Forbes list of the most valuable NHL teams

Forbes compiles the finances of all 32 NHL teams to produce an annual ranking of the best franchises in terms of valuation. The valuations are composed of the monetary worth of the sport, market, stadium deals, and brand.[1] These areas are supported by applying financial metrics such as debt and operating income to each one.[2]

The latest ranking reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs were the most valuable NHL franchise after the 2022–23 NHL season, overtaking the New York Rangers. The Rangers held the title for 8 consecutive years prior to the 2022-2023 season[3] The fastest growing NHL franchise is the Edmonton Oilers, with a 136.1% increase in valuation since the 2017–18 NHL season ($0.575 billion to $1.275 billion).[4]

Several media outlets have referenced in related news or conducts analytic journalism when the ranking comes out, such as CBS and Bleacher Report.[5][6] The NHL has consistently published news about the rankings since the early renditions.[7][8] The report has also applied more context to NHL trends, such as the Edmonton Oilers doubling in value in just one year.[9] Particularly, the Oilers have recently been clinching the playoffs consistently that aligns well with the opening of Rogers Place and new media deals.[10][11][12]

Ranking

[edit]

Rankings as of December 14, 2023 (2022–23 NHL season)[13]

Rank Swing[a] Team Territory Value[b] Change[c] Debt[d] Revenue[e] Operating Income[f]
1 Increase 1 Toronto Maple Leafs  Ontario $2.8 billion Increase 40% 7% $281 million $127 million
2 Decrease 1 New York Rangers  New York $2.65 billion Increase 20% 3% $265 million $69 million
3 Steady Montreal Canadiens  Quebec $2.3 billion Increase 24% 9% $265 million $99 million
4 Increase 2 Los Angeles Kings  California $2 billion Increase 54% 5% $279 million $108 million
5 Steady Boston Bruins  Massachusetts $1.9 billion Increase 36% 5% $239 million $57 million
6 Decrease 2 Chicago Blackhawks  Illinois $1.875 billion Increase 25% 5% $228 million $96 million
7 Steady Edmonton Oilers  Alberta $1.85 billion Increase 45% 4% $281 million $122 million
8 Steady Philadelphia Flyers  Pennsylvania $1.65 billion Increase 32% 0% $219 million $53 million
9 Steady Washington Capitals  Washington, D.C. $1.6 billion Increase 33% 12% $218 million $74 million
10 Increase 2 New York Islanders  New York $1.55 billion Increase 52% 32% $183 million $30 million
11 Increase 6 New Jersey Devils  New Jersey $1.45 billion Increase 51% 9% $240 million $55 million
12 Increase 1 Vancouver Canucks  British Columbia $1.325 billion Increase 31% 9% $198 million $48 million
13 Increase 1 Tampa Bay Lightning  Florida $1.25 billion Increase 25% 12% $196 million $27 million
14 Decrease 4 Seattle Kraken  Washington $1.225 billion Increase 17% 29% $197 million $44 million
15 Decrease 4 Detroit Red Wings  Michigan $1.2 billion Increase 17% 8% $199 million $64 million
16 Decrease 1 Pittsburgh Penguins  Pennsylvania $1.175 billion Increase 19% 17% $207 million $49 million
17 Increase 3 Colorado Avalanche  Colorado $1.15 billion Increase 34% 30% $182 million $39 million
18 Decrease 2 Vegas Golden Knights  Nevada $1.125 billion Increase 17% 13% $233 million $73 million
19 Increase 2 Calgary Flames  Alberta $1.1 billion Increase 29% 8% $183 million $37 million
20 Decrease 2 Dallas Stars  Texas $1.08 billion Increase 17% 15% $210 million $50 million
21 Increase 1 Minnesota Wild  Minnesota $1.05 billion Increase 24% 15% $185 million $43 million
22 Decrease 3 St. Louis Blues  Missouri $0.99 billion Increase 13% 13% $184 million $41 million
23 Steady Nashville Predators  Tennessee $0.975 billion Increase 20% 15% $180 million $38 million
24 Steady Ottawa Senators  Ontario $0.95 billion Increase 19% 29% $128 million $5.1 million
25 Increase 1 Anaheim Ducks  California $0.925 billion Increase 28% 27% $164 million $22 million
26 Decrease 1 San Jose Sharks  California $0.9 billion Increase 22% 6% $158 million $11 million
27 Increase 1 Carolina Hurricanes  North Carolina $0.825 billion Increase 29% 18% $177 million $25 million
28 Decrease 1 Winnipeg Jets  Manitoba $0.78 billion Increase 20% 17% $162 million $21 million
29 Increase 2 Florida Panthers  Florida $0.775 billion Increase 41% 21% $161 million $6 million
30 Decrease 1 Columbus Blue Jackets  Ohio $0.765 billion Increase 23% 18% $151 million $35 million
31 Decrease 1 Buffalo Sabres  New York $0.75 billion Increase 23% 17% $159 million $25 million
32 Steady Utah Hockey Club  Utah $0.5 billion Increase 11% 62% $120 million $19 million

Composition

[edit]

A pie chart that represents the composition of valuation for the average NHL team.

