About 18 months ago, we endeavoured to capture the essence of each and every National Hockey League franchise using only one word.
That exercise proved more difficult that it first appeared. How to compress the long, storied history of the Detroit Red Wings into one word?
Undaunted by that thankless task, we now turn our gaze towards that mass of humanity known collectively as NHL Hockey Fans, a prickly, brawling, insular group if there ever was one.
Can the current group dynamic of a particular fan base be captured in one word?
You decide.
Anaheim Ducks fans – vanishing
Boston Bruins fans – boastful
Buffalo Sabres fans – confused
Calgary Flames fans – complacent
Carolina Hurricanes fans – cordial
Chicago Blackhawks fans – resurgent
Colorado Avalanche fans – fickle
Columbus Blue Jackets fans – faint
Dallas Stars fans – slumbering
Detroit Red Wings fans – proud
Edmonton Oilers fans – optimistic
Florida Panthers fans – awakening
Los Angeles Kings fans – jealous
Minnesota Wild fans – distracted
Montreal Canadiens fans – arrogant
Nashville Predators fans – loyal
New Jersey Devils fans – scarce
New York Islanders fans – frustrated
New York Rangers fans – loud
Ottawa Senators fans – paranoid
Philadelphia Flyers fans – belligerent
Phoenix Coyotes fans – resilient
Pittsburgh Penguins fans – expectant
St. Louis Blues fans – numb
San Jose Sharks fans – hesitant
Tampa Bay Lightning fans – confused
Toronto Maple Leafs fans – obedient
Vancouver Canucks fans – surly
Washington Capitals fans – disappointed
Winnipeg Jets fans – grateful
Mick Kern
