Apr 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche fans pose for a photo before the start of game seven of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Final Result
Before we look at the final result, there is one more thing that has to be mentioned, as it changed the outcome of the whole project significantly. Larkin created one bonus category called the “sympathy bonus” that substracted different amounts of points for chosen teams Larkin feels sympathy for. The reasoning is simple: there have been terrible events that cannot be quantified or expressed in rankings. Examples include Wayne Gretzky’s trade in 1988 and Flyers goalie Pelle Lindbergh’s death months after he won the Vezina Trophy.
The Colorado Avalanche did not get a sympathy bonus, which means that the franchise stayed at their score of 117 points, tying for third in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils. Therefore, according to the Fan Suffering Index, there are only two teams whose fans had to suffer less than those of the Avalanche. So, it seems fair to say that the biggest frustration has only come up over the past two seasons, but Avs fans have also had lots to be excited about!
Next: Duchene Answers Trade Rumors
If you want to see the full ranking, head to a newsstand or purchase the digital issue of The Hockey News November 23 issue. It was certainly an interesting project!