Really I don't like other teams than the Rangers--there are some that are less bad is all. I don't hate hate Colorado but I can't root for them. If they win--fine---we'll get on with next season. Worst case the Islanders win--second worst case the Lightning win--third worst case which is practically as bad as the second worst case the Flyers win. If I were to choose a team to win of who's left it would be Vancouver. I don't care for the Stars either but I do care about our draft picks and it can make a difference when players are falling who your team picks. One third round pick is not necessarily the same as another. That said the Rangers draft list has always been somewhat of a mystery--there are usually guys we draft on it either more than less unknown or taken earlier than expected. It seems most of the time we ignore the falling--Cherepanov being an exception.
This is an interesting debate and it's much more convoluted these days than it was in the past. And that's of course due to the fantasy hockey aspect that is a big part of the sport. Now I'm not sure how old you are or if you even participate in the fantasy aspect of hockey but too me, it's one of the most fun and enjoyable aspects of watching the sport.
Been a Ranger fan since 1970-71. Have played hockey competitivly as high a level as varsity hockey in HS. Love love hockey...love love our Rangers. Have lived and died with them and will always live and die with them. That said in 1997 a friend of mine told me about this little hobby called rotoisierie hockey where you draft players and manage them thru the season and I fell hook line and sinker for it.
Besides winning championships which I have fortunatly been good enough too do multiple times and win quite a large sum of money as well over the years, the thing about doing fantasy is that it forced me to learn more about opposing players from top line guys to 4th line checking players. It forced me too study them and see all their strengths and weaknesses. A funny thing happened while playing make believe GM, I started too like players I owned and while watching my players, I started too like not love like my Rangers but like other teams and root for them too do well because it helped me.
I recall I owned Mike Modano for a few years in the late 90's and early 2000's and I started too like the Stars. They were a fun team too root for. Never once did I feel guilty about it. Never once did I think my Ranger fandom was too be questioned.
Currently, I own quite a few Colorado players including MacKinnon. I've owned him for 3 years now in this longtime keeper league and I'll own him for another 3 unless I trade him to some other team if I feel it will help me win another title.I also owned Burakovsky, Zadarov and Grubauer.
How can you not root for NMack or the Avalanche if you have financial stake in them doing well? Of course it's obvious the answer. Obviously if the Av's play the Rangers, I want Ranger too pulverize them. But when they aren't playing one another, I don't see why one should feel guilty rooting for another team too do well as I do with the Av's. We live in different times these days and we need too adapt too it.
Other than the Islanders and Flyers and the Devils I guess, I have no hate for any team in the entire league and like it or not, it's due to the fantasy aspect of the sport and if you or anyone wants too question my fandom because I like and root for other teams typically out West, so be it but the truth is you would be wrong.
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