Of the four major sports popular across America, hockey, baseball, basketball, and football, hockey is easily the least appreciated. More people go to the games of the other sports and wear their jerseys much more often than they do for hockey. Still, though it’s not the most beloved sport among the general masses, there are still plenty of people who like hockey. That said, many teams are more well-known than others. There are 32 teams in the National Hockey League. On this list, we have the 15 best-known hockey teams in America.
The question is, why are some hockey teams more well-known than others? In some cases, it’s where they’re located. Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York are big sports towns, and so many people know everyone who plays there, hence the popularity of the Kings, Islanders, and Blackhawks. Other teams are well-known by the general public because they’ve won many games and championships and so they become household names. That explains the popularity of teams like the New York Rangers, the Boston Bruins, and the Detroit Red Wings. Of course, if you ask someone who’s a fan of all sports, they’ll probably tell you they’ve heard of all 32 teams.
To determine the best-known hockey teams in America, 24/7 Tempo consulted a popularity list collected by the site YouGov. They went out and asked people about the hockey teams they’d heard of before, even if they weren’t hockey fans. The ranking on this list was determined by the team’s fame, or how many people have heard of them. We think you’ll find some interesting choices here. (If you want to learn even more about this cold-weather sport, check out this list of the best athletes ever to play hockey.)
New York Rangers – Notoriety Level: 80%
According to the study, the New York Rangers is one of the two best-known hockey teams. Their notoriety may come from the fact that they’re from the heavily populated state of New York and a lot of people enjoy their games. The team has also been very successful over the years. They have four Stanley Cup wins, two conference championships, eight division championships, and the team has won the President’s Trophy four times. The team also plays in the amazing and world-famous Madison Square Garden. All-in-all, there’s a lot to be excited about.
Boston Bruins – Notoriety Level: 80%
If you ask people who don’t watch any hockey about the name of just one team, many people will say the Bruins. You’ll find fans of this team in Boston but also throughout the country, and there’s no shortage of them. Fans have a lot of pride in this team and much of that is due to their incredible record. The Boston Bruins have won a whopping six Stanley Cups, five conference championships, and 27 division championships. Not to mention their four President’s Trophies. This team is very loved, so don’t talk badly about them when you’re in town.
Detroit Red Wings – Notoriety Level: 76%
The Detroit Red Wings are likely considered one of the best-known hockey teams in America because the people in Michigan hold all their teams in high regard. Whether it’s the exciting Lions or the poorly performing Tigers, people there are very defensive of their teams. In addition to their cool name, the Red Wings have some success under their collective belts. The team has won 11 Stanley Cups, six conference championships, 19 division championships, and the team has won the President’s Trophy six times. It’s been a good run for the team, and people have taken notice.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Notoriety Level: 75%
Canada is a country that loves its hockey, so it’s no surprise that the Maple Leafs make this list of the best-known hockey teams. The Maple Leafs are the apple of many a Canadian’s eyes, so they often talk about the team with their friends. Plus, the team is also quite good. Since they became a team in 1917, the team has won 13 Stanley Cups, including a victory the first year they entered the league. The team has also won six division championships. The love for the Maple Leafs likely won’t be dying anytime soon.
Chicago Blackhawks – Notoriety Level: 75%
Chicago is another city where just about everyone loves sports and celebrities of all teams. From the Bulls to the Cubs to the Bears, there’s a lot to love, and the Blackhawks are part of that. People who don’t even regularly watch hockey in Chicago will make an exception to see a Blackhawks game. In addition to being in a sports town, the team has had a fair share of success, including a whopping 16 division championship wins. The team also has four conference championships, 16 division championships, and two President’s Trophies.
Philadelphia Flyers – Notoriety Level: 73%
Philadelphia is known for cold winters, so naturally, there’s a lot of hockey being played in neighborhoods and in leagues. So, when people want to have a good time, they also check out the professionals during the NHL season. While the team only has two Stanley Cup wins, they have been the division champion 16 times, so there’s a lot of excitement built up around this team.
