The Toronto Maple Leafs are the most valuable team in the NHL, knocking off the long-time leading New York Rangers, according to the latest franchise valuations list published by Forbes.
The Maple Leafs, according to Forbes, have a worth of $2.8 billion, eclipsing the Rangers’ $2.65 billion. The Rangers have been ranked the most valuable franchise for the last eight years. (All figures are in U.S. dollars.)
The Montreal Canadiens were third, at $2.3 billion, followed by the Los Angeles Kings at $2 billion and the Boston Bruins at $1.9 billion.
The Edmonton Oilers were the next Canadian team on the list, ranked at No. 7 with a $1.85 billion valuation. The Vancouver Canucks were 12th at $1.32 billion, followed by the Calgary Flames in 19th at $1.1 billion and the recently sold Ottawa Senators at 24th with $950 million. The Winnipeg Jets were 28th with $780 million. The Arizona Coyotes, playing in a college hockey arena, were 32nd in the league, with a valuation of $500 million.
Forbes says the increase in the jump in the Leafs’ value stems from the indirect sale last month of a five per cent stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment — the owner of the Leafs, Raptors, Argonauts and Toronto FC as well as Scotiabank Arena — to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System through a 20 per cent purchase of Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports.
Forbes also reported it increased the Leafs’ valuation by 40 per cent year-over-year because of high worth of the Raptors and other MLSE properties.
Forbes estimates the average value of an NHL franchise to be $1.33 billion, up 29 per cent from last year.