What If All 30 NHL Teams Were Bands?

Assigning music counterparts to all 30 NHL teams

This ended up being a lot more difficult than I expected – choosing musical counterparts for all 30 NHL teams. For some it was easier to play the geography card with, while others had very similar histories. Try to not take this one too seriously, it’s meant to be fun. If you have some better suggestions, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below.

Anaheim Ducks – Suburban Legends: The Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks started life in the 90s as property of the Disney Corporation. Suburban Legends got their start in the mid-90s by playing ska-punk covers of Disney Songs in Anaheim’s “Downtown Disney”. Much like the Ducks, Suburban Legends tried to distance themselves from the Disney thing in the 2000s, but have since started to incorporate back in.

Arizona Coyotes – The Format: Before Nate Reuss made it big with fun. he fronted Arizona based indie rock band The Format. He then left Arizona and The Format and the rest is history. Maybe I’m being a little harsh on the Coyotes here, but a band that enjoyed moderate success in Phoenix, Arizona, only to blow up once they left is the perfect match.

Boston Bruins – The Dropkick Murphys: Much like Bruins fans the Dropkick Murphys are loud and proud of their city and like that terrible song from The Departed, Bruins fans can be found in every NHL arena.

Buffalo Sabres – The Goo Goo Dolls: The Goo Goo Dolls hail from Buffalo, New York and much like the Sabers, their glory days came in the late-90s and early 2000s. Sabres fans have Hasek and Goo Goo Dolls fans have Iris – neither will ever be re-created.

Calgary Flames – Coldplay / Edmonton Oilers – U2: I paired the Flames and Oilers together because this comparison makes a little more sense that way. The Oilers are like U2 because their best performances came during the 1980s and since then they have been unable to equal that success (despite remaining popular). When looking at the Battle of Alberta, the Calgary Flames are the Coldplay to the Oilers U2 – in that they may not have the 80s dynasty, but they do have success and have been the better team in recent years (while still being kind of crappy, just like Coldplay).

Carolina Hurricanes – Taylor Swift: These two go together well as they both don’t really fit inventively with the southern / country crowd – but look I’m sure there are plenty of people wearing NASCAR shirts in the audience for both.

Chicago Blackhawks – The Blues Brothers: Chicago based and a dynamic duo just like Kane and Toews.

Colorado Avalanche – John Denver: Come one do you think of anything else besides “Rickey Mountain High” when you see the old Avalanche jerseys with the mountain-stripe pattern?

Columbus Blue Jackets – AC/DC: Maybe I’ve gone to too many games in Columbus but all I associate this team with is the cannon and the “For those about to rock!” AC/DC scream when they score a goal.

Dallas Stars – Alabama: I’m not the biggest country fan, but I do recall a song by Alabama that has a few lines about Texas, beer, fiddles, country bands – all things that come to mind when I think of the Dallas Stars.

Detroit Red Wings – Kid Rock: On the receiving end of many jokes, but still proud to represent Detroit

Florida Panthers – Celine Dion: Only people going to Panthers games and Céline Dion concerts are old Canadian snowbirds. If the Panthers keep it up, they too may have a residency in Vegas.

Los Angeles Kings – Munford and Sons: Every Munford and Songs song starts the same way – quiet and slow and then goes crazy into the finish. This is the same script the Los Angeles Kings have followed during both of their Stanley Cup championship seasons.

Minnesota Wild – Jack Johnson: Pretty sure the soft slow tones of “Banana Pancakes” is the perfect soundtrack for the Wild’s defense-first style of play – or at the very least, as exciting

Montreal Canadiens – The Beatles: The Canadiens have this aura around them – much like The Beatles, despite a large number of their younger fans not being alive when they were at their peak. You may not be a fan, but you can at least appreciate The Beatles music and the Canadiens history.

Nashville Predators – Carrie Underwood: When Mike Fisher was traded to the Nashville Predators, the local headlines read “Carrie Underwood’s husband traded to the Predators” – enough said.

New Jersey Devils – Bruce Springsteen: Does anybody embody the spirit of New Jersey more than Bruce Springsteen? Besides The Boss, the Devils are the next biggest thing to wear the New Jersey moniker proudly.

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New York Rangers – Frank Sinatra: Sure he’s originally from the great state of New Jersey (Hoboken!), but as How I Met Your Mother so eloquently stated, “He sang New York, New York… not Secaucus, Secaucus”.

New York Islanders – Billy Joel: May not be a classic icon like Sinatra (and the Rangers), but has had a ton of success in New York.

Ottawa Senators – Fleetwood Mac: Sure there’s been some personnel changes over the years (and against more recently for the Sense), but both won’t stop thinking about tomorrow.

Philadelphia Flyers – Gaslight Anthem: Both are based out of the metropolitan area (Gaslight Anthem is originally from Jersey, but hey South Jersey usually aligns with Philly anyway). I see the Gaslight Anthem trying to bring back the old rock sound like the Flyers trying to keep the Bradstreet Bullies spirit alive.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Guns N’ Roses: Best work came in the early 90’s and are currently led by someone who annoys a lot of people and whines a lot.

San Jose Sharks – Grateful Dead: Northern California based and you’d probably have to be high on something to enjoy them.