The numbers are in, and the business of being the Boston Bruins is quite a lucrative one despite the ongoing NHL lockout.
According to the numbers just released in the annual NHL report by Forbes magazine, the Bruins are rated as the fifth most valuable NHL franchise with an estimated worth of 348 million. They trail only the Toronto Maple Leafs (1 billion), New York Rangers (750 million) Montreal Canadiens (575 million) and Chicago Blackhawks (350 million) in estimated value with the Leafs becoming the first NHL club to eclipse 1 billion in estimated value.
Amazingly there isnt a single NBA franchise thats topped 1 billion in estimated value with the Los Angeles Lakers topping the list at 900,000 million.
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The Forbes piece illustrated the alarming balance between the top handful of NHL teams that average upwards of 600 million in overall franchise value while -- at the other end of the spectrum -- the St. Louis Blues were recently purchased for the relative pittance of 130 million. According to the Forbes date the league enjoyed a 9 percent increase in overall revenue to 3.4 billion during the 2011-12 season. The average National Hockey League team is now worth 282 million, an increase of 18 percent from the previous season.
The five least valuable NHL franchises -- the Carolina Hurricanes (162 million), New York Islanders (155 million), Columbus Blue Jackets (145 million), Phoenix Coyotes (134 million) and St. Louis Blues (130 million) -- bottomed out at an average worth of just 145 million. Those numbers are part of what fuels the NHL lockout, and is the biggest reason the NHL Board of Governors have been seeking a 5050 split in Hockey Related Revenue while the NHLPA has been calling for a sizeable increase in league revenue sharing.
Here is the full list of NHL franchise values according to Forbes Magazine:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
Team value: 1,000 million
2. New York Rangers
Team value: 750 million
3. Montreal Canadiens
Team value: 575 million
4. Chicago Blackhawks
Team value: 350 million
5. Boston Bruins
Team value: 348 million
6. Detroit Red Wings
Team value: 346 million
7. Vancouver Canucks
Team value: 342 million
8. Philadelphia Flyers
Team value: 336 million
9. Pittsburgh Penguins
Team value: 288 million
10. Los Angeles Kings
Team value: 276 million
11. Washington Capitals
Team value: 250 million
12. Calgary Flames
Team value: 245 million
13. Dallas Stars
Team value: 240 million
14. Edmonton Oilers
Team value: 225 million
15. San Jose Sharks
Team value: 223 million
16. Ottawa Senators
Team value: 220 million
17. Minnesota Wild
Team value: 218 million
18. Colorado Avalanche
Team value: 210 million
19. New Jersey Devils
Team value: 205 million
20. Winnipeg Jets
Team value: 200 million
21. Anaheim Ducks
Team value: 192 million
22. Buffalo Sabres
Team value: 175 million
23. Tampa Bay Lightning
Team value: 174 million
24. Florida Panthers
Team value: 170 million
25. Nashville Predators
Team value: 167 million
26. Carolina Hurricanes
Team value: 162 million
27. New York Islanders
Team value: 155 million
28. Columbus Blue Jackets
Team value: 145 million
29. Phoenix Coyotes
Team value: 134 million
30. St. Louis Blues
Team value: 130 million