Pacific Division power rankings based on... goal horns

The goal horn is one of the most underappreciated parts of the NHL. It celebrates a team putting a puck past a goaltender and adding to their score. It also gets the fans fired up, making their involvement heavier than usual. Whether it's teams in the Pacific Division or the Metropolitan Division, it's become a necessity for hockey fans. Not many people think about goal horns in hockey, yet they give us a boosted dose of dopamine when a goal's scored. Vegas Golden Knights fans know the feeling when it comes to T-Mobile Arena.

Some examples of great goal horns include the Pittsburgh Penguins, specifically during playoff time. Who wouldn't want to "party hard" after Sidney Crosby scores a crucial third-period goal? Another great example is the Chicago Blackhawks, where Madison Avenue serenades the city with "Chelsea Dagger." In fact, it's become the de facto theme for hockey in the Windy City.

Of course, there are some duds that fall flat on its face (looking at you, Washington). However, it's a relatively celebrated concept that needs more love. That's especially true with the Stanley Cup playoffs in full swing. Imagine getting a game-winning goal like Barclay Goodrow did in Madison Square Garden in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals. That goal drove New York crazy, with the momentum swinging towards the Rangers.

With that, it's time for another installment of the Pacific Division power rankings. This time, let's look at which teams have the best goal horns for the season. Which horns make fans leap for joy and get the crowd fired up? Which ones got the dud in the realm of firing up the crowd? Where are the Vegas Golden Knights in these rankings? Here are the best horns on the West Coast... and some of the worst.

8.) Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are the last Pacific Division team standing in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's all thanks to superstars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the surging Zach Hyman. Currently, they're locked in a tough battle in the Western Conference Finals with the Dallas Stars. So will fans hear a good goal horn once the series rolls into Edmonton?

If you love a good chant, this will be perfect. There are plenty of "ohs" and "ahs" to it, which go with McDavid firing lasers into the net. After all, it fits modern times and is good for the average hockey fan. So it should be good for NHL fans with its various nuances.

But it just sounds... safe. It's too generic and feels like a missed opportunity to have fun. For example, "Dup Dup" by Mickey Krause was fun. It got the crowd going and was extremely upbeat. Imagine McDavid scoring and hearing this song blare. It would get anybody jumping up and down. In fact, the Colorado Avalanche have used a modified version of that song for their own goal horn. Instead, you have a sad excuse that doesn't inspire much for regulars. The whole experience feels like you've been run over by a freight train.

7.) Los Angeles Kings

Remember when the Los Angeles Kings had "I Love LA" as their goal song? For a franchise that had Wayne Gretzky as a big part of the Los Angeles sports scene, it made perfect sense. Once he left, it persisted and was a beloved charm in the annals of Kings' history. While Los Angeles didn't win much on the ice, they won with the best Pacific Division horn.

Now, they've ditched Randy Newman and reduced him to writing theme songs for Pixar movies and television shows. What do they have in place? A generic rock song that doesn't have the charm the iconic "I Love LA" song did. Instead, it's muffled rock noises that don't add any personality. Granted, the horn is an iconic staple and fits the franchise perfectly. It's a good callback to the days when Los Angeles was finding their way.

However, this newer version seems like it could make for a WWE theme song. Imagine a pro wrestler coming out to the Kings's horn, only to be in a squash match against Gunther or Jey Uso. It fits that bill perfectly, which is why the Kings should bring back "I Love LA." It would be an excellent callback for the committed fans who've been with the franchise for decades.

6.) Calgary Flames

Both Alberta teams get the bottom rankings in the Pacific Division for underwhelming horns. While Edmonton's was more of a chant-y kind, Calgary is more... AC/DC. Not that AC/DC is a bad band or anything. It's just... generic. Perhaps the older crowd will fall in love with this horn based on fond memories of rocking out to the Australian group's music. But there are some problems with it.

For one, it's basic nostalgia. It's recognized by everyone and can be played anywhere. Two, it's too safe. The Oilers (pre-McDavid) had "American Badass" as one of their anthems fit them perfectly. Yes, it's a song for people in the United States. But which Canadian wouldn't want to get pumped up by that music? Now, it's just a safe choice whenever Leon Draisaitl or McDavid scores a goal. That's the same thing here, with the Flames going with the low-hanging fruit.

