New Jersey Devils Fans Deserve Better From FanSided Fandom 250
The FanSided Network released their 250 best fanbases in all of sports and entertainment. The New Jersey Devils fans did not make it, as hockey in general was snubbed.
FanSided released their 250 best fanbases in all of sports and entertainment this week. Hockey fanbases were criminally underrated in said rankings. Of those who were left out were the fans of the New Jersey Devils.
Devils fans are some of the most passionate in the NHL. After dealing with five straight seasons without a playoff berth, it took some savvy moves by GM Ray Shero to invigorate this fanbase immediately. Getting the first overall pick in Nico Hischier helped speed up this team’s turnaround. Add into that Jesper Bratt’s surprise break out and Cory Schneider’s bounce-back season and you have the formula to get fans excited once again.
Sure, the Devils don’t have as many fans as the New York Rangers or Philadelphia Flyers, but they will fight for their team as hard as anyone. Imagine being the fan of a team that’s always thought of as the little brother. Despite winning three Stanley Cups since 1995, while every team within 350 miles have won zero in that same time period, the only thing other fanbases say is “you had your championship parade in a parking lot.”
This is the same fanbase that watched the best goalie of all time (don’t care what you say, the stats prove my point) in Martin Brodeur play for 20 seasons. They went nuts for Scott Stevens big hits, Scott Niedermayer’s silky passes and Patrik Elias skate through defenses. This fanbase stuck around when even the players were bolting. In back-to-back offseasons, Zach Parise went home to Minnesota and Ilya Kovalchuk went home to Russia. Despite that kind of heart break, the Devils fans stayed loyal.
I mean, look at who made this list? Fans of Ashton Kutcher are better than fans of the Devils? Who still likes Ashton Kutcher? I will admit I still watch that 70s Show and No Strings Attached is a wonderful romantic comedy, but who’s going to bat for Ashton Kutcher? I mean, I can’t tell you one person I know who’s watching The Ranch.
Just look at how this fanbase has rallied around Brian Boyle. He hadn’t played a game in New Jersey colors, yet they were behind him 100% when he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. They rooted for him every step of the way, and when he made his return it was like a hero had come home. Even Friday night, the fans were chanting his name all the way to the train station.
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You want a celebrity following for a hockey team, and the Devils have that. Kevin Smith, who actually made this list, is a Devils fan. ESPN’s head hockey writer Greg Wyshynski is a Devils fan. WWE’s Edge (Adam Copeland) wears red and black to watch his favorite team. Shaquille O’Neal uses a Devils sweater to cover up his Superman tattoo. Not only do the Devils have a celebrity following, but one that comes from all walks of life.
I get it, the Devils will never be one of those fanbases that get national notoriety. It’s quantity over quality. However, I will go to bat with Devils fans way before any other hockey fanbase. These fans stick it out through thick and thin. That’s why they deserved better.