Florida Panthers – Notoriety Level: 71%
They don’t get much snow or cold in Florida, so it makes sense that people would want to do something different and see their favorite athletes play on the ice. Besides that, the team is also a lot of fun to watch. While the Panthers have yet to secure a Stanley Cup win, they have been heating up in recent years. They’ve collected two conference championships, four division championships, and one President’s Trophy. People are excited about what the team will do next, so they’ll likely become a bigger name in the world of hockey as time goes on.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Notoriety Level: 71%
Just like the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins are also a beloved franchise in a state where many people enjoy a good hockey team. The Penguins are a blast to watch because they have a competitive streak that’s hard to match. The team can’t help but win. Over the years, the Penguins have earned five Stanley Cup wins, six conference championships, nine division championships, and they’ve taken home the President’s Trophy once. People who like winners like the Penguins, so it’s no surprise that they’re considered one of the best-known hockey teams.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Notoriety Level: 70%
While the state of Florida has many exciting major and minor league teams to enjoy, the city of Tampa Bay is really on the map when it comes to sports. That’s why, when the people there aren’t following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Tampa Bay Bandits, they’re watching the Lightning. The team has become a force to be reckoned with over the last 20 years, so people are excited there and around the country. They’ve won three Stanley Cups, four conference championships, four division championships, and one President’s Trophy. Don’t sleep on the Lightning!
New Jersey Devils – Notoriety Level: 70%
The New Jersey Devils are currently 10th on the list of the best-known hockey teams, likely because of their catchy name and the fact that many people in the state are thrilled about their sports teams. Excitement in the state has likely grown over time because, though there’s been a bit of a dry spell lately, the team has had many victories during the course of its existence. They’ve won three Stanley Cups, five conference championships, and nine division championships. Although they haven’t won in a while, people still know and love this hockey team.
Washington Capitals – Notoriety Level: 67%
The Washington Capitals joined the National Hockey League during an expansion in 1972. Since then, hockey fans have noticed the Capitals and many people around the country know and love them as well. It’s possible that their growing popularity is due to growing excitement around Washington sports, especially after the Washington Nationals baseball team won the World Series a few years ago. Though other teams have been around longer, the Capitals have won 13 division championships, two conference championships, three President’s Trophies, and they won the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Los Angeles Kings – Notoriety Level: 66%
There are many people in California, and a good number of the nearly 4 million people in Los Angeles likely know of the LA Kings. People here who are fans have been fans for life and they love to root on their team. The team was founded in 1967 and they had many years without a lot of success. However, since the early 2000s, the team has had a fair amount of success. They won two Stanley Cups between 2011 and 2014. Plus, the team has three conference championships under their belt and they’ve won the division championship once.
Carolina Hurricanes – Notoriety Level: 65%
The Carolina Hurricanes are fairly well-known amongst many in the region, even if they don’t watch hockey. The team started out in 1971 as the New England Whalers and had many rocky years. Like the Los Angeles Kings, the Hurricanes finally started to rack up a majority of their titles after 2000. They’ve since won the Stanley Cup once, as well as two conference championships and six division championships. There’s a growing excitement around the team.
New York Islanders – Notoriety Level: 65%
New York has two hockey teams. While 80% of people who were asked said that they are aware of the Rangers, a good number of people are familiar with the Islanders as well. Like the Rangers, the Islanders are also quite good, and they’ve picked up many wins over the last several years. After all, they’ve won the Stanley Cup twice. Plus, they have six division championships and six conference championships. Needless to say, they’re a team worth remembering.
San Jose Sharks – Notoriety Level: 64%
The final team on our list of the best-known hockey teams is the San Jose Sharks. Technically, the team has only been around since 1991. That means they are much younger than the other teams on this list, but they’re still well-known. Since they’re newer, they don’t have many of the accolades. They haven’t won the Stanley Cup, but they’ve won six division championships. Even though they’re new, they’re still more well-known than the other 17 other teams in the league. That’s why they’re on this list of the most popular sports teams in California.