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  • 09:21 AM ET  03.05

Which team has the best fans in the NHL?

Montreal Canadiens......35%
Minnesota Wild......13%
Calgary Flames......11%
Vancouver Canucks......6%
Edmonton Oilers......6%
Toronto Maple Leafs......5%
San Jose Sharks......5%
New York Rangers......4%
Philadelphia Flyers......4%
Detroit Red Wings......4%

[Based on a survey of 365 NHL Players]

FAST FACTS: Players could not vote for their own fans.... The Canadiens have sold out 133 straight games.... The Senators (12th, 1.4%) were the only Canadian team outside the top six vote-getters.... Aside from the Wild, the San Jose Sharks (5%) got the most votes among U.S. teams.... Among European players who responded, the Flames drew nearly 16% of the vote.

This is an expanded version of the NBA poll from the March 10, 2008 issue of Sports Illustrated.

What's your take on this poll?

March 6, 2008  04:25 PM ET

GO HABS GOO!!!!!!!

March 6, 2008  04:42 PM ET

Really?? I thought the Pepsi Center was always packed!?! I know Denver loves their Avs! But the Habs do have a great fan base. Good for them!

March 7, 2008  02:58 AM ET

Montreal atop the survey? Perhaps not the 'best' fans, certainly not the most knowledgeable, assuredly the most devoted. The city lives and dies with the Canadiens.

Ce soir, le Canadien monte, lance et compte...

March 7, 2008  03:56 PM ET

During the Sharks last visit to the Joe,, the Sharks had a one goal lead late in the 3rd. The Wings were about to pull Hasek. What do the Wings fans do? They get up and start leaving in droves, clogging all the lanes in their premature parking lot escape maneuver.

So no, Wings fans shouldn't be on this list at all.

March 7, 2008  05:57 PM ET

Love to see that the NHL players are confirming that Montreal is the true hockey capital of the World, hopefully Leafs fan and Dave Hodge are going to start to recongnize!

March 9, 2008  01:30 AM ET

HabsFan_1976, leafs fans suffer from a form of delusion science or medicine cannot explain.

March 10, 2008  07:21 PM ET

I am surprised Wings fans are not higher.
Wings fans pack in the other team building???s and create a home ice feel when the Red Wings are playing on the road. Perhaps other players are bitter because of this.

March 25, 2008  09:09 PM ET

Sport knowledge, passion for the game, a winning tradition steeped in excellence, all going back 99 years!! Yeah, that'll make you the sports best fans!

April 4, 2008  07:06 PM ET

The Wings can't fill the seats in their own arena, though.

November 18, 2008  06:10 PM ET

Way to go, Montreal! I agree. But also, real evidence showing everyone - including the players - despises Toronto and its fans. I find it hard to believe that only 18 players out of the 365 selected chose that city. Gimme a break. The area that produces around 15% of the NHL's talent pool is tied with an area known for producing computer software. Hockey is the in the cultural fabric of every single citizen of Southern Ontario. Take the poll again.

 
November 18, 2008  06:33 PM ET
QUOTE:

HabsFan_1976, leafs fans suffer from a form of delusion science or medicine cannot explain.

Funny. Leaf fans are not delusional. Sure, there are lots of idiots out there in Leafland, but maybe that's because there's so many Leaf fans in general. I don't know. I do know many many long suffering Leaf fans who are humored by the club's constant blundering. They know the team is a joke and understand the team may never win another Stanley Cup. But loyalty of the area's hockey crazed masses to the local club is in our system . . . since early childhood. And unfortunately, we can't seem to get it out. We can't shake it. Delusional????? I don't think so. I'm tired hearing that. Hopeless, yes. Get it right.

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