Top 5 NHL Organizations
Posted 8:06 PM ET | Comments 14
I wanted to take a little break from reading about Sundin, and all the other NHL rumors and talk about what I think are the best NHL teams. These rankings are based on a number of different things, such as the fans, current team’s success, past success, future, and the organization as a whole. Hope you enjoy....and agree.
Number 5:
Chicago Blackhawks
I hate being in the east and only being able to see this team 2-3 times a year. Love how this organization is building their team. Adding Campbell, their young superstars (do I even have to mention their names), add in some strong goaltending, and you got yourself quite a team. The past few years they haven’t had much success but there on the rise now and making a lot of great decisions. I don’t know much about their fans, but as an original 6 team I can imagine they are great. Even as much as I would have loved to see the Rangers play the last game at Yankees stadium, I’m psyched to watch this team play at Wrigley field.
Number 4:
New York Rangers
Sorry I had to do it. Yes I am a Rangers fan which means I am a little, make that very, biased. But I love the moves the Rangers have been making. Not everybody agrees with me, but I love them. This teams past decade or so has been rough, but we’re coming back again…hopefully. The fans are amazing; some of my best memories are from my times at the Garden. Anyone who steps in the Garden cannot deny that special feeling you get when you enter. Many have people have said this and it is so true, there is NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING like going to a playoff game at the Garden. Their future is bright (for once) and I love the ownership, hopefully for me, they keep it up.
Number 3:
Edmonton Oilers
My greatest memory from the 05-06 Stanley cup finals in game 3 when the Oilers were just about to go on the ice. The fans were AMAZING. I was pumped up for that game and I wasn’t even playing. Hated to see them lose that year, and I hope to see them win it again. Loved the acquisition of Visnovsky, one of my favorite d-men. Erik Cole is also one of my favorite players, and I think he’ll be great for Edmonton. Even though they gave up a lot for Penner, their future is still somewhat bright. But what got Edmonton to number 3 is their past. The great one, messier, do I have to go on. One of the most exiting teams to watch. Hope they can get back their someday.
Number 2:
Detroit Red Wings
Their dominance in the past playoffs alone can get them to the number 2 spot. Add Hossa, and I’m not even sure if I’m even going to bother to watch the season this year because I already know what’s going to happen. Even though on paper they don’t seem to have great prospects, they always get them somewhere. So their future is always bright. This team is consistently in 1st, and with their style of play I don’t see them going anywhere. Zetterberg and Datsyuk, are among the best in the league, and I mean both offensively and most importantly defensively. Babcock is the best coach right now in the NHL. Still can’t believe he didn’t get the Jack Adam’s award. Oh, and did I mention their fans are insane. Yea it’s been tough for them to sell out with the economy these days, but when that arena is full it is electrifying.
Number 1:
Florida….just kidding…
Montreal Canadians
This year I had the pleasure of watching the Rangers blow a 5-0 lead and then lose in the shoot-out, to none other than the Montreal Canadians. People may believe that the Rangers lost this game, or that the Canadians won that game. I’m here to end the debate. The Montreal FANS won that game. Wow, this was just a regular season game and you would swear you were watching game 7 of the Stanley cup finals in double OT. I can’t rave enough about these fans, their just amazing. Every time the ref makes a call against them, or a Canadian player falls down, the arena fills with boo’s. I LOVE THAT. But let’s not forget their past, I don’t even have to whip out stats, if you’re reading this blog you know all about them. They’ve got great young talent in Price, the Kostitsyn’s, Komisarek, Higgins, the list goes on and on. I love seeing this team in the playoffs; I realized how much I missed them when they weren’t in it. I wish them much success in the future (not in the Rangers expense though), and I hope I get to see them win the cup in the very near future.
Honorable Mentions:
Toronto Maple Leafs- Very knowledgeable fans, I really wanted to put them on this list but with the recent Blackhawk moves I just couldn’t.
Philadelphia Flyers- Fans are insane, in a good and bad way. Great future, great organization and most of all great history
Vancouver Canucks- Fans so intense they riot when they lost the cup. But unfortunately I don’t see this team going anywhere.
Number 5:
Chicago Blackhawks
I hate being in the east and only being able to see this team 2-3 times a year. Love how this organization is building their team. Adding Campbell, their young superstars (do I even have to mention their names), add in some strong goaltending, and you got yourself quite a team. The past few years they haven’t had much success but there on the rise now and making a lot of great decisions. I don’t know much about their fans, but as an original 6 team I can imagine they are great. Even as much as I would have loved to see the Rangers play the last game at Yankees stadium, I’m psyched to watch this team play at Wrigley field.
Number 4:
New York Rangers
Sorry I had to do it. Yes I am a Rangers fan which means I am a little, make that very, biased. But I love the moves the Rangers have been making. Not everybody agrees with me, but I love them. This teams past decade or so has been rough, but we’re coming back again…hopefully. The fans are amazing; some of my best memories are from my times at the Garden. Anyone who steps in the Garden cannot deny that special feeling you get when you enter. Many have people have said this and it is so true, there is NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING like going to a playoff game at the Garden. Their future is bright (for once) and I love the ownership, hopefully for me, they keep it up.
