Despite their overall disappointing start to the season, there is one big reason to be somewhat optimistic looking ahead - and it starts with the big guys. Hockey Reference [https://www.hockey-reference.com/], one of the NHL's leading statistical databases, released its 2024 research findings. Only six players topped the charts for the most viewed player pages in North America, including Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. It was almost a clean sweep for The Great One, the most-viewed player in 44 states. MacKinnon took Colorado, and Ovechkin claimed Alaska, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Meanwhile, Crosby took Pennsylvania. In Canada, McDavid owned Western Canada, with Ovechkin taking Manitoba and Quebec. Matthews was the most viewed in Ontario and Maritimes, which included Nova Scotia, Crosby's home province. However, the Penguins did not claim the title of the most-viewed team in Pennsylvania. They lost out to their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, who surprisingly claimed the top spot in Delaware. At least Crosby could defend his most-viewed player page title from 2023, but the Penguins lost their top spot to the Flyers, who compiled a 33-34-8 record in 2024. Pittsburgh hasn't been any better, with a 33-33-13 record thus far this year. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwNjYwNDIwMDI3OTUwOTI5/thnpitbanner.png]