  Sport (25.8%)
  Market (38.3%)
  Stadium (23.6%)
  Brand (12.3%)
Team[g] Value[b] Sport[h] Market[i] Stadium[j] Brand[k]
New York Rangers $2.2 billion $0.252 billion $1.038 billion $0.632 billion $0.279 billion
Toronto Maple Leafs $2 billion $0.239 billion $0.937 billion $0.536 billion $0.289 billion
Montreal Canadiens $1.85 billion $0.239 billion $0.944 billion $0.427 billion $0.241 billion
Chicago Blackhawks $1.5 billion $0.23 billion $0.679 billion $0.407 billion $0.184 billion
Boston Bruins $1.4 billion $0.22 billion $0.581 billion $0.42 billion $0.179 billion
Los Angeles Kings $1.3 billion $0.149 billion $0.535 billion $0.446 billion $0.171 billion
Edmonton Oilers $1.275 billion $0.186 billion $0.605 billion $0.295 billion $0.189 billion
Philadelphia Flyers $1.25 billion $0.24 billion $0.501 billion $0.365 billion $0.145 billion
Washington Capitals $1.2 billion $0.214 billion $0.52 billion $0.286 billion $0.18 billion
Seattle Kraken $1.05 billion $0.191 billion $0.428 billion $0.272 billion $0.159 billion
Detroit Red Wings $1.03 billion $0.245 billion $0.411 billion $0.228 billion $0.146 billion
New York Islanders $1.02 billion $0.206 billion $0.412 billion $0.268 billion $0.134 billion
Vancouver Canucks $1.01 billion $0.24 billion $0.433 billion $0.202 billion $0.135 billion
Tampa Bay Lightning $1 billion $0.238 billion $0.379 billion $0.272 billion $0.111 billion
Pittsburgh Penguins $0.99 billion $0.194 billion $0.4 billion $0.256 billion $0.141 billion
Vegas Golden Knights $0.965 billion $0.168 billion $0.407 billion $0.268 billion $0.123 billion
New Jersey Devils $0.96 billion $0.209 billion $0.359 billion $0.271 billion $0.121 billion
Dallas Stars $0.925 billion $0.22 billion $0.383 billion $0.198 billion $0.124 billion
St. Louis Blues $0.88 billion $0.252 billion $0.313 billion $0.203 billion $0.112 billion
Colorado Avalanche $0.86 billion $0.249 billion $0.302 billion $0.199 billion $0.11 billion
Calgary Flames $0.855 billion $0.247 billion $0.346 billion $0.166 billion $0.096 billion
Minnesota Wild $0.85 billion $0.258 billion $0.296 billion $0.195 billion $0.101 billion
Nashville Predators $0.81 billion $0.257 billion $0.266 billion $0.19 billion $0.096 billion
Ottawa Senators $0.8 billion $0.293 billion $0.238 billion $0.152 billion $0.116 billion
San Jose Sharks $0.74 billion $0.293 billion $0.221 billion $0.168 billion $0.057 billion
Anaheim Ducks $0.725 billion $0.263 billion $0.224 billion $0.147 billion $0.091 billion
Winnipeg Jets $0.65 billion $0.26 billion $0.203 billion $0.124 billion $0.063 billion
Carolina Hurricanes $0.64 billion $0.223 billion $0.214 billion $0.128 billion $0.075 billion
Buffalo Sabres $0.61 billion $0.263 billion $0.193 billion $0.1 billion $0.053 billion
Florida Panthers $0.55 billion $0.247 billion $0.156 billion $0.096 billion $0.052 billion
Arizona Coyotes $0.45 billion $0.236 billion $0.117 billion $0.061 billion $0.036 billion

