For interview requests or questions, contact pr@stubhub.com

STUBHUB’S 2023 NHL PREVIEW
Published: October 3, 2023

Sales up across the league and internationally; Expansion teams are trending up and lead demand
Golden Knights are #1 following first Stanley Cup win; Seattle Kraken are top trending team after exciting playoff debut.


As we enter the 2023-24 NHL season, StubHub has analyzed ticket trends to reveal the top in-demand and trending teams, most popular games, and more.

Overall sales are nearly double last year at this same time and the demand for the NHL Global Series is outselling last year’s series by 2.5x, illustrating how the sport is gaining international popularity, in addition to domestic growth. Expansion teams have seen a rapid boost in demand from fans, with the Vegas Golden Knights claiming the title as most in-demand team and the Seattle Kraken are the top trending team of the season, reaping the biggest jump in sales from last season.



“There are quite a few factors that are helping to propel NHL sales this season, including the ongoing popularity of the Winter Classic, the surge in international appeal for the league and growing popularity of new expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.”

“Rest assured, the Original Six teams still dominate league sales, with the Maple Leafs, Bruins and Rangers not far behind the Golden Knights in overall demand.”

— Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub





✭ NHL Global Series 2023 Games Ranked

The NHL will take the season on the road with four teams playing across four games in Stockholm, Sweden at Avicii Arena.

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings on November 17 
  2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Minnesota Wild on November 19
  3. Minnesota Wild vs. Ottawa Senators on November 18 
  4. Detroit Red Wings vs. Ottawa Senators on November 16
Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of October 3, 2023, for the NHL Global Series - Sweden.




✭ Top 10 Countries Attending NHL Global Series
  1. USA
  2. Sweden
  3. Canada
  4. United Kingdom
  5. Austria
  6. Germany
  7. Norway
  8. Czech Republic
  9. Slovenia
  10. France 

Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales for buyers from each country as of October 3, 2023, for the NHL Global Series - Sweden.


International demand for the NHL is on the rise; Red Wings-Maple Leafs matchup draws global crowd

• Sales for the 2023 NHL season are being driven by buyers from 44 countries, up from 28 countries this time last year.

  • Buyers from 38 countries are traveling to North America for games this season.


• Sales for the four NHL Global Series games are outselling last year’s series by 2.5x.

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs-Detroit Red Wings matchup is the highest-selling NHL Global Series game and the 12th best-selling game of the entire season.

  • It is driving double the sales of the #2 Global Series game between the Maple Leafs and Wild.

  • Buyers from 22 countries have purchased tickets to this season’s Global Series games in Stockholm.

  • 18 U.S. states are traveling abroad for the NHL Global Series this season.

  • Michigan accounts for the most sales out of all U.S. states.




✭ StubHub’s Top 10 Most In-Demand NHL teams of the 2023-24 Season
  1. Vegas Golden Knights
  2. Toronto Maple Leafs

  3. Boston Bruins

  4. New York Rangers

  5. Montreal Canadiens 

  6. Nashville Predators

  7. Seattle Kraken

  8. Chicago Blackhawks

  9. Tampa Bay Lightning

  10. Edmonton Oilers

Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of October 3, 2023, for the 2023-24 season.





✭ StubHub’s Top 10 Most In-Demand NHL Games of the 2023-24 Season
  1. NHL Winter Classic 2024 - Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken on January 1
  2. Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins on October 11
  3. Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights on October 10
  4. Vegas Golden Knights at Chicago Blackhawks on October 21
  5. Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic - Flames v Oilers on October 29
  6. Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens on November 11
  7. Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens on October 14
  8. Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs on October 11
  9. Chicago Blackhawks at Toronto Maple Leafs on October 16
  10. Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins on October 10

Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of October 3, 2023, for the 2023-24 season.


Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights reclaim #1 spot, as Vegas sees surge in fans traveling to games

• The Golden Knights are the #1 team for the fourth time (they topped the list in 2017, 2018 and 2019).

  • Their sales up nearly 3x compared to last season.

  • They are outselling the #2 Toronto Maple Leafs by over 30%.

  • They’ve appeared on every StubHub NHL Preview top teams list since their creation in 2017.

