NHL is the world’s top-ranked professional ice hockey league and the fifth-wealthiest professional sports league by revenue. Thirty-two teams comprise the hockey league.
Since it is one of the wealthiest sports leagues, there is no question that these NHL teams are some of the most valuable in any sport worldwide.
So can you guess which are the most valuable NHL teams? Can you think how much the net worth of the most valuable team in the ice hockey league is?
The pandemic affected the regular seasons of the game, and like all the others, NHL also suffered a massive loss of revenue. Thankfully as the world is slowly recovering from the pandemic, the league is also slowly making its way back.
Forbes has released its annual NHL team valuations for 2021, and based on their valuation; we are ranking the most valuable teams in the ice hockey league.
So please stick with us as we rank the ten top most valuable teams and determine which team has the highest value and worth. Now without further ado, let us dive right into our list!
Most Valuable NHL Teams
Our primary source of reference for the article is Forbes. Let us look at the overall ranking of our list before we get into the details of the list.
NHL Teams | Value |
10. New York Islanders | $950 million |
9. Detroit Red Wings | $990 million |
8. Los Angeles Kings | $1.025 billion |
7. Edmonton Oilers | $1.1 billion |
6. Philadelphia Flyers | $1.2 billion |
5. Boston Bruins | $1.3 billion |
4. Chicago Blackhawks | $1.4 billion |
3. Montreal Canadiens | $1.6 billion |
2. Toronto Maple Leafs | $1.8 billion |
1. New York Rangers | $2 billion |
10. New York Islanders
On number 10 of the most valuable NHL team we have the New York Islanders, with a total value of $950 million. Also known as Isle, the team is based in Elmont, New York.
The team was founded in 1972. It competes in the NHL as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. It is one of the three NHL franchises in the New York metropolitan area.
Two years after the founding of the Islanders, the team found instant success by securing 14 straight playoff berths. Their achievement between 1980 and 1984, where they won 19 consecutive playoff series, is a record in the league.
They are the last team to win four consecutive championships and to win more than two consecutive Stanley Cups in any major professional North American sport.
The team uses royal blue, white, and orange color for their team jersey. Likewise, their logo features these three color stripes on the hockey stick. They played all their home games at the Nassau Coliseum for the 2020-21 season.
9. Detroit Red Wings
The ninth most valuable NHL team is the professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, the Detroit Red Wings. They have a value of $990 million and compete in the league as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.
The Red Wings was founded in 1926 and are one of the original six teams. Initially, the team was named the Detroit Cougars and renamed Detroit Falcons. It was again changed into the Detroit Red Wings.
Also known as Wings, the team is one of the league’s most popular and successful franchises. Thanks to the team, fans and sports commentators refer Detroit area as “Hockeytown.”
Since the 1983-84 season, the Wings have recorded six regular season first-place finishes. Similarly, they have won the Stanley Cup four times, and as of 2022, they have the most Cup wins among the NHL franchise based in the United States.
The team’s jersey has remained more or less the same since the 1930s, which comprises red and white colors. Their logo features a winged wheel which was voted the second best in NHL in 2008.
8. Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings is a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. Their value is estimated to be $1.025 billion by Forbes and, therefore, number 8 on our list of the most valuable NHL teams.
The team was founded in 1967. The team is one of the six teams that began playing in the league as part of the 1967 NHL expansion. It plays as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference.
The Kings established itself as one of the best teams in the NHL during the 1970s and the early 1980s. Wayne Gretzky, considered the greatest hockey player, helped the team in their achievements.
In 1995, the team entered into financial problems and went bankrupt. After going through a phase of mediocrity, the Kings made their comeback and broke a six-year playoff loss in the 2009-10 season.
The team’s logo went through several changes over the years. Since 2002, the team has used the crown logo as its primary logo. Their uniform color comprises black, silver, and white color.
7. Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are the seventh most valuable NHL team with a value estimation of $1.1 billion. The team was founded in 1971 initially as Alberta Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers are based in Edmonton and compete in NGL as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They use Rogers Place as their home arena, which was opened in 2016.
The team is one of the two NHL franchises based in Alberta. It was one of the twelve founding franchises of the major professional World Hockey Association (WHA.) They joined NGL in 1979 when NHL and WHA merged.
Since joining the NHL, the Oilers have won the Stanley Cup five times, tied for the most championships ever since the merger. Similarly, the team has won seven Conference championships and seven Division championships.
From 1996 to 2012, Oiler’s former primary logo was used in some capacity. The team’s uniform is royal blue, orange, and white. At the beginning of the 2022-223 season, the team brought back the 1980s blue and white jerseys.
6. Philadelphia Flyers
On number 6 of the most valuable NHL teams, we have the Philadelphia-based professional ice hockey team, Philadelphia Flyers. It competes in the league as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference.
The franchise was founded in 1967 as part of the 1967 NHL Expansion. Wells Fargo Center is their home arena which they share with NBA franchise Philadelphia 76ers and NLL franchise Philadelphia Wings.
