Which NHL Team Has Most Instagram Followers?

You don’t need a BetMGM hockey article to tell you that social media has become a ubiquitous piece of everyday life. 

That ubiquity has, of course, seeped into sports, where every team needs a dedicated social media staff to manage and create content on every conceivable platform. How else will we see the Halloween costumes of players and their wives? Or know that it’s the birthday of a player who retired in 1991?  

Instagram, in particular, is one of the most essential platforms for all sports. 

Since its founding in 2010, Instagram has become one of the largest social media platforms, boasting approximately 171 million active users in the United States and an additional 19.25 million in Canada. 

Not only is social media a business tool for these NHL franchises but it’s also a testament to their clout and reach. Here’s a look at where all the NHL franchises stack up in their follower counts as of June 1. 

NHL Team Instagram Followings

Which NHL Team Has Most Instagram Followers?

The Pittsburgh Penguins still have the most followers, and it’s by a significant margin. More than a million followers separate the Penguins from the next-highest, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Why is this the case? Pittsburgh’s Big Three of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang rose to prominence at a very opportune time for the broader adoption of social media. 

Their two most recent Stanley Cups came within 6 and 7 years of Instagram’s launch. Additionally, much of Instagram’s Gen Z user base grew up as Crosby and the Big Three became a significant force in the NHL. 

Additionally, Crosby, at 38 years old, remains one of the faces of the league and the faces of hockey in general. Crosby served as team captain for Canada’s roster at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. 

The Penguins were back in the playoffs this season after finishing in second place in the Metropolitan Division after amassing a 41-25-16 record during the regular season. Pittsburgh eventually lost in six games in the first round to their in-state rival, the Flyers.