I am aware of the fact that I am awfully late to the party on this hot take, but yet it is still a talking point that fills me with ardent flames.

In the wake of last year’s Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights, a certain article came out of ESPN titled, “Move Over Detroit, Vegas is the New Hockeytown.” Although I appreciate ESPN taking their time to write about something that does not have to do with LeBron, Lonzo Ball, or the Warriors, this piece of opinion was a dumpster fire.

The journalist argued that due to the passionate following that the Golden Knights acquired during their inaugural season as an NHL franchise, Las Vegas has the right to be known as “Hockeytown.” A title that has been a staple of Detroit (a locale that can actually harbor ice) and the Red Wings for many a year.

However, a city does not simply become THE “Hockeytown” after only one great (and record-breaking) season, and one year of robust fan support. Observe the Carolina Hurricanes.

During the franchise’s Stanley Cup run in 2004-05, their seemingly die hard fans were lauded for their loud presence at home games. Yet now, after a decade of mediocrity, the Hurricanes have one of the lowest home attendances in the NHL, and have been the subject of a multitude of relocation rumors. Where did all those passionate supporters wander off to?

“Hockeytown” is a title that has to be earned, through years of forging a historic franchise, as well as exposing the game of hockey to as many as possible. Detroit has earned this honor.

The Red Wings, for starters, are an original six franchise, its history going back several decades. Supporters of the Wings have stuck with the team through thick and thin, through euphorically high highs, to the lowest of lows, forging unique traditions along the way.

Throughout their existence, the Red Wings have won 11 Stanley Cups and forged dynasties that dominated the NHL for long stretches at a time. Their players are among some of the best hockey has seen: the mythical Gordie “Mr Hockey” Howe, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Igor Larionov, Nick Lidstrom, Viacheslav Fetisov. All legends, all names that have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Not only is Detroit host to a successful NHL franchise, but it is also a youth hockey epicenter. The Detroit area anchors several incredibly successful and storied youth AAA programs, most of which are acknowledged on an international scale.

Further, Detroit’s promotion of hockey has evidently been working for a while, as a multitude of past and present NHL players have called Michigan their home. In fact, there are currently 28 active players from Michigan playing in the NHL, second only to Minnesota, in terms of NHL players per US state.

Detroit has worked incredibly hard for the “Hockeytown” mantra. It has taken several generations worth of passion for the sport to build up the reputation Detroit holds today as the ideal hockey city, even when the Red Wings are paltry.

Now, before another schmuck from ESPN decides to hop on the Vegas bandwagon consider this: What have the Golden Knights done for the evolution of hockey in Las Vegas so far? How many NHL players hail from Nevada? I can grace the reader of this piece with an answer to both questions, precisely zero.