Owning an NHL team seems to be quite advantageous these days, particularly for James Dolan of the New York Rangers.
According to Sportico’s latest annual ranking of NHL franchises, the Rangers are valued at $3.25 billion, making them the second-highest valued team, with a significant 33 percent increase from last season’s $2.45 billion. The only team valued higher is the Toronto Maple Leafs at $3.66 billion, reflecting a 38 percent rise from the previous year. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Rangers have secured the second spot since Sportico started this annual assessment in 2021. The Montreal Canadiens, valued at $2.93 billion this year, continue to be nestled behind the Maple Leafs and Rangers in the rankings.
The average valuation for NHL teams stands at $1.79 billion, which represents a 39 percent surge from last year and an impressive 77 percent leap since 2022. This season, every NHL franchise is valued over $1 billion, a stark contrast to last year when 10 teams fell below that threshold. The Columbus Blue Jackets are at the bottom with a valuation of $1.06 billion, though that’s a 20 percent increase from last year.
Several factors contribute to this valuation boom. Notably, bankers appreciate the NHL’s hard salary cap for providing fixed costs for teams. Additionally, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has emphasized the league’s record revenue growth since the pandemic. The Rangers benefit significantly from their location in New York City and ownership of the renowned Madison Square Garden, along with their recent winning record, having reached the Eastern Conference Finals in two of the last three seasons and winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season.
One can speculate how the Rangers’ valuation would soar if they were to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1994; the same sentiment applies to the Maple Leafs, who haven’t won since 1967, and the Canadiens, whose last championship was in 1993.
Following their Stanley Cup Final appearance last season, the Edmonton Oilers saw a valuation increase of 51 percent, reaching $2.4 billion. Meanwhile, the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers improved their ranking despite still being 26th in the league with a valuation of $1.25 billion.
Sportico detailed its valuation methodology by analyzing each NHL team’s revenue using publicly available data, financial records, and insights from various knowledgeable sources, including sports bankers and legal experts. This information was verified with multiple stakeholders, including team owners and financial officers, to ensure accuracy while maintaining confidentiality.
Unsurprisingly, the Utah Hockey Club’s move from Arizona resulted in a 78 percent valuation increase, allowing them to rise from 32nd to 28th place with a value of $1.2 billion.
