New to hockey; trying to choose team

[sinman]

idk if this is the right place to do this but here we go-

what began as an attempt to bridge an embarrassingly large gap in my sports knowledge-has developed into an obsession of sorts with hockey. from what i've learned so far i love everything about the sport and feel like an absolute sucker for not following it closer growing up (growing up in Kansas City with no team may have contributed to this).

my dad suggested picking one of the original 6 but
a) i want an american team
b) i'm in my early 20's and i'd feel like a real pigeon to bandwagon with one of those teams (still a little rusty on hockey slang).

i have the bad habit of doing things at 110% at all times so once i choose a team there is no going back. I have the rest of my life to watch, follow, and enjoy hockey- i realize that i've spent more time deliberating teams than i did trying to pick where to go to college, and rightfully so this is a big decision.

i'm in my own head now and really dont even know what is important to keep in mind when supporting a hockey team. in no particular order these are things that are important to me

1. New-ish team (easier to learn teams history)
2. no bandwagon-esque teams (total muppet move)
3. good hockey town/fanbase/atmosphere.

is there anything else that should be important to me? my early list so far is

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
SAN JOSE SHARKS
ANAHEIM DUCKS
BUFFALO SABRES
CAROLINA HURRICANES
ARIZONA COYOTES

DISCLAIMER: i refuse to support the blues or anything else from that trash city. also worried about relocation because that would suck to go all in and then them just move although i guess that wouldn't really hurt. I also wouldn't love being a seattle fan.

any help is appreciated.

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[BoardsofCanada]

Personally, I am always drawn to an under dog story (not just in sports but in all facets of life). I am a Sens fan but have also been pulling for the Coyotes and Sabres. I have also really liked what the Huricanes have done over the last 5 years. They have built a solid foundation and have become a legit contender.

 

[Spirit of 67]

Just keep watching hockey.
Sooner or later, your heart will find a team to follow.
Let it happen naturally.

 

[sinman]

Personally, I am always drawn to an under dog story (not just in sports but in all facets of life). I am a Sens fan but have also been pulling for the Coyotes and Sabres. I have also really liked what the Huricanes have done over the last 5 years. They have built a solid foundation and have become a legit contender.

i agree 100%. I sound like a 12 yr old when i say this but i also love the hurricanes colors lol.

 

[sinman]

Just keep watching hockey.
Sooner or later, your heart will find a team to follow.
Let it happen naturally.

my decision would be a lot easier if KC just got a team but from what i've heard that doesnt seem very likely. it helps that i know which teams i DONT want to root for. i guess there's really no rush, hockey isnt going anywhere no need to jump into a decision quite yet.

 

[Rookie109]

Canada: Winnipeg Jets. Period.
U.S. Whatever city that is close that you can eventually drive to a game to watch.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Proximity trumps all. Going to a live game is taking your fandom to the next level, so being a fan of a team that lives nearby is key.

Living in Kansas City (BTW I'm a lifelong Royals fan, so hi) I would've said the Blues, but you ruled them out.

Looking at teams near-ish to Kansas City... I'd say Nashville. I've only ever heard great things about their fanbase and the game-day atmosphere. Definitely a new-ish franchise. And while they had been good for awhile they're on a bit of a downward swing these days so nobody can accuse you of being a bandwagon fan at this point.

 

[sinman]

Proximity trumps all. Going to a live game is taking your fandom to the next level, so being a fan of a team that lives nearby is key.

Living in Kansas City (BTW I'm a lifelong Royals fan, so hi) I would've said the Blues, but you ruled them out.

Looking at teams near-ish to Kansas City... I'd say Nashville. I've only ever heard great things about their fanbase and the game-day atmosphere. Definitely a new-ish franchise. And while they had been good for awhile they're on a bit of a downward swing these days so nobody can accuse you of being a bandwagon fan at this point.

 

[sinman]

Proximity trumps all. Going to a live game is taking your fandom to the next level, so being a fan of a team that lives nearby is key.