The Flyers are the first expansion teams in the post-Original Six eras to win the Stanley Cup. Similarly, they have the most appearances in the conference finals among the 24 expansion teams.
As of the 2021-22 NHL season, the Flyers have the all-time points percentage of 57.1%, which record is the third-best in the league. Forbes has estimated the franchise’s value to be $1.2 billion by the end of the 2021 season.
The team’s uniform is a composite of orange, black, and white. The Flyers released a special “Reverse Retro” alternate uniform for the 2020-21 season. The uniform was reminiscent of the team’s darker burnt orange jersey from 1982 to 2001.
5. Boston Bruins
With an estimated valuation of $1.3 billion, Boston Bruins are the fifth most valuable NHL team. The franchise was founded in 1924 and is the oldest team in the United States.
The Bruins are the third-oldest active team in the NHL and are one of the six original NHL teams. They compete in the league as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.
Since 1995, the franchise has called TD Garden their home arena. The Bruins have won six Stanley Cups, five Conference Championships, and 26 Division championships.
The team is tied with the Blackhawks for the fourth-most Stanley Cup championship wins and in second place for an NHL team based in the United States. During the 2019-20 season, they recorded the consistent best record in the Atlantic Division.
Bruins’ uniform comprises black, gold, and white colors. Its logo of the eight-spoked, black, and gold wheel with the letter “B” in the center was used since 1948 and underwent several changes to reach its current form in 2007.
4. Chicago Blackhawks
Number 4 of the most valuable NHL teams, we have Chicago Blackhawks. The team was founded in 1926 and is one of the “Original Six” NHL teams.
Also known as Hawks shortly, the franchise is based in Chicago. They compete in the NHL as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. Since 1995, they have called United Center their home arena.
Since their founding, the Blackhawks have won six Stanley Cup championships. Similarly, they have won four Conference championships, two Presidents’ Trophies, and 16 Division championships.
The Blackhawks predominantly wear red jerseys featuring three sets of black and white stripes along the sleeves ad waist. They have been using the logo designed in 1955 with only a few minor modifications.
The original design of the team’s logo featured a crudely drawn black and white Native head in a circle. Between 1926 and 1955, the designs changed significantly. In 2008, the franchise’s logo won the best title in the league.
3. Montreal Canadiens
We are down to the three most valuable NHL teams. On number 3, we have Montreal Canadiens with an estimated value of $1.6 billion.
The Montreal Canadiens are a Canadian hockey club based in Montreal. The franchise was founded in 1909 as a part of the National Hockey Association (NHA). Later in 1917, the team joined NHL as one of the “Original Six.”
The franchise is also one of the world’s longest continuously operating professional ice hockey teams. Moreover, they are the only team to play in the NHL to predate the founding of the NHL.
The team has earned many nicknames but is popularly known as the Habs. Similarly, they are one of the oldest North American professional sports franchises that predate every other Canadian franchise.
With such a long-standing history, the Canadiens also have won the prestigious Stanley Cup championship more than any other team. They have won 24 Stanley Cups; among them, 23 Cups were defeated after the founding of the NHL.
The team’s classic “C” and “H” logos are among the oldest and most recognizable symbols in sports history. Their uniform colors are blue, white, and red, which they have used since 1911.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Number 2 of the most valuable NHL teams we have, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Founded in 1917, this professional ice hockey team is based in Toronto.
The franchise is often referred to as the Leafs. Initially, the team was founded as Toronto Arenas. The name was renamed in 1919 as Toronto St. Patricks and then Toronto Maple Leafs in 1927.
The Leafs are one of the six original members of the NHL and endured the period of League retrenchment during the Great Depression. They compete in the league as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.
Since their founding, the Maple Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cups championships and six Division championships. They have the second most Stanley Cup win in the league.
Over the years, the franchise went through several name changes and logos. The team logo includes the maple leaf with the franchise’s name. Their uniform is of blue and white colors.
1. New York Rangers
The most valuable NHL team title is the professional ice hockey team based in New York City, New York Rangers. The group, founded in 1926, has an estimated valuation of $2 billion.
The franchise is one of the “Original Six” teams in the NHL before the 1967 expansion. They compete in the league as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference.
Madison Square Garden is the team’s home arena which they share with the NBA franchise New York Knicks. In 1928, the Rangers won their first Stanley Cups championship, which made them the first NHL franchise to win the Cup in the United States.
Since their first success, the team has won four Stanley Cups, two Conference championships, seven Division championships, and three Conference championships.
The Rangers uniform comprises three colors blue, red, and one. Since their founding, the team has used the classic Rangers sweater with several altercations.
For the 2020-21 season, the franchise released a “Reverse Retro” alternate uniform that features the Lady Liberty design. The team previously wore the design from 1996 to 2007.
Conclusion
The hockey league is recovering from pandemic effects and has been growing. According to Forbes, the revenue has increased by 32% from last year, and the most valuable NHL team, New York Rangers, has risen by 21% since last year.
There have been only a few team sales as the franchises suffered financially. However, as the league has increased sponsorship revenues, Forbes estimates the NHL revenue to be $5.4 billion in the 2022-23 season.