Favorite NHL Team

[Hockey4Life1987]

Hi all,

I am looking for my favorite NHL team at the moment (I'm new to Hockey), so I've decided to follow this short 56 games season in order to make my decision before the next regular season will start. So far from all 31 NHL teams It's down to my final four :

New York Islanders

Florida Panthers

Ottawa Senators

Vancouver Canucks

If you had to choose your favorite team ouf of these four teams, which team would you choose and why (based on the history of the team, it's fanbase, number of playoffs performances and other relevant considerations in your opinion)?

I love watching all these four teams play, and that's why it's hard for me at the moment to choose only one of them. Eventually, I really want to cheer for only one team through thick and thin, as all loyal fans should do.

I can't wait to read your comments and I thank you for your help,

Hockey4Life1987

Click to read more...

 

[ManofSteel55]

If playoff history is a big part, then it has to be the Islanders thanks to their early 80's dynasty, but if recent success is more important, then....well...

Of the four, I would pick the Panthers, because of their core players, but they seem so hit and miss - one year they are great, the next they are atrocious. Could cause anxiety problems really, ha ha ha.

I couldn't cheer for the Senators because I don't trust their awful owner to keep any of their young stars around when they are looking for raises.

 

[DrewGl]

uh...you might want to reconsider those options...even though FL has started off pretty hot

 

[ViktorBaeArvidsson]

Join the Panthers squad they got fun players to watch

 

[The Wahligator]

Homer pick for Islanders. Small but passionate fanbase, great management/coaching, bright future and new arena on the horizon

 

[The Macho King]

Homer pick for Islanders. Small but passionate fanbase, great management/coaching, bright future and new arena on the horizon

And a cure for insomnia if that's an important factor for you.

 

[Nemesis Prime]

I think you're better off letting a random number generator pick your teams than root for one of those.

 

[Foppberg]

Nobody can tell you or rationalize which team you should choose, it's a purely personal decision. If those are the final 4, continue to watch them and acknowledge which one makes you the happiest to see win, most upset when they lose, etc.

Any upcoming Ottawa vs Vancouver game, see which team you end up pulling for more. Watch old highlights from last year or 2 years ago between those 4 teams and see which team you end up pulling for most.

That's my take anyways, Cheers.

 

[devbouz12]

Love who you've narrowed it down to. Too many new fans just go with the most successful/biggest franchises. Nice to see someone shake it up a bit.

Also, pick the Sens (unbiased af).

 

[Fisticuffer]

While it’s not for everyone but after too many years of disappointment I bailed on my old team and getting a fresh start with Seattle.
Maybe not a good idea if immediate success is important however.

 

[The Macho King]

While it’s not for everyone but after too many years of disappointment I bailed on my old team and getting a fresh start with Seattle.
Maybe not a good idea if immediate success is important however.

Actually this may be the right call. Perfect time to join a team. Downside is West Coast time zone (assuming you're in the East).

 

[Emerica]

I would not wish being a Sens fan upon my worst enemy.

 

[Rude Dog]

You must be new to hockey if you enjoy watching the Isles.
If you are angry and bitter you will fit right in with the Nucks
Sens have a bright future but the owner will screw it up.
Panthers may be your answer. And they could use an extra fan.

 

[Akrapovince]

Senators are probably the easiest to root for, optimistic future and can’t get too disappointed when they lose.

Couple that with the fact that if look deep into our talent pool, you’ll be down a hockeydb rabbit hole.

Brady, Stutzle, Chabot all fun players to watch.

 

[GOilers88]

I've always really liked the Sens. They're saddled with the worst owner in the NHL but I'll be damned if they aren't generally one of the hardest working teams every year even though they lack those superstars, and they always seem to be pumping out NHL talent that they draft and develop.

That said maybe consider Seattle as well? You can say you've been a fan since day 1 this summer!

That aside if you don't have any real ties to any teams, I'd say root for the players you enjoy watching instead.