Living in Kansas City (BTW I'm a lifelong Royals fan, so hi) I would've said the Blues, but you ruled them out.

Looking at teams near-ish to Kansas City... I'd say Nashville. I've only ever heard great things about their fanbase and the game-day atmosphere. Definitely a new-ish franchise. And while they had been good for awhile they're on a bit of a downward swing these days so nobody can accuse you of being a bandwagon fan at this point.

I've heard that about proximity especially for hockey (BTW Bobby Witt is the future- go Royals). That's good to know and I even have family in nashville so that makes it a bit easier too. I could definitely see myself getting behind the predators, you think they are in danger of relocating? I cant emphasize enough how little I know about hockey at this point and so that's something i'm trying to be weary of too but it does seem like they have a great home atmosphere and fanbase.

 

[Yukon Joe]

I've heard that about proximity especially for hockey (BTW Bobby Witt is the future- go Royals). That's good to know and I even have family in nashville so that makes it a bit easier too. I could definitely see myself getting behind the predators, you think they are in danger of relocating? I cant emphasize enough how little I know about hockey at this point and so that's something i'm trying to be weary of too but it does seem like they have a great home atmosphere and fanbase.

Precisely because of the great home atmosphere and fanbase - no. They're at no risk of relocating.

 

[ChuckLefley]

Anyone who calls St. Louis a “trash city” has never been to town and never seen the sports fans.

 

[althoma1]

If you follow the new Seattle team, you can be with them from the beginning.

 

[walkedpast]

Kansas City Scouts → Colorado Rockies → New Jersey Devils

 

[JMCx4]

idk if this is the right place to do this but here we go-

what began as an attempt to bridge an embarrassingly large gap in my sports knowledge-has developed into an obsession of sorts with hockey. from what i've learned so far i love everything about the sport and feel like an absolute sucker for not following it closer growing up (growing up in Kansas City with no team may have contributed to this).

my dad suggested picking one of the original 6 but
a) i want an american team
b) i'm in my early 20's and i'd feel like a real pigeon to bandwagon with one of those teams (still a little rusty on hockey slang). ...

Oh, but you DO have a hockey team in the Kansas City area: The Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL with home ice in Independence, MO. Starting out as a hockey fan by following a minor pro hockey team is a good way to familiarize yourself with the game, with the advantages of cheaper ticket prices for attendance & a more "intimate" experience with smaller arenas and more approachable players. If you're not in a location of easy access to the team's arena, you can follow them with a relatively cheap subscription to FloHockey.tv for following the team & their League via web/TV streaming. The hockey rules are all the same, and the speed of the game at the ECHL level allows a new fan to more easily follow the plays & see them develop for a better understanding of game strategies. Certainly you can supplement your new obsession by pursuing a favorite NHL team to follow (the Blues are NOT relocating & we'll set aside your misdirected "trash city" comment for the moment), but I encourage you to check out the Mavericks for a local injection of hockey passion. Enjoy the journey.

 

[sinman]

Anyone who calls St. Louis a “trash city” has never been to town and never seen the sports fans.

alright, alright trash city was harsh. I disavow- I've been to St. Louis on multiple occasions and would be lying if I said I wouldn't love to watch a game at Busch stadium or even ballpark village. My GF is from St. Louis and have a lot of friends that support the Cardinals and Blues..... too many sometimes it seems like.

 

[sinman]

Oh, but you DO have a hockey team in the Kansas City area: The Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL with home ice in Independence, MO. Starting out as a hockey fan by following a minor pro hockey team is a good way to familiarize yourself with the game, with the advantages of cheaper ticket prices for attendance & a more "intimate" experience with smaller arenas and more approachable players. If you're not in a location of easy access to the team's arena, you can follow them with a relatively cheap subscription to FloHockey.tv for following the team & their League via web/TV streaming. The hockey rules are all the same, and the speed of the game at the ECHL level allows a new fan to more easily follow the plays & see them develop for a better understanding of game strategies. Certainly you can supplement your new obsession by pursuing a favorite NHL team to follow (the Blues are NOT relocating & we'll set aside your misdirected "trash city" comment for the moment), but I encourage you to check out the Mavericks for a local injection of hockey passion. Enjoy the journey.

