Free_Candy 38 Report post Posted March 25, 2013 Hello everyone, from your friendly neighborhood Pens fan. Maybe you guys can help me out here, I recently got in a very bizarre discussion with another Penguin fan about what NHL teams were the most popular in Sweden. He is an American expat that lives in Sweden, I just have in-laws there but visit from time to time. He told me that after the Rangers (especially Lundqvist) -- that the Pens had the biggest following, even moreso than the Wings. I suspect he is mostly basing this on wherever he happens to be and perhaps his local experience. But I think that sounds completely absurd. It would seem to me that the Red Wings would be the most popular team in Sweden, given that there are a lot of Swedes that have been on your team, especially Lidstrom. Everytime I ever happened to be in Sweden and they had hockey highlights on TV the Wings got a lot of coverage, understandably so. But I think he just had this "well I *LIVE* here, YOU just visit, you don't actually know" kind of attitude that got on my nerves, but whatever. I could see the Rangers having interest, but he acted like the Wings weren't even on the radar in his experience and that just didn't make any sense to me at all. Now maybe you guys and especially some Swedes even on here that can help me out. Anyway this question is going to drive me nuts because what I've been told flies in the face of convention and looking at it doesn't make any sense. (But I can finally get back to work now that I got that out of the way.) Thanks (tack så mycket) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evilmrt 636 Report post Posted March 25, 2013 Well, might be true since Lids is only a scout now...who seems to be enjoying scouting out his giant new mansion... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RyanBarnes! 293 Report post Posted March 25, 2013 I would say the Red Wings is very popular here, but these things tend to vary a lot with generations. Back in the early 90's when the Pens won two Cups and had both Lemieux and Jagr, then they were pretty popular, then when Forsberg played with Colorado, they were popular, and of course the Red Wings. I guess some teams featuring players from the area can be big locally, like Rangers/Lundquist and the southwest of Sweden. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Free_Candy 38 Report post Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) That makes sense, thank you. He made it sound like the Wings weren't all that popular in Sweden but it always seemed to me that there still would be a following. I had spoken to a couple of Pens fans in Sweden and even they mentioned the Wings popularity so I guess that's why I was confused. The generational shifts would certainly make sense as well. Edited March 25, 2013 by Free_Candy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martinezsvsu 240 Report post Posted March 25, 2013 seems like most popular team goes to the most relevant swed. maybe in a few years the avs will be really popular in sweden because landeskog Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dmbongreyst 14 Report post Posted March 25, 2013 I spent a couple weeks last week in Sweden last spring and had a few hockey conversations with natives there. As someone else already mentioned the Rangers are popular for Lundquist. To be honest, I didn't have a single person bring the Penguins up. That could have been uncommon as I only spoke to 5 or so people about hockey during my time there. I was surprised that no one mentioned the Canucks when I was there for the Sedin twins and coming off of their finals appearance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted March 25, 2013 My question is how can a team that has no Swedes have the largest following in Sweden? Considering the Pens have only 3 players born outside North America, I wouldn't think they'd have a huge long term following in Europe. Maybe just some fans who started following them because of Crosby. 1 Wingsfan72 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest irishock Report post Posted March 25, 2013 If China had any interest in Hockey they'd be right up Pittsburgh's ass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Free_Candy 38 Report post Posted March 25, 2013 My question is how can a team that has no Swedes have the largest following in Sweden? Considering the Pens have only 3 players born outside North America, I wouldn't think they'd have a huge long term following in Europe. Maybe just some fans who started following them because of Crosby. That's why he didn't make any sense. Many teams that have exposure and success are going to get fans, but I would expect someone to particularly enjoy watching someone from their own country play on a team. We haven't had any Swedes since about 07. But whatever. He was a dick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 That's why he didn't make any sense. Many teams that have exposure and success are going to get fans, but I would expect someone to particularly enjoy watching someone from their own country play on a team. We haven't had any Swedes since about 07. But whatever. He was a ****. I would think the Pens have a decent amount of fans in Russia with Malkin on the team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 That's why he didn't make any sense. Many teams that have exposure and success are going to get fans, but I would expect someone to particularly enjoy watching someone from their own country play on a team. We haven't had any Swedes since about 07. But whatever. He was a ****. Should've just knock his ass out and said "Red Wings *****" lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 I would say Red Wings and Canucks have the biggest following/media-exposure in Sweden.. after that it's close between Pittsburgh, NYR, Toronto. Colorado had a lot of fans in late 90s and early 00s, but that's pretty much all died out. 1 whitewolf406 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeymom1960 5,107 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 If China had any interest in Hockey they'd be right up Pittsburgh's ass. OMG I can't stop at this comment. 1 whitewolf406 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 Colorado had a lot of fans in late 90s and early 00s, but that's pretty much all died out. It's even died out in Colorado 1 martinezsvsu reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amato 3,210 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 Colorado had a lot of fans in late 90s and early 00s, but that's pretty much all died out. That's what happens when you're the wings' rivals, they don't just beat you.. They banish you to the bottom of the standings and keep you there Haha Jk, really tho I agree that the wings are probably one of the bigger NHL teams in Sweden along with the nucks. I could see them liking the rangers as well of course Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hak 21 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 Hello. Where I live in Sweden (a small town) I would have to say that the wings & rangers are the most popular ones. I cant really remember ever seeing a pens fan here actually.. But I do remember that when I went to the nhl premiere Penguins vs Ottawa in Stockholm there were penguin jerseys everywhere.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hak 21 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 seems like most popular team goes to the most relevant swed. maybe in a few years the avs will be really popular in sweden because landeskog That is true... We grow up watching these players develop over here only to see them get shipped over to the US as soon as they get good That's why Colorado (forsberg), wings (lids, Z etc), toronto (sundin), nucks (sedins), rangers (lundqvist) etc got their share of swedish fans. That is also the reason why I became a red wings fan, I followed my dear players across the atlantic. Now I will probably be a fan of the wings all my life! Also, Tre kronor has been successful over a long period of time and after every championship (depending how well they did ;p) there are fans who follow their favorite players on tre kronor to their respective nhl teams and slowly grows into being a fan of the team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,207 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 Zetterberg, Kronwall, Franzen, Nyquist, Ericsson, Gustavsson, Andersson, Samuelsson....I don't see why the Wings wouldn't still be the bee's knees in Sweden. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wingsfan72 198 Report post Posted March 26, 2013 Zetterberg, Kronwall, Franzen, Nyquist, Ericsson, Gustavsson, Andersson, Samuelsson....I don't see why the Wings wouldn't still be the bee's knees in Sweden. He plays for us? Lol, but seriously I agree. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
