NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called 2013-14 the most successful season on and off the ice in league history, and that includes the balance sheet.
According to Forbes, which on Tuesday released its evaluation of NHL team values, the average franchise’s value has risen 18.6 per cent to an all-time high of US$490 million.
“If the [NBA’s Los Angeles] Clippers are worth $2 billion, we have plenty of franchises that are worth at least that, if not more,” Bettman said during the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
While Forbes doesn’t have any NHL franchises cracking the $2 billion mark, three teams — the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens — all have hit the 10-digit mark, thanks in large part to the league’s $5.2-billion, 12-year broadcasting deal with Rogers.
Forbes has been evaluating the teams’ worth for 16 years now, and this is the ninth consecutive year the Leafs have come out on top.
Twenty-nine of the NHL’s 30 teams rose in value last year, according to the report, with the lowest-valued Florida Panthers being the lone exception. Forbes reports that the “true sale price” of the Panthers to new owner Vincent Viola was $160 million and not $250 million.
Just last week Bettman said it was unfair to speculate that the Panthers would relocate.
Here is the full list, ranked 1 through 30, via Forbes.
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1. Toronto Maple Leafs
Current Value: $1.3 billion
Revenue 2013-2014: $190 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $70.6 mil.
2. New York Rangers
Current Value: $1.1 billion
Revenue 2013-2014: $217 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $84.4 mil.
3. Montreal Canadiens
Current Value: $1 billion
Revenue 2013-2014: $187 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $59.8 mil.
4. Chicago Blackhawks
Current Value: $825 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $172 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $50.2 mil.
5. Vancouver Canucks
Current Value: $800 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $154 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $46.7 mil.
6. Boston Bruins
Current Value: $750 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $164 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $34.5 mil.
7. Philadelphia Flyers
Current Value: $625 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $136 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $11.0 mil.
8. Los Angeles Kings
Current Value: $580 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $146 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $21.4 mil.
9. Detroit Red Wings
Current Value: $570 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $134 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $15.2 mil.
10. Pittsburgh Penguins
Current Value: $565 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $141 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $21.9 mil.
11. Washington Capitals
Current Value: $500 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $117 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $13.4 mil.
12. Edmonton Oilers
Current Value: $475 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $119 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $25.3 mil.
13. Calgary Flames
Current Value: $451 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $122 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $22.3 mil.
14. San Jose Sharks
Current Value: $425 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $117 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $5.6 mil.
15. Dallas Stars
Current Value: $420 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $113 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $3.5 mil.
16. Ottawa Senators
Current Value: $400 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $117 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $22.5 mil.
17. Minnesota Wild
Current Value: $370 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $111 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$5.4 mil.
18. Anaheim Ducks
Current Value: $365 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $107 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$3.7 mil.
19. Colorado Avalanche
Current Value: $360 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $104 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $8.4 mil.
20. Winnipeg Jets
Current Value: $358 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $103 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $3.3 mil.
21. New Jersey Devils
Current Value: $330 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $111 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$2.2 mil.
22. New York Islanders
Current Value: $300 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $83 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$2.5 mil.
23. Buffalo Sabres
Current Value: $288 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $103 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $4.4 mil.
24. Nashville Predators
Current Value: $250 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $98 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: $1.7 mil.
25. St. Louis Blues
Current Value: $235 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $98 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$6.5 mil.
26. Tampa Bay Lightning
Current Value: $230 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $97 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$11.9 mil.
27. Arizona Coyotes
Current Value: $225 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $80 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$4.6 mil.
28. Carolina Hurricanes
Current Value: $220 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $91 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$14.0 mil.
29. Columbus Blue Jackets
Current Value: $200 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $86 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$15.6 mil.
30. Florida Panthers
Current Value: $190 mil.
Revenue 2013-2014: $83 mil.
Operating Income 2013-2014: -$15.6 mil.
