The New York Rangers have once again been named the NHL’s most valuable franchise by Forbes’ annual franchise valuation list.
The Rangers came in with a current value of $2.2 billion, topping the list for the eighth straight year. The Toronto Maple Leafs came in second at $2 billion and the Montreal Canadiens were third at $1.85 billion.
For the first time, the average value of an NHL franchise topped $1 billion ($1.03 B), marking a 19 per cent increase from the 2021 average.
The Tampa Bay Lightning had the largest one-year increase of any team — 54 per cent — jumping from 20th in 2021 with a $650 million valuation to 14th in 2022 at $1 billion.
The Ottawa Senators were a close second in year-to-year risers in value at 52 per cent. They moved from 28th at $525 million to 24th at $800 million.
The Senators and the Nashville Predators are both mentioned by Forbes as two franchises that could be sold in the near future.
The Edmonton Oilers were the only other Canadian franchise in the top 10, coming in seventh with a $1.275 billion valuation.
Canadian NHL franchise valuations and league ranking: 2. Toronto Maple Leafs, $2 billion
3. Montreal Canadiens, $1.85 billion
7. Edmonton Oilers, $1.275 billion
13. Vancouver Canucks, $1.01 billion. 21. Calgary Flames, $855 million 24. Ottawa Senators, $800 million 27. Winnipeg Jets, $650 million
The Arizona Coyotes finished at the bottom of the list with a $450 million valuation.
The average revenue per team reached a record $185 million in 2022, beating the 2019 mark of $164 million — the last season that wasn’t affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
