Big Svender
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 1 Aug 2007
- Messages
- 121
Someone asked which NHL team is the equivalent of City.
Purely from a historical standpoint, I would immediately narrow it down to the Original 6 -- the teams that have been around since the 1920s. (The first NHL expansion came about 40 years ago, so all the other teams have only a fraction of past glory/failure of the Original 6.)
Montreal Canadiens -- Most championships in NHL history, so share more than an ownership (Gillette) with Liverpool. Not Like City at all.
Detroit Red Wings -- On a sustained run of success for the past 20 years, which was preceded by 20+ years in the toilet, preceded by glory years of the 50/60s led by Gordie Howe, aka Mr. Hockey. Several Stanley Cups during this recent run of success. So not much like City, till City stocks the hardware cabinet in the coming years.
New York Rangers -- Rival supporters used to chant "1940! 1940!" to Rangers fans to remind them of the last time that they won the Stanley Cup. But then the Rangers finally won it 1994, so that takes away a bit of the City synergy. However, they're in the frame with City only because they are nicknamed the "Blueshirts"
Toronto Maple Leafs -- I actually like them compared to most teams, but the hardcore Maple Leafs fans usually think their team is the greatest, simply by virtue of being located in the North American epicenter of hockey. Right now they are so bad, the arrogance has been muted to a great degree. But historically it is kind of laughable since they've won fuck-all since the late '60s. That losing streak gives them a bit of connection to City, but the arrogance factor among the fan base is a clear difference.
Boston Bruins -- Almost always in contention for the Stanley Cup, but haven't won it in a while (early '70s) and always have an array of talented players (Bobby Orr--greatest defenceman in history, etc) ... Fans and/or players don't appear to have the same arrogance as Maple Leafs or other Boston teams (NFL Patriots, NBA Celtics, MLB Red Sawx). So a fair bit like City.
Finally, Chicago Blackhawks: Haven't won Stanley Cup since 1961 (longest drought in league) ... For decades, tightwad owner treated players and fans with equal disregard -- forcing beloved stars like Bobby Hull out of town, refusing to televise home games (even when sold out) while very other team in league did so for decades. Finally a couple of years ago, the old man owner croaked, and after a decade rooted at the bottom of the standings, the team was infused with talent, games were put on TV and the battered fan base has returned to the United Center (whose other main tenant is/was the Chicago Bulls/Michael Jordan -- sort of the overshadowing MUFC to the Blackhawks' MCFC role although the relationship between the teams IS congenial) ... So fast forward to 2009, the Hawks reach the Stanley Cup semifinals and lose to the hated Red Wings (probably the Hawks' MUFC-like rival, especially because Chicago is full of transplanted Wings fans who traditionally have made the United Center a Red Wings home game in previous years). ... Going into the most recent off-season, spirits and expectations were high for 2009-2010 to be the year to break the almost 50-year drought. Then .... 1) Club lets top free agent Martin Havlat leave for new contract with Minnesota. Havlat uses Twitter account to bash Blackhawks for not wanting him back. 2) Team fails to tender contracts in time to lock up several other players during "restricted" free agent period -- resulting in having to pay each of them more than market rate in order to keep them; 3) New club president decides to fire general manager who built current roster (and who may have been responsible for off-season contract foul-up); 4) Top player Patrick Kane (on cover of EA Sports NHL 10 -- that's how good he is) is arrested for beating up a cab driver after a late night (only 19 years old, so not even legal drinking age, but that's another story) ... All in all, a Typical City type of summer. But they are still on the upturn, just like MCFC. Leading their division 4 weeks into the season. So who knows what spring 2010 will bring for the east side of Manchester and the west side of Chicago.
Purely from a historical standpoint, I would immediately narrow it down to the Original 6 -- the teams that have been around since the 1920s. (The first NHL expansion came about 40 years ago, so all the other teams have only a fraction of past glory/failure of the Original 6.)
Montreal Canadiens -- Most championships in NHL history, so share more than an ownership (Gillette) with Liverpool. Not Like City at all.
Detroit Red Wings -- On a sustained run of success for the past 20 years, which was preceded by 20+ years in the toilet, preceded by glory years of the 50/60s led by Gordie Howe, aka Mr. Hockey. Several Stanley Cups during this recent run of success. So not much like City, till City stocks the hardware cabinet in the coming years.
New York Rangers -- Rival supporters used to chant "1940! 1940!" to Rangers fans to remind them of the last time that they won the Stanley Cup. But then the Rangers finally won it 1994, so that takes away a bit of the City synergy. However, they're in the frame with City only because they are nicknamed the "Blueshirts"
Toronto Maple Leafs -- I actually like them compared to most teams, but the hardcore Maple Leafs fans usually think their team is the greatest, simply by virtue of being located in the North American epicenter of hockey. Right now they are so bad, the arrogance has been muted to a great degree. But historically it is kind of laughable since they've won fuck-all since the late '60s. That losing streak gives them a bit of connection to City, but the arrogance factor among the fan base is a clear difference.
Boston Bruins -- Almost always in contention for the Stanley Cup, but haven't won it in a while (early '70s) and always have an array of talented players (Bobby Orr--greatest defenceman in history, etc) ... Fans and/or players don't appear to have the same arrogance as Maple Leafs or other Boston teams (NFL Patriots, NBA Celtics, MLB Red Sawx). So a fair bit like City.
Finally, Chicago Blackhawks: Haven't won Stanley Cup since 1961 (longest drought in league) ... For decades, tightwad owner treated players and fans with equal disregard -- forcing beloved stars like Bobby Hull out of town, refusing to televise home games (even when sold out) while very other team in league did so for decades. Finally a couple of years ago, the old man owner croaked, and after a decade rooted at the bottom of the standings, the team was infused with talent, games were put on TV and the battered fan base has returned to the United Center (whose other main tenant is/was the Chicago Bulls/Michael Jordan -- sort of the overshadowing MUFC to the Blackhawks' MCFC role although the relationship between the teams IS congenial) ... So fast forward to 2009, the Hawks reach the Stanley Cup semifinals and lose to the hated Red Wings (probably the Hawks' MUFC-like rival, especially because Chicago is full of transplanted Wings fans who traditionally have made the United Center a Red Wings home game in previous years). ... Going into the most recent off-season, spirits and expectations were high for 2009-2010 to be the year to break the almost 50-year drought. Then .... 1) Club lets top free agent Martin Havlat leave for new contract with Minnesota. Havlat uses Twitter account to bash Blackhawks for not wanting him back. 2) Team fails to tender contracts in time to lock up several other players during "restricted" free agent period -- resulting in having to pay each of them more than market rate in order to keep them; 3) New club president decides to fire general manager who built current roster (and who may have been responsible for off-season contract foul-up); 4) Top player Patrick Kane (on cover of EA Sports NHL 10 -- that's how good he is) is arrested for beating up a cab driver after a late night (only 19 years old, so not even legal drinking age, but that's another story) ... All in all, a Typical City type of summer. But they are still on the upturn, just like MCFC. Leading their division 4 weeks into the season. So who knows what spring 2010 will bring for the east side of Manchester and the west side of Chicago.