It's a good thing Calgary didn't score much because opposing fans wouldn't hear much of this if they visited. While this is good for older people that long for the older days while getting lost in nostalgia, it pales in comparison to their competition.

5.) San Jose Sharks

While the last three goal horns were either a total disaster or completely underwhelming, the San Jose Sharks are where the pack starts to separate. The Pacific Division is well-known for having some good numbers to them, with the Sharks being no different.

If you grew up in Metro Detroit, you would've heard the song play a lot. For some, it's a nice callback to Western Conference hockey in the 1990s and 2000s, when Mike Ilitch and the Red Wings ruled the NHL landscape. Now, you're getting that on a lesser scale, with a rebuilding team hoping to regain its winning ways. Sharks fans hope for those same moments as the Red Wings had, starting with Macklin Celebrini.

There might not be much to cheer for if you're a Bay Area hockey fan. But it's the little things in life that matter. For Sharks fans, this is one of those little things. Even if they don't hear the goal horn much, they can take solace in knowing theirs isn't a complete disaster.

4.) Vegas Golden Knights

Yes, the Vegas Golden Knights are fourth in the Pacific Division regarding goal horns. But this is where business picks up, with the Golden Knights having theirs fit their city's culture perfectly. From the slot machine sounds to the imposed chants, it feels good. In fact, it might make the average hockey fan go to a casino to test their luck.

It took a few tries to get into this. However, it's a goal horn that grows on the listener over time, with its various nuances hitting the listener. Then, you realize that the little things make this a compelling horn. The extra aspects, the aforementioned slot machine sounds, the upbeat nature... Everything about it screams "Las Vegas" and Golden Knights fans couldn't have asked for a better horn.

Some will say that it's a bit excessive, which is understandable. After all, regular hockey fans might have a hard time latching onto this. However, it fits Las Vegas perfectly, where excess is never bad. Expect to hear this goal horn more often during Vegas's contention window. With new players like Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin entering the fold, fans will get a heavier dosage of this horn in their lives.

2.) Anaheim Ducks

Some goal horns have staying power within their respective franchises. Whether it's the aforementioned Penguins and Blackhawks or teams like the Nashville Predators, some just fit a team perfectly well. That's what has happened with the Anaheim Ducks and "Bro Hymn," which had staying power for nearly two decades. That included their first Stanley Cup victory, where it calls back to its only title.

While the Anaheim Ducks haven't had much success on the ice, their goal horn fits them perfectly. It's fitting for hockey fans in Orange County and it calls back to the 2007 Stanley Cup run. Although the siren has been axed, the memories remain, with Ducks fans preparing for the newer stars to lead the way.

Could hockey fans be hearing "Bro Hymn" more often in the future? With Anaheim boasting promising stars such as Trevor Zegras and Mason MacTavish, it seems like a possibility. However, Ducks fans won't be the only ones who will fall in love with the goal horn. It could be a majority of hockey fans who will embrace its return to prominence.

1.) Vancouver Canucks

Yes, there are plenty of hockey fans who miss "Holiday" by Green Day. Yes, it's a good goal horn that highlighted the light-hearted part of the Vancouver hockey scene. However, their current goal horn is just too hard to... well, forget. That's right, the Canucks have the best goal horn in the Pacific Division right now.

Why is this the case? For one, it's a rallying cry during the Canucks's Stanley Cup playoff run. What do you do when you lose your Vezina trophy finalist Thatcher Demko, with him never touching the ice again? Remind people not to forget about you, with an excellent callback to the "Breakfast Club." It's a meme-worthy song that adds some personality to a team. In turn, the fans have bought in.

The Canucks might've bowed out during the second round due to being shorthanded against the Edmonton Oilers. However, it's hard not to fall in love with their uprising. With great players such as Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes leading the way, it's easy to see why Canadian hockey fans on the Pacific were singing a song by the Simple Minds nonstop. The future looks bright for Vancouver and this song will be the perfect rallying cry for a city starved for a Stanley Cup.