Help me choose a hockey team...
 

Alright...I'm going to try and get into hockey this year so I need a team to root for. I'd like it to be a team that at least has a decent history, some standout players, and a team that has a chance to make the playoffs. However, I don't want to be a bandwagoner either.

New York Islanders

Devils- Greatest goalie in the history of hockey plus a great winning tradition

Maple Leafs, they need another casual fan with nohockey knowledge.

If you don't root for the Red Wings you're a loser.

QFMFT.

Where else can you see defensemen that consistently make poor decisions only to be bailed out by their goalie. You will watch and realize it's hockey the way it was meant to be played.

If you are one of the people that like 10-8 baseball games and 45-37 football games, watch the Rangers.

I can now say I won't root for the Red Wings!

Actually, I think I have it down to five teams...

Toronto
Dallas
Calgary
Pittsburgh (although Crosby bandwagon effect might be too big for me)
Buffalo

I would go with Calgary, they're a fun team to watch.

Boston University ;)

Loser

CALGARY. always battling for a playoff spot lately, deep runs into the playoffs possible, Jarome Iginla an upcoming star, one of the best goalies in the galaxy, tough scrappy team, one of the best logos in the history of sports, etc etc etc

Flyers

Seriously. The Red Wings are the only way to go. They are full of a bunch of classy, hard-working players. The team is steeped in tradition. You can't go wrong with the Red Wings.

Here are the flaws with the teams you are currently considering:

Toronto - This is option B if, for some reason, you don't pick the Wings. They are an Original Six team, which is a plus. That said, they are very annoying and think the hockey world revolves around them. They are also not very good.

Dallas - No.
Calgary - This team has no class. They are a bunch of dirty, undisciplined hacks. They also have a deeply annoying coach in Mike Keenan. Avoid this team.

Pittsburgh (although Crosby bandwagon effect might be too big for me) - Yes. The bandwagon is too much.

Buffalo: The team is solid when it brings its A+ Game, but I don't think they'll have it anymore after losing so many players in the off-season. A solid fan base, but a bit too trendy for a while there.

Fun? FUN? They are a horribly dull team to watch. They are also a bunch of undisciplined hacks.

Mike Keenan alone is enough to not want to root for Calgary.

What if I go with the hometown Columbus team? Are they even close to winning?

No. They are not. Though I always think it's best to root for the hometown team, unless you already have a "hometown" team and have simply relocated.

The Blue Jackets were pretty poorly handled by their last GM, so I don't think they fit the bill. That said, they are the local team, which is a huge plus, and they have some exciting youngsters in Brule, Brassard, Voracek, Nash and Russel. Zherdev is always a big question mark.

Montreal is my favourite team. They fit the bill on the history part, but a lot of fans are bandwagoners who only care about the number of french canadians on the team and who are always whining. That said, there are few places more exciting than Bell Centre for any games.

The Blues could kinda fit the bill. They have good history and tradition, but the team is not really a playoffs team yet. Jarmo Kekalainen, their head scout, has done a nice job at building a solid prospects deth: Erik Johnson, who is an american defenseman who is currently the top porspect in the league, T.J. Oshie, Marek Schwarz, Patrik Berglund, Lars Eller, Hannu Toivonen, David Backes, David Perron, Ian Cole, Ben Bishop, Simon Hjalmarsson, Roman Polak, Michal Birner, Nikolai Lemtyugov, Jonas Junland, Aaron Palushaj, Cade Fairchild, Viktor Alexandrov, Konstantin Barulin, Reto Berra, Nick Drazenovic, Jeff Woywitka, Konstantin Zakharov... Some interesting names in there, and a whole lot of depth!

I think you should go with St. Louis. They will fight for a playoffs spot, but nothing is granted:

Paul Kariya - Brad Boyes - Keith Tkachuk
Petr Cajanek - Doug Weight - Martin Rucinsky
Lee Stempniak - Jay McClement - David Backes
Dan Hinote - Ryan Johnson - Jamal Mayers
D.J. King

Bryce Salvardor - Eric Brewer
Christian Bäckman - Jay McKee
Erik Johnson - Barret Jackman
Jeff Woywitka

Manny Legace
Hannu Toivonen
Jason Bacashihua

Nice team actually

Sabres will be fine this year, they will relish being underdogs again vs being the favorites. Losing Drury and Briere hurt but we'll be fine

As a Columbus native and a fan, I think the Jackets are MUCH closer than everyone is predicting. While they didn't add any big names, they added two great value players in Hedja and Peca. They have a budding superstar in Rick Nash (and Zherdev has been training in Ottawa getting ready for the season, so I think he's learning how to be a pro) and they finally are rid of the "country club" environment that MacLean has created thanks to Hitch and Howson. The youngsters have another year under their belt and I LOVE that everyone is predicting them last. Those were also the same people who thought the Jackets were a playoff team this past season, if that tells you anything.

