Why are Boston Bruins the most hated team throughout the NHL?

[Lavina21]

Have read in numerous internet sources that Boston Bruins are by far the most hated team in the NHL.

During the last decade I can easily refer this to the likes of Marchand, Chara, Horton, Lucic or S. Thornton, but is it historically only linked with their style of play i.e. the fact that Bruins have always been a harsh, tough and sometimes dirty team or there are also other reasons behind that?

 

[Philadelphia Ducks]

I didnt know they were. I think Toronto is the most hated and loved team in the league tbh

 

[Oneiro]

The past two decades have been the most successful stretch in Boston sports history.

Everybody points their guns at the throne.

 

[Anglesmith]

I think Toronto is the obvious answer.

Seems like half of the Bruins' games are nationally televised in Canada due to their popularity.

 

[JT Kreider]

Bruins definitely are not the most hated team in the league.

 

[Josepho]

It's definitely the Leafs.

 

[Rec T]

Jack Edwards...

/didn't realize Boston was that hated. Personally I'd go with the Leafs (league wide) or Pens (regional for me)
//however seeing as there really are no big 'must see' rivalries any longer... I really don't think that there is 'any' league wide hatred towards any team & very few regional ones either

 

[kladorf2005]

Have read in numerous internet sources that Boston Bruins are by far the most hated team in the NHL.

During the last decade I can easily refer this to the likes of Marchand, Chara, Horton, Lucic or S. Thornton, but is it historically only linked with their style of play i.e. the fact that Bruins have always been a harsh, tough and sometimes dirty team or there are also other reasons behind that?

Care to cite these sources? Or should we just take your word for it? Pretty sure if you made this a poll, the Bruins would not lead the way for most hated team

 

[dukeofjive]

Maybe in montreal and vancouver, but i think the leafs still own that title. Bruins are pretty popular on the east coast in canada.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

There is no anti-Bruins bias in the NHL.

 

[GarbageGoal]

As a Bruins fan, I'd argue there's a good chance they are. Definitely in the top 5 disliked. I'd put Montreal in there being they are the NY Yankees of hockey. Maybe Chicago because this decades success. Toronto because of the fanbase penciling in future cups/thinking it's a birthright. Detroit? for the history.....Carolina moving up because of the surge.

1) Boston sports as a whole is hated....although the Bruins winning....not so much. For the record, I don't like any other team in Boston and would happily trade all their championships for 3 or 4 more Cups.

2) Marchand. Look, Even I think he's too much sometimes.

3) Historically, Boston has always played a certain way that does not make it easy to face them. That said, I don't think every recent version of the Bruins has been as gritty as say, this year's club or the 2011 team. Same thing goes for the Flyers historically.

Edit: Forgot Pittsburgh. Yeah, they are still the most hated I'd say.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Did the Maple Leafs disappear into thin air?

 

[boredmale]

Everbody hates a team that would go into the stands and hit people with the person's own shoes

 

[mattydamon]

brad marchand...

 

[Rich Nixon]

I'm not sure that they are, but I think they are quite hated. Equal parts team quality, Marchand, overall Boston sports success in recent years, and history/attitudes towards the city and franchise themselves.

 

[bukwas]

They've had individual players who have drawn the ire of many but as an organization i don't think there is much hatred toward them at all.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

I'd put them in the top 5, largely because of Marchand and Edwards currently, and also for Boston sports fans and their Big Bad Bruins history... but really, Toronto is the most hated (and most loved) by a long shot.

Other contenders...

Montreal (for much the same reason as Toronto)
Edmonton (for wasting all those high draft picks and getting two generational talents)
Pittsburgh (for tanking their way to two generational talents)
Philadelphia (because of the Broadstreet Bullies and fans who throws who throw batteries at Santa)

 

[DJJones]

Leafs and Ducks, Ducks might just be a Pacific thing though.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Outside of rivalries, don't think there is much to hate (unless you aren't a fan of Marchand's tongue).

Bruins are a good team with a rich history and eye-popping jerseys. Fun team to watch.

 

[aufheben]

Amongst fans or players? What sources? How was this polled? If this is recent history I can think of several enormous fan bases that would have very good to hate them, and few others (also enormous) that would definitely dislike them at the very least.

 

[SharksCyclops]

They're not though

 

[BBB24]

Everbody hates a team that would go into the stands and hit people with the person's own shoes

Most people on hear have no clue what you are referring to because they weren’t born yet.

 

[Lavina21]

Care to cite these sources? Or should we just take your word for it? Pretty sure if you made this a poll, the Bruins would not lead the way for most hated team

Most Hated NHL Teams - Top Ten List - TheTopTens®

Boston Bruins Are The World's Most Hated NHL Team: Reddit (PHOTOS)


It is just a pair of sources. May be I am mistaken. I don’t have a clear picture as Iam living far away from both Canada and the USA. But based on what Iam reading in the internet and watch on YouTube it is just so.

 

[Dellstrom]

I mean Marchand alone puts us in the top 50%. But besides that is there really anything that hateable about us? Jack Edwards the... Two or three times you hear him every year... Besides our rivalries I don't think there's much hate towards us.

 

[holy]

Leafs and Ducks, Ducks might just be a Pacific thing though.

This guy said Ducks lmao.