Yeah I actually had a friend work for the mavericks and thought about maybe following them closer but i'm naive and just assumed it would be a watered down, and more boring version of NHL. I think the biggest hiccup right now is just understanding the game and the roles of the players. I'm trying to familiarize myself with what is good- Goals a season, points per game, etc. Luckily for me hockey makes it real easy on me and I don't have to learn a thousand different stats.

and yeah, hand up- trash city was harsh I would like to virtually walk back those comments if possible. I appreciate your feedback.

 

[sinman]

Kansas City Scouts → Colorado Rockies → New Jersey Devils

If that's the progression I could get behind the Devils. I'm assuming that's like the colts going from baltimore to indy kind of? Idk if you follow Frank Fleming at all but he alone is reason enough to support New Jersey

 

[Yukon Joe]

Yeah I actually had a friend work for the mavericks and thought about maybe following them closer but i'm naive and just assumed it would be a watered down, and more boring version of NHL. I think the biggest hiccup right now is just understanding the game and the roles of the players. I'm trying to familiarize myself with what is good- Goals a season, points per game, etc. Luckily for me hockey makes it real easy on me and I don't have to learn a thousand different stats.

and yeah, hand up- trash city was harsh I would like to virtually walk back those comments if possible. I appreciate your feedback.

Depending on what you mean by "boring"... I understand there is a LOT more fighting in the ECHL.

 

[JMCx4]

Depending on what you mean by "boring"... I understand there is a LOT more fighting in the ECHL.

Depends on what teams are competing in a given game, and who is in the lineup. There are still a few ECHL players (less than one player per team average, I reckon) whose livelihoods depend upon being the physical presence on a team's roster, but those days are dwindling as it gives them far less hope of advancing in their careers than it did even 5 years ago. Once the NHL decided fighting must be curbed, the minor pro teams' strategies in player development adjusted accordingly. I still say "Double A hockey" (ECHL) is a good place for a new fan to learn how the game is played.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Proximity trumps all. Going to a live game is taking your fandom to the next level, so being a fan of a team that lives nearby is key.

Living in Kansas City (BTW I'm a lifelong Royals fan, so hi) I would've said the Blues, but you ruled them out.

Looking at teams near-ish to Kansas City... I'd say Nashville. I've only ever heard great things about their fanbase and the game-day atmosphere. Definitely a new-ish franchise. And while they had been good for awhile they're on a bit of a downward swing these days so nobody can accuse you of being a bandwagon fan at this point.

I don't disagree with your logic, but Nashville is well over 500 miles from KC. It would be just as easy to go to an away game in pretty much any other NHL city, considering you're buying a plane ticket and a hotel room no matter which one you pick.

 

[Yukon Joe]

@tarheelhockey Pshaw - that's like what an 8 hour drive? Easy.

 

[tarheelhockey]

@tarheelhockey Pshaw - that's like what an 8 hour drive? Easy.

Only if you’re good with making it 16 hours of travel instead of 4, with the other 12 spent in Nashville...

 

[RibFrabcus]

Sounds like we got a new Canes fan

 

[High Fibre Diet]

I haven't had a favourite team since Quebec left for Colorado. Since then, I just choose a team to root for early in the game...usually the underdog.

In the playoffs I'll root for one team, then the other team the next day, and then back again.

I've also rooted against teams based on how annoying the fanbases are on this site.

I also tend to root for players, but not their teams...like hoping they have a good game

 

[GJF]

If you follow the new Seattle team, you can be with them from the beginning.

This. Why not Seattle? They are also probably going to be at least decent to good as a team to watch from the get go unless they totally mess up the expansion draft. Vegas proofed that the foundation the NHL gives you as a new franchise is a pretty good one to start building on.