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Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs ranked too low on FanSided 250

By David Morassutti

Fans gets set for action between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Fans gets set for action between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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To no surprise, the Toronto Maple Leafs were among the top-ranked NHL teams in this year’s FanSided 250 but the passionate fanbase didn’t get as high as you would expect.

For years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been the punching bag of the NHL but the fanbase has stuck by the team through thick and thin and once again, that loyalty is being recognized.

The FanSided Network released its annual FanSided 250, which is the ultimate ranking for fandoms from sports to entertainment. These rankings are established through a combination of fan voting, search score and social media following.

Leafs Nation was recognized for its support of the Leafs as the 59th ranked fanbase on the list which is a very respectable number. However, that is not the number we are going to dispute right now.

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Out of all the NHL teams that made it on the list (18 to be exact) the Leafs were the second-ranked team in the list. The team that made it ahead of them was the St. Louis Blues which was a tough one for a couple of reasons.

Sure, St. Louis won the Stanley Cup and were higher than the Leafs on the fan vote and the search score but one area they come up short in a big way is their social media following. The Leafs have 4.3 million social followings while the Blues have 2.1 million which is respectable but it doesn’t even come close.

Not only were the Blue ranked ahead of the Leafs but they were the 31st ranked fanbase on FanSided’s list and you have to wonder why the Leafs are that far behind?

No offence to St. Louis who went on a dream run to win the Stanley Cup and had great support from fans but ask anyone who follows the NHL and if they were being honest they would say that Leafs fans are one of the most passionate in the league.

People might talk about the Leafs corporate-like atmosphere at their home games which has less to do with the fans than the team itself but when it matters most, Leafs Nation shows up. Not only is the sea of Blue and White visible at Scotiabank Arena but it comes out in full force at Maple Leafs square, bars, and at away games especially in the playoffs.

This is why the team deserves to be recognized as the top fanbase in the NHL and year-after-year they have come second on the list but that won’t sway the way fans cheer for their beloved Leafs.

Next. Don’t get worked up about Nathan MacKinnon’s comments. dark

Do you think the Leafs should have been ranked higher on the list or do they need to do something to make them higher on the list? Let us know in the comments below. 

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