70 replies to this topic

[Devil Dan 56]

I have a friend who was an absolute die hard Hartford Whalers fan. Loved them like we all love the Devils. When they moved, he didn't watch hockey for a few years, and loosely followed to see how Carolina was doing. When the Canes won the Cup, he felt nothing for them. It took over a decade for him to finally swallow his pride and become a Bruins fan (BEFORE their Cup, I can vouch).

[DJ Eco]

Wow, this topic is depressing... I can't even imagine life afte something like the Devils moving. At any given moment, I'm wearing at least 20% Devils gear, not even planned. Devils mousepads, boxers, socks, hat, jackets, 3 million t-shirts, sweatpants, pj bottoms, etc... When I walk out the house, I have SOMETHING Devils on, can't even imagine them not being there; it would be like the death of a relative or a beloved pet, I'd be heartbroken..

I don't think I'd follow the team too much if it moved, I'd probably relocate my attention to another team whose roster I "sorta" like or identify, like Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators or Tampa Bay Lightning.. Still, sh!tty.

[Devils Pride 26]

I'd become a full time Rangers hater. If those prideless guid fans could embrace a team from a state they live in rather than lick the sweat off NYC's balls, the situation wouldn't be there in the first place. Bunch of wannabes. Same goes for Philly.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

I'd become a full time Rangers hater. If those prideless guid fans could embrace a team from a state they live in rather than lick the sweat off NYC's balls, the situation wouldn't be there in the first place. Bunch of wannabes. Same goes for Philly.

If you REALLY think about it, this was a very strange place to put a hockey team. South Jersey was covered with Philadelphia, North Jersey was covered with the Rangers and the Islanders. The Flyers had had recent success (back-to-back Cups in '74-'75) and were still competitive, the Islanders were in the thick of their multiple Cup run, and the Rangers were an Original Six with a multi-generational fanbase. Also didn't help that the Devils not only sucked when they came here, but didn't have that Lemieux-type that might have been enough on his own to garner his own following. It seems to be asking a lot to tell Flyer, Islander, and Rangers fans to forget the teams they root for, to root for a bad team they have no connection to other than the "NJ" on the front. I'm sure the NJ part of it meant something to certain people, and I do know some older Devils fans (the ones in their 50s) who became Devils fans almost for that reason alone (Hey, they call MY state HOME), but it's not really THAT compelling a reason to change allegiances.

[devlman]

I'd probably become an Islanders fan ugh...but only to continue my hate of the rangers

[Devils Pride 26]

I understand that viewpoint of the older folks, I'm talking about the younger generation such as 16-25 that are Rangers fans living in NJ. Sure, I mean some of them have it passed down through their family and stuff but I always get a chuckle asking a few fans why they turn their back on their own state and root for the Rangers, already knowing "Cause my dads a Ranger fan blah blah blah". I think I stole this from DiG who said it on here but I always say back, "Yeah and your dad sleeps with your mom, do you do that too?"

Always warrants a priceless look back.

[ZeroGravityFat]

I understand that there are no news on the matter but can you all tone down the doom talk? We are potentially getting a rich owner who will spend to the cap ceiling every year, how about you enjoy what we can be instead of how you plan to kill yourselves.

[CarpathianForest]

If they move I'll still be a fan of the team. A rose by any other name and all of that.

[Triumph]

I understand that there are no news on the matter but can you all tone down the doom talk? We are potentially getting a rich owner who will spend to the cap ceiling every year, how about you enjoy what we can be instead of how you plan to kill yourselves.

TG reported that this guy has never spoken to Vanderbeek and that this rumor is baseless.

[maxpower]

The misrepresentation of why Atlanta moved is also pretty hilarious. The ownership of the building didn't even want them playing there. They were thrown out and since Winnipeg wanted a team and there was nowhere else in the market to keep the pretense of the Atlanta Thrashers going, Winnipeg fell into another hockey team.

[Revan]

Since I'm an out-of-town fan, in case of the apocalypse (i.e. the Devils relocating) I'd probably still follow the relocated team. I'd just hope for them to keep the "Devils" name, colors, only adjust the logo to the new location etc. OR if they changed it all or disbanded or whatever I might also consider rooting for the Isles (there is always this ant-Rangers connection ) or just become numb for a season or two, follow hockey loosely as an independent observer and develop attachment to some other team over time.

Either way, it would seriously SUCK to lose the team. The location, the arena, everything - it's a part of the club and the experience, even if you are hundreds of miles away and only watch on TV. It wouldn't be the same with the club situated in a different place.