Number 3:
Edmonton Oilers
My greatest memory from the 05-06 Stanley cup finals in game 3 when the Oilers were just about to go on the ice. The fans were AMAZING. I was pumped up for that game and I wasn’t even playing. Hated to see them lose that year, and I hope to see them win it again. Loved the acquisition of Visnovsky, one of my favorite d-men. Erik Cole is also one of my favorite players, and I think he’ll be great for Edmonton. Even though they gave up a lot for Penner, their future is still somewhat bright. But what got Edmonton to number 3 is their past. The great one, messier, do I have to go on. One of the most exiting teams to watch. Hope they can get back their someday.
Number 2:
Detroit Red Wings
Their dominance in the past playoffs alone can get them to the number 2 spot. Add Hossa, and I’m not even sure if I’m even going to bother to watch the season this year because I already know what’s going to happen. Even though on paper they don’t seem to have great prospects, they always get them somewhere. So their future is always bright. This team is consistently in 1st, and with their style of play I don’t see them going anywhere. Zetterberg and Datsyuk, are among the best in the league, and I mean both offensively and most importantly defensively. Babcock is the best coach right now in the NHL. Still can’t believe he didn’t get the Jack Adam’s award. Oh, and did I mention their fans are insane. Yea it’s been tough for them to sell out with the economy these days, but when that arena is full it is electrifying.
Number 1:
Florida….just kidding…
Montreal Canadians
This year I had the pleasure of watching the Rangers blow a 5-0 lead and then lose in the shoot-out, to none other than the Montreal Canadians. People may believe that the Rangers lost this game, or that the Canadians won that game. I’m here to end the debate. The Montreal FANS won that game. Wow, this was just a regular season game and you would swear you were watching game 7 of the Stanley cup finals in double OT. I can’t rave enough about these fans, their just amazing. Every time the ref makes a call against them, or a Canadian player falls down, the arena fills with boo’s. I LOVE THAT. But let’s not forget their past, I don’t even have to whip out stats, if you’re reading this blog you know all about them. They’ve got great young talent in Price, the Kostitsyn’s, Komisarek, Higgins, the list goes on and on. I love seeing this team in the playoffs; I realized how much I missed them when they weren’t in it. I wish them much success in the future (not in the Rangers expense though), and I hope I get to see them win the cup in the very near future.
Honorable Mentions:
Toronto Maple Leafs- Very knowledgeable fans, I really wanted to put them on this list but with the recent Blackhawk moves I just couldn’t.
Philadelphia Flyers- Fans are insane, in a good and bad way. Great future, great organization and most of all great history
Vancouver Canucks- Fans so intense they riot when they lost the cup. But unfortunately I don’t see this team going anywhere.
Good blog. I agree that the changes that the Blackhawks have been making in the past year, but they still have a ways to go into the top five. In my own biased opinion, I'd put the Flyers 4th and the Rangers 5th. NYR has a solid and loyal fan base, but ownership was trying to build a winner with old spare parts for way too long. Just curious, what makes Flyers fans insane (in a bad way) besides the fact that many of them (but certainly not all) are also Eagles fans?
I really think this list is way off. Chicago used to blackout games in their local TV market so pretty much everyone in Chicago forgot about the Hawks while Wirtz was the owner over the past 5 years. Maybe now they are committed to winning, but for a long time they were not.Your whole reasoning about the Rangers being a top team is based on your experience at MSG. The Rangers constantly overpay players and will have a tough time making it out of the 2nd round. No offense, but I think MSG is the worst place to watch hockey other than Nassau Colisieum. The ice is always warm, terrible lighting, bad sightlines, and always angry NYC fans.Edmonton does not deserve to be considered a top organization. Their support is great, fans are great, but their GM was a total sh*t. Offer sheets are taboo in the league, and he broke the rule between GMs that you do not use an offer sheet. Not once, but twice.Detroit is a good organization, however, the Wings were charging astronomical amounts for the playoffs, and didn't sell out home games til the 3rd round. Especially in the hard hit economic area of Detroit.Montreal is definitly one of the best organizations in the league with their strong fan base, past success, bright future, and one of the best logos in the league.Tornoto as an honorable mention? No way, the ownership has completely turned the ACC into a corporate yawning party. You can hear crickets in the ACC during games. The real fans have to come down to Buffalo if they want to see a game.My top 5 organizations based on past and future success, fan base, commitment to winning, current roster, atmosphere at games, ownership, and General Manager.1) Montreal2) San Jose3) Detroit4) Pittsburgh5) Calgary
"Edmonton does not deserve to be considered a top organization. Their support is great, fans are great, but their GM was a total sh*t. Offer sheets are taboo in the league, and he broke the rule between GMs that you do not use an offer sheet." This has to be the most mis-informed opion on Offer sheets ever. Do you know which team has had more offer sheets thrown at them then any other? I'll give you a hint, the same GM was a total sh*t. Do a little research. Edmonton is not the firts team to use the offer sheet, not even the first since the new CBA. Stupid comments all around.
