A new study has revealed that the most hated NHL team among Americans is the Vegas Golden Knights. Because of the study, fans are now mocking Vegas online.
There are many rivalries in the NHL. They often have historical or geographical backgrounds that make fans of one team really hate another.
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Vegas is the most hated team
But according to a new study conducted in the US, it’s a fairly new team that fans hate the most: the Vegas Golden Knights. While the team has only been around since the 2017–18 season, they have stirred up strong feelings ever since. A lot of hockey fans dislike the fact that Vegas allegedly circumvented the salary cap. They did so by placing players with large salaries on long-term injured reserve, only to add them back to the roster once the playoffs started. Another factor has been their immediate success, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in their first season and winning the Cup in 2023.
Avalanche second most hated
The fantasy sports and analytics company RotoWire conducted the study, based on the following criteria.
“We first identified the dominant fanbase in each state based on market proximity, broadcast reach, and where actual hockey culture lives. From there, we picked the team that fanbase most reviles using divisional rivalries and recent playoff history (2020 through 2025),” they wrote in the study.
The second most hated team was the Colorado Avalanche, followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens in third and fourth place. The Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, and New York Rangers all shared fifth place.
Fans mock Golden Knights
To further prove the study’s point, fans flooded social media with their thoughts on the Vegas Golden Knights after seeing the results.
“Not surprising. Fakest fans in the NHL,” one fan wrote on X.
“Truly the most unlikable team and fans in America,” another wrote.
“The NHL gave them a cushy on-ramp in their inaugural season. They never paid their dues as a franchise,” a third fan wrote.
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