The National Hockey League (NHL) is Canada’s most popular professional sports competition and is massively popular across the United States. That popularity attracts supporters in droves in addition to colossal sponsorship and broadcasting revenues. For the first time, all 32 NHL franchises have a Forbes valuation of more than $1 billion, but which teams are the most valuable and why? Continue reading to find out.
New York Rangers – $2.2 Billion
The New York Rangers are the most valuable NHL franchise, worth a cool $2.2 billion, an increase of 10% from last year. The astronomical valuation is despite a lack of success on the ice for the Blueshirts. New York Rangers have won the Stanley Cup four times, but not since the 1993-94 season, and one must go back to 1939-40 to find another Stanley Cup victory.
The New York Rangers may not be everyone’s choice when it comes to puck line betting online, but the franchise’s management team runs a tight ship off the ice. Rangers pull in around $250 million in revenue annually and are the only NHL team to rake in over $100 million from non-premium ticket revenue.
Madison Square Garden Sports (MSG) paid $195 million for the Rangers in 1997. Now valued at $2.2 billion shows a healthy return on investment.
Toronto Maple Leafs – $2 Billion
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most recognizable NHL brands, thanks partly to their unbelievable success in the 1940s and 1960s. Maple Leafs fans support a team with 13 Stanley Cups in their trophy cabinet (only the Montreal Canadiens have more), but they have not won the Stanley Cup since the 1966-67 campaign.
Hailing from Canada’s biggest hockey market helps the Maple Leafs generate masses of revenue from media ventures; more than $90 million arrives in the Maple Leafs’ accounts annually from this channel. The Maple Leafs recently signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Dairy Farmers of Ontario that is thought to be worth eight figures.
Montreal Canadiens – $1.85 Billion
The Montreal Canadiens are the third most valuable franchise in the NHL, with a $1.85 billion valuation. The Canadiens have featured in a record 35 Stanley Cups, winning 24 (another record) and losing ten. Although the Montreal Canadiens last won the coveted Stanley Cup in the 1992-93 season, they reached the 2020-21 final, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Canadiens’ record-breaking historical success makes them a significant draw for media broadcasters. The Canadiens are the only team in the NHL to enjoy more than $100 million worth of media revenue.
Chicago Blackhawks – $1.5 Billion
A $1.5 billion valuation places the Chicago Blackhawks fourth on the list of most valuable NHL teams. The six-time Stanley Cup champions enjoyed a resurgence in results and popularity between 2010-15 but have faltered since becoming champions in the 2014-15 season.
Still, the Blackhawks fans are loyal and generate more than $78 million annually through ticket sales alone.
Boston Bruins – $1.4 Billion
Forbes values the Boston Bruins at $1.4 billion, enough for fifth place in the NHL rich list. The Bruins are six-time Stanley Cup winners, which some say is disappointing considering the Bruins are the third-oldest team in the NHL. That longevity has resulted in many hockey lovers selecting the Bruins as their team.
Of the top five most valuable NHL teams, the Bruins’ $89 million in gate receipts is second only to the ever-popular New York Rangers’ $123 million and shows that having a long history helps enjoy a powerful brand. Being the only NHL team in Boston also helps because the Bruins do not have to compete with local rivals for market share.