I think they are the perfect team for you to follow, because there's PLENTY of room on the bandwagon, and with it being your hometown, I think its a slam dunk. I think this year, the Jackets will fight for a playoff spot down to the end, but then fall just short and finish 9th. In 08-09, watch out as they will have plenty of money to spend and be ready

You are a good man.

I hate U of MN-TC.

May the Gophers burn in hell. :mad:

:D

SI

Blackhawks, because there's only 5 of us fans left? ;)

SI

Why?

If you pick the Leafs, it's you against the world. You either love em or you hate em. Next to Montreal, they have the greatest history in the sport. The Leafs havent won a cup in 40 years, but every victory this season is like a parade down yonge street.

The Leafs have as good a chance as any to be a good team this year. They arent favoured to win the cup, but there have been a lot of surprise teams getting that far the last 5 years.

If not the Leafs, stick to the original 6. Montreal, Detroit, Chicago, NY Rangers, and the Bruins. Of those teams, id take Detroit. They seem to do things right, always competetive, and well respected.

HB, we are the centre of the hockey world
:p

Picking the Leafs would be like picking the Cubs. You'll either die bitter and broken, or eventually see them win a championship that will mean way more to the fans than just about any other team, anywhere.

Otherwise, go with the hometown team. They don't seem to be close to winning, but who knows in a salary cap era. And besides, unlike most of the other teams mentioned here, I couldn't immediately think of any good reasons no to root for Columbus.

Your order of preference should be as follows:

(1) Any Canadian Team
(2) Any of the remaining "Original Six"
(3) Any Non-Expansion of the 90s Team
(4) Any Non-Relocated-from-Canada Team

That is, stick with TRADITION and VALUES. Screw the Johnny-come-latelys in Anaheim, Tampa Bay, Nashville and Atlanta; screw the teams that bolted Canada like Phoenix and Colorado; and screw the Hurricanes for bailing out of Hartford.

Personal suggestion: Chicago Blackhawks or Toronto Maple Leafs
Honorable Mention: Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks.

Why don't you go take in a couple of preseason games in Columbus? You have some decent teams coming to town. Hopefully the Jackets and their sponsors / media affiliates have some cheap-to-free tickets available. When my old lady worked with the Stars radio affiliate, they were giving them away at basically every on-site appearance the station had. Her station's website had a calendar listing all of their promotions too.

Homer vote for Pittsburgh.

You took the words out of my mouth when you do mention Crosby makes them somewhat of a bandwagon-ish choice, but...

They do have a couple things going for them.

1) Crosby. If you are going to get into the sport, why not watch THE best player.
2) Young roster. If you get hooked, you'll have a competitive team to watch for at least the next 3-5 years relatively intact.
3) TV. Because of Crosby, they'll be on TV alot, including the just about officially announce Jan 1st outdoor game at Buffalo.
4) Style. The Pens play up tempo, and are built on offense. I get why many people didn't like hockey in the 90's. Few scoring chances, both for and against. That's not the case with this team in this era.
5) Shootout. Seems like the Pens can't close out teams in regulation, nor can other teams keep the Pens from coming back. I'm not particularly a fan of the shootout to decide games, but the shootout itself is exciting. And Pens have one of the best in Erik Christensen.

ETA-- didn't read fully through the thread. Columbus is not a bad choice. You may get frustrated watching them lose, but if you stick it out, in 2-3 years they will be much better.

Still, only a 3 hour (?) ride to Pittsburgh...if you can find tickets.

I'm glad the Sharks didn't make this list :)

Red Wings. Anyone else would be a horrible decision.

Ordinarily I'd toot the Oilers' horn but it's going to be a little while before the dust settles.

As for the Calgary Flamers...I'm sworn to bash them at every opportunity...cheer for them if you like but you'll be mocked for life!!! :)

I would suggest following the local team. It will be much easier to immerse yourself if you have more opportunities to do so. You should get more chances to see games on local TV as well as reading the local paper colomnuists. Most importantly...if you are close enough to the arena...I'd suggest taking in a game or two. It can be as cheap or as expensive as you want...it's all up to you...but, nothing beats being there in the building and taking the atmosphere because as good as the TV coverage is these days...you still can't see what's going on on the benches or behind the play...or in the stands.

youd be smart to stay the hell away from the rangers and flyers :)

I would say the Flyers. They got a lot better in the offseason and have a really good shot at the playoffs now, plus they have a lot of young talent that will be fun to watch get better.

