The Tides Have Turned: Toronto Maple Leafs No Longer the Most Hated in Hockey

With one of the largest and most passionate fanbases in sports, Maple Leafs supporters are known to fill arenas far from home, frequently outnumbering local fans in cities like Buffalo, Florida, and Ottawa.

However, a recent shift in fan sentiment has dethroned the Maple Leafs from their infamous position. According to a survey highlighted by @JFreshHockey on X, the Leafs have remarkably fallen to 24th in terms of likability, with 42.2% of fans willing to support them in a head-to-head matchup. Surprisingly, the title of the most disliked team in hockey now belongs to the Vegas Golden Knights. In the same survey, only 33.1% of participants expressed a willingness to cheer for the Knights against other teams.

The findings come from an extensive poll involving 34,000 head-to-head matchups, with each NHL team being voted on 2,170 times. This substantial number of votes provides a robust insight into current fan preferences across the league.

The Hockey News further corroborates the significance of the results, stating:

Amidst these shifts, the Colorado Avalanche, reigning champions of the 2022-23 Stanley Cup, have emerged as the league's darlings. An impressive 67.9% of fans said they would root for the Avalanche in any given matchup, showcasing widespread admiration for their gameplay and sportsmanship.

This change in fan attitudes reflects a dynamic and evolving landscape in the NHL, where team loyalties and perceptions are continually in flux. As teams vie for favoritism and support, it's clear that the hearts of hockey fans are always up for grabs, influenced by on-ice performances, off-ice conduct, and the ever-changing tides of sportsmanship and rivalry.

The Source: The Hockey News
Maple Leafs Rank as 24th Most Liked Team in NHL According to Recent Poll