In the icy world of the NHL, passions runs hot. Fans across North America recently bared their teeth and opinions in a survey conducted by Research Without Barriers (RWB). Between May 15th and 23rd, 2025, a well-rounded group of 2,090 die-hard USA and Canadian NHL devotees shared who grinds their gears the most—be it an offside call on a player or that one fan base that doesn’t know how to lose quietly.
Each slice of this research pie was carried out under the eagle-eyed surveillance of MRS Codes of Conduct (2023) and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines—so, you know it’s legit. Plus, RWB’s compliance with the GDPR and the Data Protection Act (2018) means we’re keeping things as clean as a freshly sharpened skate blade.
We surveyed fans far and wide to find out: Which NHL fanbase is the most obnoxious? Who deserves the Stanley Cup the least? And which player is ticking everyone off this season? If you thought your team might get off scot-free, buckle up—some truths might sting more than a rogue puck to the face.
Which Fan Base Is The Most Obnoxious?
In the grand battle for the most irritating fan base, the Boston Bruins emerge victorious (or is it a pyrrhic victory?) with 10.48% of the vote.
Following closely in Boston’s wake are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers, who also seem to specialize in getting under people’s skin. Apparently, some fan bases are better at casual taunting than others are at scoring empty-net goals.
| Rank | Team | Most Obnoxious Fan Bases (Overall Fan Vote) |
| 1 | Boston Bruins | 10.48% |
| 2 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 9.38% |
| 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 8.71% |
| 4 | New York Rangers | 6.56% |
| 5 | Detroit Red Wings | 5.93% |
| 6 | Montreal Canadiens | 4.64% |
| 7 | Chicago Blackhawks | 4.16% |
| 8 | Florida Panthers | 3.92% |
| 9 | Vegas Golden Knights | 3.73% |
| 10 | Anaheim Ducks | 3.68% |
Self-Loathing In The NHL?
When it comes to self-awareness or perhaps just brutally honest self-loathing, a few fan bases did not hold back, nominating themselves as their own worst foes. With 21%, both Anaheim Ducks and Boston Bruins fans seem to realize they might be a bit much on game day. Perhaps a little introspection goes a long way when you’re part of such vivacious crowds.
| Fan Base | Fan Base They Find Most Obnoxious | Vote Share |
| Anaheim Ducks | Anaheim Ducks | 21% |
| Boston Bruins | Boston Bruins | 21% |
| Detroit Red Wings | Detroit Red Wings | 13% |
| Dallas Stars | Dallas Stars | 17% |
| Florida Panthers | Florida Panthers | 18% |
| Los Angeles Kings | Los Angeles Kings | 15% |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Philadelphia Flyers | 21% |
Which NHL Franchise Deserves the Stanley Cup the Least?
Ah, the coveted Stanley Cup! While everyone wants a taste of the ultimate glory, not every team has that squeaky-clean reputation. According to fans, the Toronto Maple Leafs are currently skating on some thin ice, with 7.46% believing they should keep far away from Lord Stanley's prize. The Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins aren’t too far behind either, as fans start questioning if some teams should just sit this one out.
| Team | % Of Fans That Believe They Don’t Deserve The Stanley Cup |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 7.46% |
| Florida Panthers | 5.74% |
| Boston Bruins | 5.50% |
| Utah Mammoth | 5.41% |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 5.41% |
| Dallas Stars | 4.55% |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 4.07% |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 3.92% |
| New York Rangers | 3.83% |
| Anaheim Ducks | 3.78% |
NHL Conference Finalists: Which Fan Bases Think Remaining Teams Don’t Deserve the Stanley Cup
Nothing screams playoff drama like fans turning on their own. The Carolina Hurricanes lead the self-critical club with 25% of their followers thinking perhaps their franchise wouldn’t mind postponing their Cup dreams. It seems self-loathing is alive and well, with several playoff fan bases doubting their own team’s worthiness.
| Team They Think Doesn’t Deserve The Stanley Cup | Carolina Hurricanes Fan Vote |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 25% |
| Los Angeles Kings | 6% |
| Buffalo Sabres | 6% |
| Vancouver Canucks | 5% |
| Washington Capitals | 5% |
| Team They Think Doesn’t Deserve The Stanley Cup | Florida Panthers Fan Vote |
| Florida Panthers | 20% |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 18% |
| Edmonton Oilers | 15% |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 10% |
| Vancouver Canucks | 8% |
| Team They Think Doesn’t Deserve The Stanley Cup | Dallas Stars Fan Vote |
| Dallas Stars | 25% |
| Utah Mammoth | 12% |
| Colorado Avalanche | 9% |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 9% |
| Minnesota Wild | 9% |
| Team They Think Doesn’t Deserve The Stanley Cup | Edmonton Oilers Fan Vote |
| Calgary Flames | 19% |
| Edmonton Oilers | 15% |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 8% |
| Vancouver Canucks | 5% |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 5% |
Which NHL Player Do You Think Has Been the Most Annoying This Season?
And now, for the players that leave fans grumbling into their team scarves. Alexander Ovechkin finds himself at the top of the list, with 8.1% of the fan vote—a testament to his uncanny ability to agitate opponents and their loyal fans alike.
Meanwhile, Brad Marchand and Sidney Crosby maintain their places on the annoying leaderboard, perhaps a reflection of their undeniable skill on the ice mixed with a dash of cheeky flair.
| Most Annoying Player? | Total Vote |
| Alexander Ovechkin | 8.1% |
| Brad Marchand | 7.2% |
| Sidney Crosby | 6.7% |
| Matthew Tkachuk | 6.1% |
| Brady Tkachuk | 5.6% |
| Tom Wilson | 5.3% |
| Connor McDavid | 5.0% |
| Nick Cousins | 4.6% |
| Sam Bennett | 3.2% |
| Evgeni Malkin | 2.5% |
Fan Bases Most Annoyed by Ovechkin
Certain fan bases are particularly vocal about their Ovi-aversion. Carolina Hurricanes fans lead the charge, with 17% declaring Ovechkin as their personal nemesis. All in jest, of course—what's hockey without a little healthy rivalry, after all?
| Fan Base | Alexander Ovechkin Hatred Levels |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 17% |
| Montreal Canadiens | 15% |
| New York Rangers | 13% |
| Colorado Avalanche | 13% |
| San Jose Sharks | 13% |
Methodology
The research was commissioned by the Action Network and carried out online by Research Without Barriers (RWB). All surveys were conducted between 15th May 2025 and 23rd May 2025. The sample comprised 2,090 USA & Canadian NHL fans.
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You can find the full breakdown of results here.
All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2023) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. RWB is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (2018).