But, if you have it down to those 5 teams, scratch Buffalo and Pittsburgh off if you want to avoid any chance at a bandwagon-effect. I'd go with Toronto from your list.

Indeed!

SI

Do not root for scum teams that leave Minnesota for Texas.
Don't root for the expansion teem they patronizingly gave MN to make up for it.
(did that sound bitter?)

Choose the Devils. Even with 3 Cups, we're always the underdog. But well supported club, in a great new arena and a true organization in a sport that's losing them more and more over the years. And no one would consider you a bandwagon fan, but it's a lot less heartache than rooting for a Canadian team these days.

After reading this thread more clearly, I think you ought to go with your hometown team. The Devils are the only NY area team that I truly support. I like to see the Giants and Jets do well and if folks ask, I say I'm a Jets fan..but I don't care about football in the rooting for a team sense, just to watch the game and enjoy it.

I think the Blue Jackets are an up-and-coming team and at least the NHL got something right by putting a team in a relatively decent sized NORTHERN market, so I think they need all the help they can get fan support wise, plus you can see them play if you live there still.

But I echo the sentiments of the others. It wasn't too long ago that Pittsburgh was the class of the league and more dominant than anything. They don't need you on the bandwagon now that they're about to be good again.

If he wants pain and agony, then root for the Flyers.

Well, breaking down your conditions...

1) Teams that have a chance to make the playoffs. Let's remove the ones that don't. Philadelphia, Boston, Florida, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, Edmonton. I would include Washington, too, but it's hard to discount with a talent like Ovechkin.

2) Teams that have a decent history. Okay, you pretty much have to remove all of the 90s expansion teams then. Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Carolina, Anaheim, Nashville, San Jose, Minnesota, and Columbus. I am going on the assumption the Stars take the Northstars' history, not the Wild.

I may come back to this condition later, but for now, removing the teams that were recent expansion teams.

3) Teams that have some standout players. I am guessing you mean either top, top hockey players or big time young and up and comers.

Of the teams remaining, Buffalo could be out because they lost some of their biggest names, and those guys weren't "elite" before this year anyway. Miller and Vanek not enough, IMO. Jersey is in because they have Brodeur and Elias. Pittsburgh--no need to even list out those players (even past The Kid). Rangers have Jagr (at least). Islanders are probably out. Toronto has Sundin. Montreal might be out. Washington has Ovechkin. Detroit has Hasek (I think, forget if he's coming back), Chelios, Lidstrom, a bunch of others. Vancouver has Naslund and Luongo. Dallas has Modano and a bunch of others. Calgary has Iginla and Kiprusoff. Colorado has Sakic. St. Louis is probably out.

So that would remove Buffalo, NY Islanders, Montreal and St. Louis.

4) Teams that you wouldn't be a bandwagon fan of. This is recent success teams or the huge, always successful teams.

The huge successful teams remaining are Jersey, Detroit and Dallas. Longtime "huge" franchises like Toronto and Colorado have fallen on harder times, but you may still be considered bandwagon if you follow them, especially if they get good again this year. For now, I'll leave them in, but they have a mark against them.

The recent success teams removes Pittsburgh at least. You follow them and you will instantly be drawn up as a bandwagon fan. On the edge here are Washington because of Ovechkin (although they haven't been good...yet). I'll barely leave them in, too.

Remaining teams without a mark after your conditions:

Rangers, Vancouver, Calgary

Teams with small marks against them: Toronto, Colorado, Washington.

Some breakdowns:

RANGERS: The Good: Original Six team, may have the deepest history. Probably has the best player of the remaining teams in Jagr, and is a team that has recently done well agains after years of being down. Pleasing blue team color, good for wearing. Won the Cup in 95. The Bad: They have a reputation of being big spending chokers, not a "team" team. They're a New York team with all the stigma that comes with that. There's a mild chance of being labelled bandwagon here, too, honestly, although true hockey fans would laugh at that, because the Rangers have been jokes for so long.

VANCOUVER: The Good: Probably the best talent of the remaining teams. Naslund, the Sedin twins are some of the best offensive talents in the league, and Luongo might be Brodeur's heir apparent as the best goalkeeper. The team has been good for a little while now, so no fluke and likely to continue to be good. They're a Canadian team, so they have lots of support nationally against American teams. They have an "afterthought" vibe that I think motivates the team and their fans, since they're "off in a corner". The Bad: They consistently choke in the playoffs. They are probably the least regarded of the Canadian franchises in terms of all around history and recent achievment. The architect of much of their current talent is now in Anaheim. The uniforms are relatively forgetful.