 

[abo9]

Hi all,

I am looking for my favorite NHL team at the moment (I'm new to Hockey), so I've decided to follow this short 56 games season in order to make my decision before the next regular season will start. So far from all 31 NHL teams It's down to my final four :

New York Islanders

Florida Panthers

Ottawa Senators

Vancouver Canucks

If you had to choose your favorite team ouf of these four teams, which team would you choose and why (based on the history of the team, it's fanbase, number of playoffs performances and other relevant considerations in your opinion)?

I love watching all these four teams play, and that's why it's hard for me at the moment to choose only one of them. Eventually, I really want to cheer for only one team through thick and thin, as all loyal fans should do.

I can't wait to read your comments and I thank you for your help,

Hockey4Life1987

Welcome to the hockey family!
First I must say that I'm quite sad you are not considering Montreal (my hometown, aka my religion) or Washington (favorite player... er team, aka my secret cult).

Out of the 4 I'd just be wary of Ottawa because of the owner... could be stuck in perpetual mediocrity which sucks. Other than that enjoy the ride(s)!

 

[HabsDood]

Pick the Sens, trouble makers

 

[kingsholygrail]

These are all fine choices, OP. A finer choice would be the Los Angeles Kings.

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

Islanders are not boring to Islanders fans. Other teams may not like that they have trouble scoring against the isles, but it works for isles fans.

 

[The Macho King]

Islanders are not boring to Islanders fans. Other teams may not like that they have trouble scoring against the isles, but it works for isles fans.

Stockholm Syndrome is a real thing.

 

[Quokka]

Which team is geographically closest to you? It's always nice to have the option/ability to attend the games of your favourite team.

As predominantly a fan of a Canadian team myself, I'd say the fanbases of Canadian teams are larger and probably more passionate as a whole which has its benefits as there are often more people to talk hockey with but also its draw backs as there are also more annoying fans/bad apples to deal with as well. I've personally found that Vancouver seems to have more bandwagon fans than other teams so make of that what you will. I feel for Ottawa fans for what they're going through with their owner and that situation doesn't seem like it will be resolved any time soon so if it were me, I'd stay away from choosing them as my team as a new fan coming in. However, if you do choose them given they're at the bottom of the league no one could ever accuse you of being a bandwagon fan if that's something that matters to you. In the past there has often been whispers of relocation for NYI and Florida but Florida's ownership now seems solid and with the new area for the Islanders I don't think that's a worry for either of those teams at least in the near future.

Of that group, the Islanders have probably been the best team over the past few seasons so that might be the deciding factor for me if I were choosing a team from scratch but the Panthers are having a great season and have a solid young core and the Canucks and Sens while both having tough seasons so far each have exciting young players that would be fun to cheer for. Good luck with your choice!

 

[Harbour Dog]

Florida or Vancouver, pretty easily. My choice would be Florida!

Islanders probably isn't a fun style for somebody new to hockey to watch. (Also I'm a Rangers fan and am biased against them)

Senators are going through a bit of a rough decade, but the future looks brighter if you don't mind being part of a bunch of losses right now.

Vancouver and Florida both seem like solid choices as a newbie; I just enjoy Florida's brand of hockey, and I think there is a lot of reason to be optimistic there.

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

Stockholm Syndrome is a real thing.

I’d rather win 3-1 than lose 4-3. Sorry if the isles play defense.

 

[M2Beezy]

Canucks lead the league in games played this season. One of our big selling points at the moment

 

[Crow]

I would just say, don’t put a timeline on it like you plan to. If you can’t decide by the end of the year, you don’t have to. Also the playoffs may color your opinion and those aren’t all playoff teams.

I like every team on your list actually. Been to a couple islanders games in Brooklyn. Was still a good time even though their fans hate the location. Ottawa was always favorite of mine in the east. The panthers have coach Q and some talent players. Used to hate the canucks but they are a completely different team now and were very exciting to watch last year. Kind of suck this year though.