The NHL has its first $1 billion team.
According to Forbes, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the first NHL team to be worth more than $1 billion.
The Associated Press reports that the Leafs are worth $250 million more than the New York Rangers and $870 million more than the least valuable team in the NHL, the St. Louis Blues.
“The spread between the rich and poor teams is dramatic. The top five teams—Maple Leafs ($1 billion), New York Rangers ($750 million), Montreal Canadiens ($575 million), Chicago Blackhawks ($350 million) and Boston Bruins ($348 million)—are worth $605 million, on average. The five least valuable—Carolina Hurricanes ($162 million), New York Islanders ($155 million), Columbus Blue Jackets ($145 million), Phoenix Coyotes ($134 million) and St. Louis Blues ($130 million)—are worth just $145 million, on average.”
According to Yahoo Sports , the numbers are even more dramatic when you consider that the top three teams in the league, the Leafs, Rangers and Canadiens, account for 83 percent of the league’s operating income.
Ever wonder how much your team was worth? Here’s the list from Forbes.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: $1,000 million
- New York Rangers : $750 million
- Montreal Canadiens : $575 million
- Chicago Blackhawks : $350 million
- Boston Bruins : $348 million
- Detroit Red Wings : $346 million
- Vancouver Canucks : $342 million
- Philadelphia Flyers : $336 million
- Pittsburgh Penguins : $288 million
- Los Angeles Kings : $276 million
- Washington Capitals : $250 million
- Calgary Flames : $245 million
- Dallas Stars : $240 million
- Edmonton Oilers : $225 million
- San Jose Sharks : $223 million
- Ottawa Senators : $220 million
- Minnesota Wild : $218 million
- Colorado Avalanche : $210 million
- New Jersey Devils : $205 million
- Winnipeg Jets : $200 million
- Anaheim Ducks : $192 million
- Buffalo Sabres : $175 million
- Tampa Bay Lightning : $174 million
- Florida Panthers : $170 million
- Nashville Predators : $167 million
- Carolina Hurricanes : $162 million
- New York Islanders : $155 million
- Columbus Blue Jackets : $145 million
- Phoenix Coyotes : $134 million
- St. Louis Blues : $130 million
The NHL has its first team worth $1 billion but the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t even close to being the first sports team to cross into 10 digit territory. The NFL currently has about 20 teams worth $1 billion and the MLB has three. The NBA doesn’t have any at the moment but the Lakers are getting pretty close.
So, congratulations Maple Leafs. You have a lot of money. Now can we please play some hockey.
And since we’re on the topic of the NHL lockout, here’s a video from Forbes about the NHL’s highest paid players.