Fans of relocated teams

[wunderpanda]

The Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers, Cleveland Barons, KC Scouts, Atlanta Thrashers are among the relocated franchises, but what happened to those former fans? Do the Sharks have former Golden Seals fans? I presume the Avalanche have fans that supported the Rockies, but who do the disenfranchised support?

I don't mean to open old wounds, but the rivals thread made me miss the Whalers and Nordiques, so I'm just wondering if the crowds started to support the Rangers or Bruins or Habs? Or if you continued to follow the team regardless of the city?

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[tarheelhockey]

The Canes board still has an original Whalers fan or two. My sense is that the rest of them either converted to NYR/Bruins or simply stopped following the NHL as closely.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

I know some Thrasher fans are Jets fans. I also know a few Whaler fans who are Devil fans now.

 

[ZARTONK]

I know a Nordiques fan who now is a fan of whoever plays the Habs on any given night.

 

[DKQ]

When the Thrashers relocated HFBoards had a "Fan Draft" where teams could draft Thrashers fans to become a fan of their team. Some fans stayed with their new teams (The Devils got a gem in Rhodes81) while others stopped following or began following the Jets

 

[kovatroll*]

I know a Nordiques fan who now is a fan of whoever plays the Habs on any given night.

Sounds like a guy I know. Did this guy you know also jump on the Lightning's bandwagon the year they won the cup because they had a couple Quebec boys?

 

[Lshap]

When the Thrashers relocated HFBoards had a "Fan Draft" where teams could draft Thrashers fans to become a fan of their team. Some fans stayed with their new teams (The Devils got a gem in Rhodes81) while others stopped following or began following the Jets

That's hilarious! What a great idea! Curious if these drafted fans have stuck to their 'contracts'.

 

[Smelling Salt]

I was a North Stars fan who followed them to Dallas. Went a few years refusing to refer to them as Dallas, though. The Norm Green bitterness eventually disapated.

 

[tarheelhockey]

That's hilarious! What a great idea! Curious if these drafted fans have stuck to their 'contracts'.

From what I recall, only a couple have really stuck to their new teams. Most just drifted away, which is fair enough considering what they went through. It was still a lot of fun and a good send-off for the Thrashers. The draft itself was probably the highlight of that whole season on HF.

 

[Brooklanders*]

The Canes board still has an original Whalers fan or two. My sense is that the rest of them either converted to NYR/Bruins or simply stopped following the NHL as closely.

I really miss the Whalers.

 

[ZARTONK]

Sounds like a guy I know. Did this guy you know also jump on the Lightning's bandwagon the year they won the cup because they had a couple Quebec boys?

Well he's a she, so....

 

[Dr Pepper]

From what I recall, only a couple have really stuck to their new teams. Most just drifted away, which is fair enough considering what they went through. It was still a lot of fun and a good send-off for the Thrashers. The draft itself was probably the highlight of that whole season on HF.

Top draft choice Juzmo still pops up every now and then on the Stars board.

 

[Juzmo]

Top draft choice Juzmo still pops up every now and then on the Stars board.

I lurk around quite a bit, but can't catch games or GDTs often unless they start at 2am or earlier here.

Stars have been my favorite team in the league ever since the Thrashers left. All the passion isn't there obviously, but it's nice to be a part of the group.

 

[buketdude]

Whalers fan here....stopped following hockey for a couple years..became a Wild fan when they entered NHL.....still never giving up hope the Whalers will return..and will always be a Wild fan

 

[Step]

Whalers fan here....stopped following hockey for a couple years..became a Wild fan when they entered NHL.....still never giving up hope the Whalers will return..and will always be a Wild fan

Always wondered. Do you think a team would work (again) in Hartford? What's the area like for hockey-lovers, arena? Etc...

 

[EvilElf63]

I have a question too. If you live in Nassau county, have you checked out on the Islanders yet?

