For years, New Jersey Devils fans were forced to sit through fair weather fans calling the team useless. Saying things like “there doesn’t need to be a team in New Jersey” and complaints they were the little brother of the New York-Metropolitan area. For years, when people would talk about NHL contraction, the Devils were on the list. Even worse, when analysts looked for a team to move, New Jersey was their go-to option despite the fact Arizona exists.
The latest Forbes NHL team rankings proves that New Jersey is a great hockey town that makes it more than possible to grow the fanbase.