In your opinion what is the biggest rivalry in the NHL?

Question

As a Sabres fan i hate the Leafs and the Sens. To me there's nothing better then watching them play each other and having your favoirite team win.

What's your favorite NHL rivalry?

Answer 1

Overall, the biggest rivalry of all time is the leafs and habs. But the past two years has brought up a new and unpleasant rivalry between the sens and sabres. Right now, neither team has an edge. The Sabres knocked the Sens out of the 05-06 playoffs and Sens eliminated the Sabres in 06-07. The cheap shot (my opinion) on Chris Drury made it even worse and the sabres had to do something to stick up for the former captain. But i have to agree, oldest is the biggest, no doubt about it.

Answer 2

I'm a Rangers fan, and I think the Islanders are much bigger rivals than the Devils. I actually like the Devils and sometimes root for them (like in the 2006 Playoffs against the Hurricanes), but never for the Islanders. Although Sean Avery may have gotten under the Devils' skin enough in the last couple games to stir up that rivalry a little more, but Avery does that to everyone, not just the Devils.

The Avs/Wings rivalry was pretty fierce in the late 90s/early 2000s, but it seems to have cooled off. Then there was the Avs/Stars, which seemed pretty big and has also seemed to cool off. Being in New England, I do notice the Bruins/Sabres and Bruins/Canadiens rivalries going pretty strong.

It's really tough to tell any others unless you travel the continent. I'm sure there's fans of each team that might consider any other team a rival.

Answer 3

I remember the old Detroit vs Colorado scene. Lots of brawls, and who can forget Osgoof taking on Roy?

I'd say Leafs vs. Toronto though now. And not because the players. The sens take out the leafs all the time now (and I'm a leaf fan since birth). But the fans get so worked about the games and hate each other.

Answer 4

Well, I'm a Sabres girl and I love it when they play the Leafs. My boyfriend is hinting that tickets to a Sabres-Leafs game might be my Christmas present! (*prays*) I have to agree with Bob, though. Nothing beats those two teams going at it, especially if they're playing in Montreal.

Answer 5

Well for the best past rivalry it was by far the best: 1996-97 Detroit Red Wings and the 1996-97 Colorado Avalanche. We had the fight night at the Joe.

But now that that has died down I would have to say the best rivalry are probably New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils. But the Wings and the Ducks are starting to each other. (the players are starting, I already them cuz they have Pronger and he playes the cheapest style of hockey out there.)

Answer 6

Either the Leafs and Sens or the Oilers and Flames...Both are intense, I would probably say Leafs and Sens is bigger though....my favorite rivalry is the Canucks and Flames...as a Nucks fan I loathe the Flames!!!

Answer 7

It definately varies by region- NYR vs. NJ for those of us in the Northeast

I went up to Canada and was fortunate enough to catch a Toronto v. Montreal game at the Molson Centre (absolutely amazing)

I remember Detroit v. Chicago being pretty big in the past as well.

And for those in New England, the Whalers and the Bruins was a good one.

Answer 8

Well to me right now i think it is Buffalo Sabres vs Ottawa Senators and do you remember when Buffalos biggest rival was the Boston Bruins those were some good games

Answer 9

i like buffalo vs montreal, tor, or sens just because those games are always exciting and there always has been strong rivialry between buff and these teams.
id prefer watching buff playing the sens ever since the sabres played them in the playoffs 2 seasons ago.

Answer 10

Toronto Maple Leafs v.s Montreal Canadiens. One of the oldest and bitterest rivalries in the NHL. Plus, they're both Canadian, so that's always fun.