Just out of curiosity, who do you all think will be the five teams below us in the rankings? I'd go with:
5. Calgary
4. Phoenix
3. Edmonton
2. Buffalo
1. NYI
Don't discount Toronto as a potential #1. One of the biggest franchises in the league (are they #1 or is that the Rangers?) and yet the longest Cupless drought in the league with a spotty history of even making the playoffs the last 20 years. Gotta think there's a lot of fan misery there.
Rangers' recent playoff runs may have brought them out of the top 5, but they've won 1 Cup in the last 40 years too despite being the league's richest or second-richest team.
Islanders definitely a candidate for #1 given all the problems of that franchise. They had some of the same garbage the Pens had a decade and a half ago, but without the league handing them Sidney Crosby to ensure their survival.
Vancouver's had a lot of frustration. Atlanta fans have to be completely pissed - they put up with a weak franchise for 15 years only to see it yanked out of their hands and given to Winnipeg before seeing any success.