When it comes to NHL fans, you may imagine ice-staring rivals and fierce loyalties. But what about the softer side of fandom? We’re diving into which NHL fan bases are the most polite. Our method? Using data-driven insights to separate the polite from the impolite.
Methodology for Calculating Politeness Scores: We looked at Reddit comments and stadium review data, giving us metrics on positive sentiment, polite language, and—gasp!—swear words. With a few math tricks, we whipped up a politeness score scaled from 1 to 10.
Top 5 Most Polite NHL Fan Bases
Let’s tip our hats to the courteous champs of the NHL.
- Most Polite Fanbases: Buffalo Sabres
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Anaheim Ducks
- San Jose Sharks
Leading the pack are Buffalo Sabres fans, who are more than just passionate about wings and ice hockey. They scored a perfect 10 on the politeness scale, garnering a grand ovation. With 46.2% of their Reddit chatter being positive and a mere 3.7% of comments containing swear words, they’ve set the standard for politeness.
Next up, the Carolina Hurricanes twirl onto the scene with a commendable politeness score of 7.93. Their Southern charm translates beautifully to their online presence with 45% positive sentiment—you can almost hear the genteel “y’all” in their comments.
The Columbus Blue Jackets solidify their place with a score of 7.33, showcasing 45.5% positivity in their Reddit conversations. For a team known for resilience on ice, their fans bring a balanced dose of politeness to the digital arena.
With a whimsical quack, the Anaheim Ducks glide into the fourth spot scoring 7.13. Not known for ruffling too many feathers, their calm composure reflects in their online interactions.
Rounding out the list, the San Jose Sharks swim in with a politeness score of 6.53. With an impressive 48.9% positive sentiment, these fans prove that politeness can indeed be a great catch.
| Team | Total Comments-Reddit | Total Comments Google Stadium Reviews | Positive Sentiment Comments Reddit (%) | Stadium Reviews containing polite words (%) | Reddit Comments Containing Swear Words (%) | Polite Score |
| Buffalo Sabres | 27,607 | 211 | 46.2% | 15.2% | 3.70% | 10 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 23,597 | 252 | 45.0% | 12.7% | 3.14% | 7.93 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 18,196 | 244 | 45.5% | 12.7% | 4.35% | 7.33 |
| Anaheim Ducks | 17,258 | 319 | 46.2% | 11.9% | 3.19% | 7.13 |
| San Jose Sharks | 21,826 | 336 | 48.9% | 9.8% | 3.01% | 6.53 |
Least Polite NHL Fan Bases
Every tale has its flipside. Here are the lesser-known stories of teams that don’t quite score high in the etiquette department:
- Least Polite Fanbase: LA Kings
- Boston Bruins
- Florida Panthers
- Edmonton Oilers
- Chicago Blackhawks
At the base of our politeness pyramid, the Los Angeles Kings reign with a score of 0. Whether it’s their Hollywood flair or spirited personalities, their politeness isn’t where they shine—but their devotion is undeniable.
Boston Bruins fans take the next spot sharing a similar low score of 0.07. Known for their no-nonsense New England spirit, their online expressions mirror their game intensity.
Our next contender, the Florida Panthers, in the heart of the Sunshine State, comes in with a politeness score of 0.39. Their 4.17% contribution to Reddit’s colourful commentary proves their passion is unrivaled.
Scoring slightly higher, the Edmonton Oilers tread lightly with a score of 0.59. Take a quick scroll through their forum and you’ll find their candid hockey love reflected in their mere 40.9% positive remarks.
Last, but by no means least, the Chicago Blackhawks round out our list with a politeness score of 0.86. Balancing their city’s steely resolve with unrestrained enthusiasm, these fans are as dynamic as their team’s play.
| Team | Total Comments-Reddit | Total Comments Google Stadium Reviews | Positive Sentiment Comments Reddit (%) | Stadium Reviews containing polite words (%) | Reddit Comments Containing Swear Words (%) | Polite Score |
| Los Angeles Kings | 20,305 | 360 | 44.4% | 6.7% | 5.92% | 0 |
| Boston Bruins | 52,869 | 359 | 43.3% | 6.7% | 5.42% | 0.07 |
| Florida Panthers | 15,476 | 355 | 44.2% | 6.2% | 4.17% | 0.39 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 12,263 | 249 | 40.9% | 7.2% | 4.71% | 0.59 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 37,611 | 355 | 45.0% | 6.5% | 4.11% | 0.86 |
In this intermission between ice battles, our data-driven insights offer a fresh look at fan behavior. Whether sweet or salty, NHL fans are a passionate bunch, proving that the love for hockey might sometimes lead to heated discussions—but always from a place of heart.
This content seeks to inform and entertain NHL and betting enthusiasts. The same people who might also be interested in the best NHL betting sites in Canada, along with the best sports betting apps in Canada.
You can find the full dataset here.
Methodology
Objective:
To compute and scale politeness scores for teams based on Reddit comments and stadium review data, using specified weightings for sentiment and language politeness factors.
Data Used:
- Positive Sentiment Comments (Reddit %): Indicates the percentage of Reddit comments with positive sentiment.
- Stadium Reviews Containing Polite Words (%): Percentage of stadium reviews that contain polite language.
- Reddit Comments Containing Swear Words (%): Represents the percentage of Reddit comments containing swear words. This metric is used inversely (lower percentages imply higher politeness).
You can find a full breakdown of the ‘polite’ keywords in the linked dataset above.
Procedure:
Apply Weightings:
Assign appropriate weights as follows:
- Positive Sentiment Comments: 10%
- Stadium Reviews Containing Polite Words: 60%
- Reddit Comments Not Containing Swear Words (the lower the %, the higher the overall politeness score): 30%
Calculate the raw politeness score using the formula:
Politeness Score = (0.10 × Positive Sentiment) + (0.60 × Stadium Politeness) + (0.30 × Adjusted Reddit Swear Metric)
Scale Scores:
- To translate raw scores into a 1 to 10 scale, identify the minimum and maximum raw scores.
Use linear scaling:
Scaled Score = 1 + 9 × (Raw Score − min(Raw Scores)) / (max(Raw Scores) − min(Raw Scores))
- This ensures that the lowest raw score maps to 1 and the highest to 10, providing a standard way to compare across teams.
