they're not a group known to sitting on their hands and keeping quiet even when their team's fortunes turn sour. There is not much difference attendance-wise between the seasons where the Flyers were one of the better teams in the East than the team that was one of the worst. Online the Flyers fans irrasciblity is also shown through a score of blogs and message boards. Fans fill Wachovia Arena and relish the rough and tumble style of play that current General Manager Paul Holmgren is embracing. It is almost a worst sin to Flyers fans to be soft and passive than it is to be a team with a losing record and with the additions of Chris Pronger and Ian Lapperiere will add more sandpaper to a lineup that already features the agitating Daniel Carcillo and tough guy Riley Cote who will give Philadelphia fans plenty to cheer about. #5 - Vancouver Canucks - 16.0Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 100% (18,630, 8th in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.0Last Year's rank: 5thJustification: I must admit, its somewhat painful to have to admit this but the Vancouver Canucks have some of the best fans in the league. Vancouver fans fill up GM Place each and every night and they're a demanding audience. Not quite as vicious as Flyers fans, but Vancouver fans will not hesitate to let their team know they are unhappy whether on local radio stations or on the CDC Message boards. Online, the Canucks presence is rather strong but not the top in that category in the league. Vancouver is brimming in expectation of the 2010 Olympic games which may bring out the best or the worst in the city. The city on the 'left' coast could very well embarrass Canada (and itself) if they let their strong anti-American sentiment come to the surface in what by all purposes should be the ultimate showcase event for British Columbia. The whole city breathed a collective sigh of relief as General Manager Mike Gillis managed to re-sign the Sedin twins; and who knows how ugly the backlash could've been if he had failed. Let's put it this way, Mike Gillis might have to have been placed under the protection of the Canadian version of the Witness Relocation Program. #4 - Minnesota Wild - 16.3Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 102.7% (18,568, 9th in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.3Last Year's rank: 4thJustification: Some may think this is a total homer pick. Yet the numbers speak for themselves; a very strong online presence and a sellout streak that is well over 250+ consecutive games and still counting. Minnesota hockey fans pride themselves on their knowledge of the game and many were fearing the worst when Jacques Lemaire decided to end his tenure as the team's bench boss. Yet, within one week the team sent then General Manager Doug Risebrough packing to the joy of a fanbase who had lost its trust in his abilities and there were signs that the fans' frustrations were reaching a boiling point. Add in Chuck Fletcher as GM and former Golden Gophers star Todd Richards as coach and the team seems to be going in an exciting new direction. Team focused blogs and message boards have been eagerly discussing what to expect of their new team and its advertised 'new' direction. In some markets in the U.S. a team can announce a new direction and if it doesn't really deliver it may not recieve much flak for it; but with a fanbase with a strong hockey tradition the understanding is that we should expect a considerable change in style. Whether that new style will be more successful than what we had with Jacques Lemaire remains to be determined. #3 - Toronto Maple Leafs - 16.0Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 102.6% (19,312, 5th in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.0Last Year's rank: 3rdJustification: The fans of Toronto have been waiting a long time for something to really cheer about. A team that has been near the league's basement has not made one dent in the organization's attendance speaks loudly to the incredible loyalty of the fanbase. Toronto fans keep Canada's airwaves full of chatter about even the team's most insignificant moves. Tickets to Air Canada Center are the most expensive in the league which further proves just how deep the fanaticism runs in Canada's largest city. The team has a fairly strong online fanbase with a host of blogs and message boards but its not nearly as large as one may expect for a team that has so many die hards to its credit. Maple Leaf fans are eager to see General Manager Brian Burke give them something to really get pumped about, and this season he's added quite a few fists so if the wins do not pile up the fights probably will. With a city bursting full of hockey fans, they're sure to like the sound of that! #2 - Chicago Blackhawks - 16.2Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 108% (22,247, 1st in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.2Last Year's rank: 21stJustification: There is no team in the league that has climbed so far so fast as the Chicago Blackhawks who have jumped from 21st last season to #2. The Blackhawks have owed their emergence due to a young, dynamic team as well as a very well orchestrated marketing campaign that has made the NHL relevant again in the Windy City. This was best demonstrated by the hugely successful 2nd NHL Winter Classic held at Wrigley Field. The buzz is certainly in full swing both at the United Center as the Blackhawks had the highest average attendance of any team in the league. It was not really all that long ago when the Blackhawks were being outdrawn by the (AHL) Chicago Wolves! Fans are calling radio shows to discuss the team as well as filling blogs and message boards. The big signing of Marian Hossa has many thinking the Blackhawks are on the verge of a Stanley Cup run, and last year's trip to the Western Conference Finals also serves to show just how close they are. Certainly there are bandwaggon fans, but that totally ignores the fact that many had been driven away over the years by the poor marketing practices as well as the abysmal product that used to be on the ice and many are those who have been re-awakened now that the team seems serious about winning again. #1 - Montreal Canadiens - 16.5Pct. of Capacity in 2008-09: 100% (21,273, 2nd in the NHL) Online Presence: 6.5Last Year's rank: 1stJustification: There simply are no other fans in the league that live and die as much by their team as Les Habitants. This can be a double-edged sword as only Toronto can boast the immense level of media pressure that comes close to Montreal. Montreal fans are loud and intense each and every game and they are also fans with very high expectations. A player who does not meet their expectations is mercilessly heckled as evidenced by the bronx cheers given towards young goaltender Carey Price in last season's playoffs. The fans let the youngster have it and Price played to the crowd in a manner very reminiscent of Habs legend Patrick Roy. Montreal also enjoys a the largest online presence in the league as there are many blogs and message boards dedicated to the team in both French and English. The team has gone through some giant changes this offseason as team captain Saku Koivu and the most talented player Alexei Kovalev was allowed to leave while the team brought in a host of small forwards in their place in Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta. It was a bold and risky move on General Manager Bob Gainey's part who may find his job terminated if it doesn't turn out. Montreal may show up to every game but they do not have much patience for anything less than success.