Forbes unveiled its list of the most valuable NHL teams in 2022 — and the New York Rangers lead the group at $2.2 billion.
It marks the eighth straight year the Blueshirts have owned the top spot.
The NHL’s 32 teams are now worth a record $1.03 billion on average — a 19% increase year-over-year — behind increased media revenue and team-related transactions.
- Owned by Madison Square Garden Sports, the Rangers’ valuation is up 10% compared to last year.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs, owned by Bell Canada, Larry Tanenbaum, and Rogers Communications, are the second-most valuable in the NHL with a $2 billion valuation.
- The Molson family’s Montreal Canadiens are the third-most valuable at $1.85 billion, a 16% increase year-over-year.
- The Chicago Blackhawks, owned by Rocky Wirtz, round out the top four with a $1.5 billion valuation.
The NHL has benefited from its media rights deals with Disney’s ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports. In 2021, ESPN secured a rights deal with the NHL that pays the league $400 million annually until 2028, while Warner Bros. Discovery pays $250 million per year.
New Ownership
The NHL recently added a new team owner to its latest expansion franchise.
On Monday, Samantha Holloway — founder of tech companies GoSpotCheck and Hat Labs — joined her father David Bonderman as co-owner of the Seattle Kraken, becoming the third NHL franchise with a female owner.
Holloway was previously a minority investor in the Kraken and joins Ann Walton Kroenke of the Colorado Avalanche and Kim Pegula of the Buffalo Sabres as female NHL team owners.