Historical valuations

[edit]
Historical valuations (in US$ millions) by NHL team[g]
Team 2022–23 2021–22 2020–21 2019–20 2018–19 2017–18 2016–17 2015–16 2014–15 2013–14 2012–13
Toronto Maple Leafs 2,800 2,000 1,800 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,400 1,100 1,200 1,300 1,200
New York Rangers 2,650 2,200 2,000 1,700 1,700 1,600 1,500 1,300 1,200 1,100 850
Montreal Canadiens 2,300 1,850 1,600 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,100 1,200 1,000 775
Los Angeles Kings 2,000 1,300 1,025 825 850 810 750 600 580 580 450
Boston Bruins 1,900 1,400 1,300 1,000 1,000 925 890 800 750 750 600
Chicago Blackhawks 1,875 1,500 1,400 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,000 925 925 825 625
Edmonton Oilers 1,850 1,275 1,100 550 575 540 520 445 455 475 400
Philadelphia Flyers 1,650 1,250 1,200 800 825 800 740 720 660 625 500
Washington Capitals 1,600 1,200 930 750 775 725 625 575 565 500 414
New York Islanders 1,550 1,020 950 520 520 440 395 385 325 300 195
New Jersey Devils 1,450 960 775 530 550 455 400 320 330 330 320
Vancouver Canucks 1,325 1,010 825 725 740 735 730 700 745 800 700
Tampa Bay Lightning 1,250 1,000 650 470 470 445 390 305 260 230 180
Seattle Kraken 1,225 1,050 875 0[l] 0[l] 0[l] 0[l] 0[l] 0[l] 0[l] 0[l]
Detroit Red Wings 1,200 1,030 990 775 800 775 700 625 600 570 470
Pittsburgh Penguins 1,175 990 900 650 665 650 650 570 560 565 480
Colorado Avalanche 1,150 860 630 465 475 430 385 360 360 360 337
Vegas Golden Knights 1,125 965 710 570 580 575 500 0[l] 0[l] 0[l] 0[l]
Calgary Flames 1,100 855 680 480 500 450 430 410 435 451 420
Dallas Stars 1,080 925 720 575 600 525 515 500 450 420 333
Minnesota Wild 1,050 850 675 500 510 490 440 400 380 370 330
St. Louis Blues 990 880 640 510 530 465 450 310 270 235 185
Nashville Predators 975 810 600 435 460 425 380 270 255 250 205
Ottawa Senators 950 800 525 430 445 435 420 355 370 400 380
Anaheim Ducks 925 725 620 460 480 460 460 415 400 365 300
San Jose Sharks 900 740 625 515 540 510 490 470 445 425 405
Carolina Hurricanes 825 640 550 440 450 420 370 230 225 220 187
Winnipeg Jets 780 650 575 405 420 415 375 340 350 358 340
Florida Panthers 775 550 450 295 310 295 305 235 186 190 240
Columbus Blue Jackets 765 620 475 310 325 320 315 245 226 200 175
Buffalo Sabres 750 610 500 385 400 375 350 300 300 288 250
Arizona Coyotes 500 450 400 285 300 290 300 240 220 225 200

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Movement of spots in the ranking from the 2021–22 NHL season to the 2022–23 NHL season.
  2. ^ a b Value of team (in USD) based on current stadium deal (unless new stadium is pending), without deduction for debt (other than stadium debt).
  3. ^ Change of valuation from the 2021–22 NHL season to the 2022–23 NHL season.
  4. ^ Expressed as the percentage of valuation that is debt. Includes stadium debt.
  5. ^ Revenue in USD.
  6. ^ Earnings (in USD) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
  7. ^ a b Financial data taken from each team profile on Forbes.
  8. ^ Portion of franchise's value attributable to revenue shared among all teams.
  9. ^ Portion of franchise's value attributable to its city and market size.
  10. ^ Portion of franchise's value attributable to its arena.
  11. ^ Portion of franchise's value attributable to its brand.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Team did not exist to be attributed a financial valuation.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New York Rangers Profile". Forbes. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  2. ^ "NHL Team Values 2022: New York Rangers On Top At $2.2 Billion". Forbes. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  3. ^ "The Most Valuable NHL Teams 2023". Forbes. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Edmonton Oilers Profile". Forbes. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  5. ^ "New York Rangers tabbed as most valuable NHL franchise, Maple Leafs and Canadiens round out the top three". National Hockey League. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Rangers Top Forbes' 2021 List of Most Valuable NHL Teams; NYR Becomes 1st $2B Team". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Maple Leafs first NHL team worth $1 billion, according to Forbes magazine". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Forbes: Maple Leafs most valuable NHL team at $332 million; Capitals are last". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Edmonton Oilers Profile". Forbes. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  10. ^ "NHL Records - Edmonton Oilers". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Home of the Katz Group". Katz Group of Companies. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Sportsnet announces 2021-22 Edmonton Oilers broadcast schedule". Sportsnet. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  13. ^ "The Most Valuable NHL Teams 2023". Forbes. Retrieved 4 September 2024.