But really, I'm curious for those Islander fans: what are you going to do?

 

[TaLoN]

The Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers, Cleveland Barons, KC Scouts, Atlanta Thrashers are among the relocated franchises, but what happened to those former fans? Do the Sharks have former Golden Seals fans? I presume the Avalanche have fans that supported the Rockies, but who do the disenfranchised support?

I don't mean to open old wounds, but the rivals thread made me miss the Whalers and Nordiques, so I'm just wondering if the crowds started to support the Rangers or Bruins or Habs? Or if you continued to follow the team regardless of the city?

Having had experience with this when the North Stars abandoned Minnesota in '93, I didn't become a fan of a team in particular for those 7 years without the NHL, I just followed certain players for the most part. Was still a fan of Neal Broten and loved seeing him get his cup with the Devils etc. Became a huge fan of Joe Sakic too and Nick Lidstrom as well.

Then the Wild came to town and I had an allegiance to follow again finally...but that made games vs the Avs tough to watch in particular, as I had rooted for Sakic to do well for quite some time...when he became the original Wild killer it was so bitter sweet to see him snipe an OT game winner vs my favorite team.

 

[Mouse21*]

one of the most beautiful jerseys of all time.

 

[BorzNYI]

I have a question too. If you live in Nassau county, have you checked out on the Islanders yet?

But really, I'm curious for those Islander fans: what are you going to do?

Be happy as hell that we still have our team a short ride away (instead of a 10 minute car ride, a 45 minute train ride) better than them relocating to Quebec or Seattle, etc.

Most Islander fans you will talk to will be a little sad that they are leaving Nassau but are enthused about what the move to Brooklyn means for the bottom line financially (maybe even wang selling) and that they will still be around!

The black cloud that was around the 2015 end of lease date is finally gone...

 

[Che vy Teemuchuk]

I guess I'm somewhat relevant here. I didn't follow the Jets going to Phoenix because of 2 main reasons. We traded Teemu before the Jets left. And they traded for Roenick during the summer. The Jets would never have done so, so it was a pretty big change in personnel and a new stamp was put on the franchise.

I tried supporting the Wild when they came in. But it was hard to get into Jaques Lemaire hockey without the passion of it really feeling like the home team. Instead, my allegiance went to the hated Oilers for the most part. I adopted them as Jets-lite since they were in danger of relocation for a few years there too, all the while still icing very competitive teams. Safe to say now that the old hatred from the 80s is back alive and well, and we're not even in the same conference yet. **** the Oil.

When we move to the Central it's going to be very cool to see how our games in Nashville go as Thrasher fans seem to be a bit torn between those 2 franchises.

 

[jigglysquishy]

I didn't follow at team in the inter-Jets period. I tried to follow the Devils or Flames or Leafs, but nothing felt right. I followed star players more than anything.

 

[Bongo]

It's mighty hard being a hockey fan here in Atlanta. I consider myself more a fan of the game(the League not so much)rather than a specific team.

 

[ds4130]

I have a question too. If you live in Nassau county, have you checked out on the Islanders yet?

But really, I'm curious for those Islander fans: what are you going to do?

If the Islanders weren't moving to Brooklyn I'd probably remain a fan of the team wherever they moved to.

I actually prefer Brooklyn over Uniondale. That part of Long Island really isn't that nice or appealing and them moving to Brooklyn gives me a reason to go to the city much more often.

Edit: All of you older Islanders fans, please forgive me for being ignorant. I wasn't around when they played in the Dynasty era, I didn't start watching hockey until the mid-late 90's so that building doesn't have any "sentimental value" to me.

 

[atl thrasher344]

If anything it has made me more interested in Nashville and I watch more teams but it's still Jets (Thrashers) as #1 for me.

 

[Killion]

The draft itself was probably the highlight of that whole season on HF.

Ya, I invited several to join LeafNation, declined, stating they didnt think their livers could handle any more punishment.