Every year, ESPN does their Ultimate Team Rankings. They rank each team according to such things as a team’s possession, fan relations, training, stadium experience, ticket cost and team success, amongst other things. But a glance at their NHL rankings can make any real fan question their methodology.
Here’s a glance at the way i would rank the NHL’s top ten franchises, using the ESPN Ultimate Team Ranking in parentheses. I required into consideration such things as a team’s recent success, potential future success, group of followers, stadium experience, tradition/background and training/management.
1. Detroit Red Wings (8)
The Red Wings happen to be the top of excellence within the NHL within the last 20 approximately years, winning four Stanley Cups since 1997. They’ve the identifiable logo design, wealthy team history, devoted fanbase along with a gifted current roster, although a maturing one.
The only real factor the Red Wings do not have opting for them is several youthful up-and-comers, but knowing Detroit, they’ll try to re-stock.
2. Chicago Blackhawks (20)
Brought by captain Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks have raised from the dead themselves previously couple of years. A historic team that experienced decades of losing, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup this year and then be among the finest NHL teams. Toews is just 24 years of age, and fellow star Patrick Kane is just 23, which means this team includes a vibrant future still. How did ESPN rank them 20th?
3. Philadelphia Flyers (14)
Philadelphia has already established an excellent run because it finished dead last in 2006-2007, together with a Stanley Cup appearance this year. The Flyers keep having probably the most devoted and rabid fanbases in most of sports. They went through a little of the transformation last year and today boast among the league’s best youthful rosters, brought by Claude Giroux, Brayden Schenn, Mike Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier.
4. Boston Bruins (15)
Similar to the first three teams, the Bruins really are a team that’s presently effective and it has a wealthy background and great fanbase. They’d an unlikely but riveting Stanley Cup run this year, but they are in a little of the awkward period with goalkeeper Tim Thomas going for a year off. Their right wing, 20-year-old Tyler Seguin, is among the NHL’s best youthful gamers though.
5. New York Rangers (17)
The Rangers have really vaulted in the ranks previously year after remaking their roster and achieving serious challengers. Nobody can argue using the background and special Madison Square Garden atmosphere, but many years of underachievement ought to be forgotten with Kaira Richards and Ron Nash now leading the offense in New York.
6. Minnesota Wild (22)
In the finish of last season, the Wild will not have experienced the very best 10. But signing two best free agents in the recent past within the same offseason will boost a team. Ryan Suter and Zach Parise visit among the U.S.’s best hockey cities hoping of creating the Wild right into a perennial playoff team, that we think they’re.
7. St. Louis Blues (5)
The Blues are among the NHL’s youngest and least-known teams, but they’re also probably the most formidable. Brought by captain David Backes along with a strong goalkeeper tandem of John Elliot and Jarsolav Halak, the Blues are earning hockey popular again in St. Louis by playing great defense, and they’ve the youth to become good for many years.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (6)
Following a disastrous first-round playoff exit as a result of the Flyers, the Penguins possess some question marks surrounding them. But Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the right one-two punch within the NHL, as lengthy because they remain healthy.
9. Los Angeles Kings (9)
Los Angeles was the only real franchise that ESPN and that i decided on in the ninth place. The Kings acquired Mike Richards last offseason after which designed a midseason trade for Richards’ former Philadelphia teammate Shaun Carter. As everyone knows, then they continued a Cinderella go to win the Stanley Cup because the eight seed within the 2010 nfl playoffs. LA might not in the past be considered a hockey town, but when any team can change it into one, it’s that one.
10. Winnipeg Jets (23)
Winnipeg finally got an NHL team in its city, and also the fans did not allow the team lower, having a 100 % attendance ranking. They’ll still support their youthful team with among the best fanbases in most of hockey.
Read Full Story at Top 10 NHL 2012 Ultimate Team Rankings
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