The survey presented two random teams and asked users (fans) to vote on which one they would cheer for with each team being voted on 2,170 times.
The survey presented two random teams and asked users (fans) to vote on which one they would cheer for with each team being voted on 2,170 times.
In a recent poll to gauge fan loyalty across the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs found themselves in a surprising position, ranking as the 24th most-liked team in the league out of 32 league-wide. The survey, presented by JFreshHockey on ‘X’, asked participants to choose which team they would root for in a head-to-head matchup between two randomly selected teams. Each team was voted on 2,170 times, providing a substantial sample size for the results.
The Leafs won 42.2% of matchups, placing them ahead of only the Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Interestingly, this poll came just a week after the Leafs were ranked as the 8th-most improved team in the NHL on The Athletic’s list. This recognition was largely due to notable acquisitions in NHL free agency, including Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Anthony Stolarz, in addition to bringing back Max Domi and Timothy Liljegren.
Posted under the same account, a poll of approximately 227,000 votes was cast to determine the top 80 forwards by fans. Among the 80, the Leafs had four members: Auston Matthews (3rd), William Nylander (17th), Mitch Marner (20th), and John Tavares (66th) – all cracking the top 70.
However, despite their presence in the league with star forwards and a contending roster, the Leafs' appeal appears to be limited in comparison to other teams. The “most liked team” doesn’t just weigh the improvement or roster of a team but instead is attributed to various factors, including recent playoff performances or perhaps the polarizing nature of being one of the most historically significant franchises in the NHL.
For die-hard Leafs fans, this ranking might come as a shock. Despite their storied history and passionate fan base, the poll suggests that the team's popularity might not be as widespread as one might think. The amount of fans that root for the other 31 teams outnumber those that cheer solely for the Maple Leafs – and that’s clear in the results.
Given the simplicity focused on deciding which team you would root for in a head-to-head matchup, it provides a transparent image of where teams stand in the eyes of fans across the league. In the hearts of fans, the top five teams with the most matchups won were the Colorado Avalanche (1st, 67.9%), Buffalo Sabres (2nd, 61.4%), San Jose Sharks (3rd, 61.0%), Dallas Stars (4th, 60.2%), and the Vancouver Canucks (5th, 59.3%).
This ranking raises several questions about the perception of the Maple Leafs among the broader NHL fanbase. Without a doubt, there are a multitude of factors when considering whether you like a fanbase, which include but are not limited to, a team's success on the ice, the personality of its star players, location, fanbase, management, etc.
For the Maple Leafs, after a combined 2,170 head-to-head matchups, and despite being a top two market in the NHL in terms of value, it seems that they are not among the most widely liked teams in the NHL, instead much of the opposite.
Related
Rapper ‘50 Cent’ Trolls Boston Bruins Fans by Donning Maple Leafs Hat During Concert
News from THN.com
2024 First-Round Pick Yakemchuk Thrived In Native Calgary Before Senators Selected Him
NHL Hot Seat Radar: Washington Capitals Must Prove Off-Season Moves Will Help Them Thrive
Blues Banking On Elite Prospect Base Elevating Them To New Heights In 2024-25 And Beyond