Which NHL teams are getting the most Buzz compared to last year?

As the 2021-22 NHL season inches closer, YouGov Sport data reveals which teams are enjoying the biggest hikes in Buzz in the United States.

To uncover the noisiest teams, we compared the daily Buzz score average of each NHL team over the last three months compared to the three months leading up to the start of last season, which began in January 2021. This season begins Sept.25.

Unsurprisingly, the league’s latest expansion team, the Seatle Kraken (+4.5), tops our list. The NHL’s 32nd team was first announced in 2018, their name was revealed in 2020, and now the southwest US team hits the ice for the first time Sept. 26. There is always going to be massive Buzz around a new team, and the team’s expansion draft – taking players from teams around the league – no doubt helped boost their score.

The Boston Bruins (+4.3),which made it to the second round of the playoffs in the summer, is starting this season with a Buzz score boost, coming in at No. 2 on our list. Management made some significant moves in the offseason that many observers think will keep them in post-season contention again.

St. Louis Blues (+4.1), 2019 Stanley Cup Champions, eked out a short-lived run last year before losing their captain Alex Pietrangelo to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. As the Blues begin their 2021 campaign, they appear third on our list.

The New York Islanders (+4.1) made a valiant run at the Cup last year and shored up their offensive line. Riding on that high and seeing a bump in Buzz scores, the team takes the fourth slot on our list and will begin its season in a brand-new purpose-built UBS Arena.

Finally, the Montreal Canadiens (+3.8) round out our top five teams. The Habs’ improbable push to the Staney Cup Finals last year no doubt aided their Buzz score coming into this fresh season.

Other NHL teams on our list include the Detroit Red Wings (+2.7), Vancouver Canucks (+2.7), Los Angeles Kings (+2.5), Florida Panthers (+2.4) and Ottawa Senators (+2.4).

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Methodology: YouGov BrandIndex collects data on thousands of brands every day. A team’s Buzz score is based on the questions: “Over the past two weeks, which of the following teams have you heard something positive about?” and “Now which of the following teams have you heard something negative about over the past two weeks?” Results are delivered as a net score between –100 and + 100. Scores are based on an average daily sample size of 549-633 American fans of hockey. Learn more about BrandIndex.

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