A message to prospective buyers of NHL teams or those who’ve wondered how much they cost. They’re expensive!
Almost 50% of the NHL teams (14) in the 2021/22 data, we’re about to look at, were worth $1BN USD or more in 2022.
That means that the teams are worth some serious money, not just a couple of dollars hiding behind the sofa.
It’s also quite timely to be discussing how much your team was worth given that at the time of writing, there’s some serious interest in buying the Ottawa Senators for a sum which could take it into the $1BN USD bracket.
We’ll discuss that later… For now, which NHL team was worth the most in 2022?
How BIG is the apple?
There are THREE NHL teams in the Metropolitan Division which surround the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, but only ONE was worth an estimated $2.2BN USD in 2022. That title belongs to the New York Rangers.
Over the FOUR years between the 2016/17 to the 2020/21 season, the value of the team had increased by 37.5%. Looking more broadly at the team’s value from 2012/13 to the recent values, the team’s value has increased by 158% (from $850M USD).
Performance
The team has been quite varied in the past decade, making the NHL playoffs SEVEN out of the last 10 seasons with their best performance being their runners-up status in the 2014/15 Stanley Cup Finals.
In the recent 2022/23 NHL Playoffs, the Rangers were knocked out by the New Jersey Devils in the First Round.
At the time of writing, the team has also fired their head coach Gerard Gallant.
Who was the least valuable in 2022?
That position is held by the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes had an estimated value of $450M USD in 2022.
In the FOUR years between the 2016/17 to the 2020/21 seasons, the value of the team had increased by 55.2%, but this did not garner an improved performance.
Only the 2020/21 season would see the Coyotes made it to the First Round of the Playoffs before being knocked out by Colorado Avalanche in FOUR games.
Performance
The Arizona Coyotes once again failed to reach the NHL Playoffs. The 2022/23 season marked it’s THIRD consecutive year missing them.
Wait a minute… where’s the data from?
The data we’re using comes from Forbes Magazine and their survey of the NHL Franchise values in 2022, by team.
The survey is called the Business of Hockey 2022 and was released in December last year. It looks at the estimated value of the 32 NHL teams in the league, from most to least valuable.
Where did the Canadian teams come?
So, you’ve seen who the most and least valuable teams in the 32-team franchise are worth. Now we’re delving into the Canadian NHL teams.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are SECOND on the list of most valuable NHL teams last year, coming in at $2BN.
Their value increased by 33.3% in the FOUR years between the 2016/17 to the 2020/21 seasons ($1.4BN) and by 66% when you consider its value from 2012/13 ($1.2BN).
At the time of writing, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the SECOND ROUND of the NHL Playoffs for 2022/23, facing against the Florida Panthers.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens come in at a close THIRD, just behind the Maple Leafs with an estimated value of $1.85BN in 2022.
Their value increased by 42.3% in the FOUR years between the 2016/17 to the 2020/21 seasons ($1.3BN) and by 138% when you consider its value from 2012/13 ($775M).
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers came SEVENTH on the list with an estimated value of $1.275BN in 2022. That was a massive 136.1% increase on the past value of $520M back during the 2016/17 season. To further the point, that’s 218% higher than it was in 2012/13.
Oilers have some of the best players in the league this season, boasting the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
They are the SECOND Canadian team next to the Toronto Maple Leafs, which remains in the NHL Playoffs this season, so far.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are the last of the Canadian teams featured among those worth $1BN USD. They had an estimated value of $1.01BN USD in 2022.
They’re one of the teams which lost value at times over the course of 2012/13 to 2021/22. There was a sudden drop of $45M USD between 2014/15 ($745) and 2015/16 ($700). Their value gradually rose again along with a jump between 2020/21 ($825M USD) until 2022.
Canucks recently employed Rick Tocchet as their new coach in January, replacing fan favourite Bruce Boudreau. The team is in a process of rebuilding.
Calgary Flames
The Flames’ estimated value in 2022 was only $855M USD. They are one of the Canadian teams which has had a highly fluctuating value between 2012/13 until the latest record.
Overall, its value has gradually increased by 103% (from $420M USD).
Calgary Flames are one of those teams which went into the 2022/23 season with high expectations and some serious offseason trades to do it. Unfortunately, they struggled to live up to their previous season’s performance.
You can read more about it in: Why were Flames snuffed out?
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators have an estimated value of $800 USD in 2022. That $275M more than the previous year ($525M USD).
They are an interesting case and certainly they could very well be one of these remaining Canadian teams under $1BN, to leapfrog into that club this year. Here’s why…
There’s a lot of interest in the club following the death of its previous owner, Eugene Melnyk, back in March 2022.
Several investment groups and A-list celebrities like Ryan Reynolds and Snoop Dogg, have shown an interest in buying the team. The bids could exceed $1BN USD.
Read more about it here in: Who’ll own Ottawa Senators?
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are the last team on this list and the least valuable at $650M USD, according to Forbes. Their value has almost doubled since 2012/13, from $340M USD.
The Jets have had a topsy turvy season, managing to secure the Second Wildcard slot in the Western Conference.