Black Hawks, it appears you are going on recent (very recent) success. Oilers, you appear to go on Cup success.I would add maybe the Devils and the Flyers in your top 5. Both are model franchises. The Flyers are one of the few that clearly take care of their own players after they are 100% retired.
A lot of biased opinions which is good and it will make for a good debate. San Jose does not have the success or the rich history yet. Pittsburgh went bankrupt.Calgary could be honorable mention.Nice debate...
Wow Montreal out ranking Detroit????? No Pittsburgh? It looks like you are basing all of these rankings on different aspects for each team to be there, like Chicago, doing a great job rebuilding now, NYR, you're a fan so naturally they make your cut, Edmonton, great years in the 80s and good management (for a good chunk anyhow) The Wings, current success and consistency, and the habs, past success and steady management.... So is each team on this list supposed to have all of these factors or did you just pick a team for each category you based it on and rank them that way? I still think Pittsburgh should be on there before both the Rags and Hawks, the Leafs should be on there as well expecially if you are basing it on fans and history, what other fan base continues to grow with a losing team for 40 yrs? I'm not ripping into you, it's your opinion and still a decent read, but I myself would switch some sh*t up a little, especially the Detroit Montreal rankings, flip that up and rank teh Leafs 3rd and you're alright!!
Im surprised no one is making putting colorado on their lists.
I guess making it clear how you're weighting this would help. For instance the hockey news did a poll and Edmonton tied Buffalo for the least desirable place to play by players! (players said it not me oiler fans!) If it was based on previous cups then yeah Edmonton, Montreal, Detroit would be in there...but so would the islanders?? Ouch. Don't think so. The Rangers have been mediocre for a long time given how much monatary advantage they enjoyed for decades. To me a great organization is a place where players want to play, fans are crazy for their team even though they suck and have a commited ownership group. The Avs have had constant sell outs for years as have the wild. Every Calghary fan has a $150.00 Jersey and although there is a lot of imitators, the sea of red is special. Toronto, although they suck if we are being honest is a destination place for players, they don't care about spending for a good team and the fans are crazy. Same goes for Montreal. How about the Sharks? Yes that's right, they have a very consistant and LOUD fan base, great owners, great facility and great team AND sunshine. Here's my top 5.5. Calgary4. San Jose3. Toronto2. Montreal1. Detroit
"their GM was a total sh*t. Offer sheets are taboo in the league, and he broke the rule between GMs that you do not use an offer sheet. Not once"And the ignorance continues, I beg people to PLEASE do some research before you spew more of this non-sense
I think since every Calghary fan has a $150.00 Jersey they should be rated as the #1 NHL Organization. Despite the fact they suck.
The basis of comparison seems to vary wildly. The Blackhawks and Rangers haven't had much past success-and honestly, neither has been very well run over the past 10 years or so. Edmonton seems to still be churning guys in and out every summer. Can't really argue with 1 or 2, though.
Hey guys thanks for the comments. For all Calgary and San José fans, I’m sorry but I just don’t get to see your teams enough to have a proper opinion of either of them. But hopefully I'll get to watch them more this year with the new schedule. To answer the question on why flyer fans are insane in a bad way, sometimes they are overly intense. Now that doesn’t seem like a bad thing but I’ve heard stories of people going to Wachovia and getting harassed the whole game. I understand a lot of fans from every team do this, but I have heard most of those kinds of stories with Philly fans. But it could just be a coincidence. As far as the rangers go, could you really expect me not to put them on this list? Like I said I've loved all their recent moves, even though most people don’t. The Blackhawks are on that list purely because of their recent success. The Leafs are not on that list purely based on their recent and most likely future trouble. I realize that I mention different things in the rankings, and it’s not very consistent, but I just mentioned the things that stood out for each team, and I used the other factors silently in the rankings.
Thanks for the explanation on Flyers fans. 95% of the time (not including playoffs) visiting fans in Philly may get it verbally, but it rarely crosses the line and usually only gets physical when the visitor takes the first shot. I think most of the "Philly fan" reputation stems from a few idiot Eagles fans and gets carried into the other sports by the media. Personally, I've had worse experiences while wearing a Flyers jersey in the Devils rink than most anything I've seen at home in Philly.
This has to be the most mis-informed opion on Offer sheets ever. Do you know which team has had more offer sheets thrown at them then any other? I'll give you a hint, the same GM was a total sh*t. Do a little research. Edmonton is not the firts team to use the offer sheet, not even the first since the new CBA. Stupid comments all around. Looking at who has offered the most...I was suprised. St Louis Blues had 9 offer sheets from 1986 till present day. So have to agree that the pervious guy isn't totally informed. I still don't see the oilers being one of the top 5 organizations.