  • The team is attracting ticket buyers to Vegas from 49 states in the US and 13 countries.

  • The Golden Knights play in the #1 in-demand game of the season, the NHL Winter Classic matchup against the Seattle Kraken, a re-match from last season’s playoffs.

  • They play in three of the top five in-demand games of the season.


• The Toronto Maple Leafs are the #2 in-demand team, for the second year in a row.

  • Sales are nearly double (91%) sales for last season at this time.

  • They are the #2 traveling team, with the second highest average ticket price as the visiting team.

  • The Maple Leafs play in the top two NHL Global Series games in Stockholm, against the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild.

  • Two of their home games make the top 10 highest-selling games of the season:

  • Their home game against the Montreal Canadiens lands at #8 and their home game against Chicago Blackhawks is #9.


• The Bruins land at #3, after a record-breaking season.

  • They have sold 25% more tickets, compared to this same time last season.

  • The Bruins are the #1 travel team heading into this season driving the highest average ticket price as the visiting team.

  • After having the most successful regular season in NHL history they outsell their rival, #4 New York Rangers, by nearly 25%.

  • They play in two of the top 10 games of the season when they host the Chicago Blackhawks for the #2 highest-selling game of the entire season and when they face the Montreal Canadiens in the #6 most in-demand game.



“Sales for the 2023-2024 NHL season are booming - driving 88% more sales at the start of this season compared to the same time last year and it’s not just due to the international growth but also the increasing popularity and success of the expansion teams.

“We see this in The Golden Knights’ appearance on our most in-demand list each year since their 2017 inception, which is also boosted by the growing popularity of Vegas as a pro sports destination.”

— Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub





✭ StubHub's Top Trending NHL Teams of the 2023-24 Season
  1. Seattle Kraken (790%)
  2. New Jersey Devils (400%)
  3. Arizona Coyotes (290%)
  4. Chicago Blackhawks (250%)
  5. Florida Panthers (200%)
  6. Vegas Golden Knights (190%)
  7. Anaheim Ducks (180%)
  8. Nashville Predators (150%)
  9. Washington Capitals (125%)
  10. Montreal Canadiens (120%)

Based on teams with the highest rate of increase in cumulative StubHub ticket sales for the 2023-24 season, as of October 3, 2023, in comparison to sales ahead of the 2022-23 season. Number indicates the percentage increase in ticket sales.





✭ StubHub’s Top 10 NHL Travel Teams of the 2023-24 Season
  1. Boston Bruins
  2. Toronto Maple Leafs
  3. New York Rangers
  4. Chicago Blackhawks
  5. Pittsburgh Penguins
  6. Washington Capitals
  7. Florida Panthers
  8. Colorado Avalanche
  9. Detroit Red Wings
  10. Edmonton Oilers

Ranked by average price of tickets sold on StubHub for team’s away games as of October 3, 2023, for the 2023-24 season.


The Kraken sales surge after first playoff appearance; Chicago Blackhawks dominate top games list

• The Kraken are the top trending team, after marking their first playoff appearance in their second season.

  • Sales jumped from last year by more than 8x.

  • They appear on both the top in-demand and trending lists for the first time.

  • Both of the Kraken’s matchups against the Las Vegas Golden Knights are among the top three highest-selling games of the season.


• The Rangers round out the top three travel teams list, behind Bruins and Maple Leafs.

  • The New York Rangers sit at #3 for top traveling teams, garnering the third highest average price of tickets sold in their away schedule.


• The Chicago Blackhawks drive top in-demand games.

  • The Blackhawks have a 3.5x surge in sales heading into this season, when compared to the same time last year.

  • They appear in five of the top 10 most in-demand games of the season, more than any other team.

  • Their highest-selling home game sits at #4, when they host the Vegas Knights for their home opener on October 21.



“In line with the rising popularity of expansion teams, the Seattle Kraken have taken the NHL by storm, becoming the top trending team following their inaugural playoff appearance in just their second season.

“Meanwhile, Blackhawks fans show their enthusiasm for Connor Bedard as the #1 draft pick, making for half of the top 10 highest-selling games of the season, more than any other team.”

— Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub



For interview requests or questions, contact pr@stubhub.com