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Last Year's Rank: 106
Title Track: 66
Ownership: 71
Coaching: 20
Players: 26
Fan Relations: 35
Affordability: 97
Stadium Experience: 83
Bang for the Buck: 72

The Bruins' impressive Standings spike (106th to 56th) paralleled their rise in the NHL standings. The B's have emerged from the rebuilding wilderness to become King of the Beasts of the East. So their success in this year's ranking should come as no surprise: Boston fans (like fans of the Celts, Pats and Sox) will pay a hefty price to see their heroes display their heroics. The Bruins' jump in Players rating (61 spots) was due to monster years from 6'9", Norris-winning D Zdeno Chara, Vermont grad (and Vezina winner) G Tim Thomas, free agent rookie sensation Blake Wheeler and Coach of the Year Claude Julien. All that success doesn't come cheap. Fans flocked to little-loved TD Banknorth Garden despite the league's third-highest average game ticket price ($61.40) and cost per game, at $86.15. The Bruins hit their second-highest attendance mark in team history this season, drawing 699,073 total fans for an average of 17,051 per home game. What would make those fans even happier and goose ratings in next year's Standings? Yes, another stay-at-home ­defenseman would be nice. Cheaper parking ($18, tied for second highest in the league) would be even nicer.