CALGARY: The Good: Iginla and Kiprusoff. One of the best forwards, and possibly the best goalie in the league. They have a bitter rivalry with Edmonton, the other Alberta franchise, which is always fun as a fan. They are a respected Canadian franchise with Cup winning history (most recently in '90, IIRC, and they went the Finals in '04). There is a hardcore fan base for this team. Their primary team color is a deep red, which doesn't wear well, but it's cool if you know it's Calgary red. The Bad: Not much else there after Iginla and Kiprusoff. Always on the edge of the playoffs, having to fight for a spot. They usually get in, put up a good test against a top team, but then fall ('04 being the recent exception). They have that "poor little us" theme like other western Canadian franchise (both current and former), saying they can't compete with the big buys, which is trying and annoying for non-fans. There is a stigma right now that they may have plateaued and can't get much better, although in the new NHL, I don't think that's really true.

Teams with marks against them:

TORONTO: Original Six team. Hasn't won the Cup in forever (ask any Leafs fan here). Has the mad following of the Red Sox, pre-2004, but without a "curse". Annoying fan base and media in eastern Canada hypes them like ESPN hypes the Yanks and Sox. If you root for the Leafs, chances are every non-Leafs hockey fan on this board will hate you.

COLORADO: Original sad sack Canadian franchise (Quebec) moved to Colorado and made good. The Avs were one of the premier teams in the league the past 10-15 years, with several appearances in the Finals and carrying off the hardware, too. The team is well supported by Denver. They have fallen on harder times, though, and their "personnel and scouting" magic of the 90s seems to have petered out some. They still have Sakic, one of the best centers in the history of the league. Known by some as the Force of Darkness. As recent great teams often are, they are healthily despised by a many fans, especially in the Western Conference (see Detroit, Michigan, for primary focus of said hate).

WASHINGTON: They have Ovechkin. Seriously, that's it. They are decades away from their last real good run as a strong team. They only get a nod toward possible playoffs because of Ovechkin. They probably deserve to be with the "not going to make the playoffs" team. They're a perennial after thought in the East, I think. I'm not sure how strong their support is locally, but it's probably not bad, since they have been around for a while. I don't think they have ever won a Cup.

Hope this helps.

From my list, Calgary is the only free and clear team here. Toronto is there, too, but we'll all hate you. Dallas, you'll be hated by Minnesota fans and anyone in the Western Conference, who largely can't stand the Stars.

Pittsburgh is a huge bandwagon choice. If you choose them, you will never separate yourself from the bandwagon. Buffalo's recent success also has a high bandwagon element, plus they're fans on this board are sometimes annoying (if that matters ;) ).

Do not listen to HB on the Wings. They are the current Yankees of hockey (and would be the historical Yanks, too, if les Habs didn't exist). Do you want to be a Yankees fan? Didn't think so.

I did forget about Keenan in Calgary. lol...that's a huge mark against them. As for them having no class, must be an Alberta thing. ;)

Wow guys...thanks for the insight. Chief Rum, definitely appreciate the extra time you put into it. I don't think I can root for the Rangers simply because they're from New York.

I think the biggest knock on Vancouver and Calgary could be their time zone as stupid as that might be. I get the impression Toronto might be a no-go as well.

After reading through things, I think I've adjusted the list a bit...

Columbus, Calgary, Detroit, St. Louis, and the Rangers.

I don't think I can do the Rangers...just doesn't feel right. My brother is a Pens fan (my brothers loving hockey is why I'm even doing this) and while he says I should root for them, I feel like choosing another team might be better just to create a sibling rivalry.

Allright, at least St. Louis is on your list now. ;)

Ew... Of those four, definitely Columbus. I think Vancouver or Calgary would be good choices as well.

SI

I forgot Calgary...they're still on there.

I would go with Columbus, although I still stand by the Icelanders as a good fit. They're a team with a storied history (4 Cups in the 80s), but these days they're a bit of an underdog, although definitely not a bad team.

Just for the record, I can understand discounting Toronto because they have too big a fanbase. But it would be ridiculous to exclude the Leafs for being overhyped but still consider the Rangers or Red Wings.

Other than Toronto or Colombus, the Flames are a good bet. You also get the automatic rivalry with the Oilers, which (unlike most hockey "rivalries" these days), actually goes both ways and wasn't just invented by an unpopular team's marketing department.