The Toronto Maple Leafs are no longer the most valuable franchise in the NHL or in Canada, according to a report from Forbes Tuesday.
The Leafs’ value out-ranked all hockey franchises since 2006, and topped Forbes’ ranking in the category as recently as July, but Toronto has been supplanted by a new No. 1, the New York Rangers.
Valued at $1.2 billion, the Rangers recaptured Forbes’ top spot, which they last held in 2004. The Montreal Canadiens moved up from third to second, with an estimated worth of $1.18 billion. And the Maple Leafs rank third at $1.15 billion, a 12 per cent drop in value from the 2014 rankings.
Of Canada’s seven clubs, only the Habs saw a year-over-year increase in value. The Maple Leafs’ slide is attributed to poor on-ice performance and the tumbling Canadian dollar.
Surely icing back-to-back Stanley Cup contenders helps, but the Rangers’ big boost stemmed from the $1 billion renovation of Madison Square Garden. New York raked $95 million in advertising and the refurbished rink’s premium seating, the most in the league.
Forbes estimates the average NHL franchise is worth $505 million, a three per cent bump from 2014. Revenue increased eight per cent per team; the average take for an NHL team in 2014-15 was $133 million.
Deep playoff runs helped the Chicago Blackhawks (up 12 per cent in value), the Tampa Bay Lightning (up 15 per cent) and the Washington Capitals (up 13 per cent) see significant increases in value.
Here is Forbes’ full 2015 ranking. We’ve included each club’s 2014 value for comparison’s sake.
1. New York Rangers
Current value: $1.2 billion
2014 value: $1.1 billion
2. Montreal Canadiens
Current value: $1.18 billion
2014 value: $1 billion
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Current value: $1.15 billion
2014 value: $1.3 billion
4. Chicago Blackhawks
Current value: $925 million
2014 value: $825 million
5. Boston Bruins
Current value: $750 million
2014 value: $750 million
6. Vancouver Canucks
Current value: $745 million
2014 value: $800 million
7. Philadelphia Flyers
Current value: $660 million
2014 value: $625 million
8. Detroit Red Wings
Current value: $600 million
2014 value: $570 million
9. Los Angeles Kings
Current value: $580 million
2014 value: $580 million
10. Washington Capitals
Current value: $565 million
2014 value: $500 million
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
Current value: $560 million
2014 value: $565 million
12. Edmonton Oilers
Current value: $455 million
2014 value: $475 million
13. Dallas Stars
Current value: $450 million
2014 value: $420 million
14. San Jose Sharks
Current value: $445 million
2014 value: $425 million
15. Calgary Flames
Current value: $435 million
2014 value: $451 million
16. Anaheim Ducks
Current value: $400 million
2014 value: $365 million
17. Minnesota Wild
Current value: $380 million
2014 value: $370 million
18. Ottawa Senators
Current value: $370 million
2014 value: $400 million
19. Colorado Avalanche
Current value: $360 million
Current Value: $360 million
20. Winnipeg Jets
Current value: $350 million
2014 value: $358 million
21. New Jersey Devils
Current value: $330 million
2014 value: $330 million
22. New York Islanders
Current value: $325 million
2014 value: $300 million
23. Buffalo Sabres
Current value: $300 million
2014 value: $288 million
24. St. Louis Blues
Current value: $270 million
2014 value: $235 million
25. Tampa Bay Lightning
Current value: $260 million
2014 value: $230 million
26. Nashville Predators
Current value: $255 million
2014 value: $250 million
27. Columbus Blue Jackets
Current value: $226 million
2014 value: $200 million
28. Carolina Hurricanes
Current value: $225 million
2014 value: $220 million
29. Arizona Coyotes
Current value: $220 million
2014 value: $225 million
30. Florida Panthers
Current value: $186 million
2014 value: $190 million
