Sportico’s latest assessments place the Chicago Blackhawks’ value at $2.45 billion, reflecting a 33 percent increase from their 2023 valuation. However, this figure ranks as only the sixth-highest in the NHL, down from third place last year. The Los Angeles Kings have now joined the ranks of the Original Six at the top. The updated top five is as follows:
I’m always intrigued by these rankings, especially given the significant factors influencing this year’s list. One major contributor is the June 2023 sale of the Ottawa Senators to Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer for $950 million. Despite being one of only three teams, alongside the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets, that didn’t see their value rise by at least 25 percent from the previous year, this transaction marked the first instance where every NHL team is valued at over $1 billion.
Another key factor was the sale of the Arizona Coyotes to a group in Utah. The Smith Entertainment Group acquired the existing hockey assets from Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo for approximately $1.2 billion, following what I would describe as a hostile takeover by the NHL. Meruelo received $1 billion, and the additional $200 million relocation fee was distributed among the other 31 teams.
Additionally, just two weeks ago, Jeff Vinik sold a stake in the Tampa Bay Lightning with a valuation of $1.8 billion.
I anticipate that the 2025 rankings will be particularly interesting, as this period aligns with the Blackhawks’ resurgence following their first Stanley Cup victory in fifty years. It will be captivating to see how the Chicago Sports Network issues affect the franchise’s valuation.
