Rangers blow by Maple Leafs as NHL's most valuable franchise

According to Forbes magazine’s annual franchise rankings, the New York Rangers are now worth an NHL-high $1.2 billion.

The New York Rangers are now the most valuable franchise in the NHL, according to Forbes magazine.

Listed at $1.2 billion, the Blueshirts unseated the Toronto Maple Leafs, who had been the top-valued team in each Forbes ranking going back to 2006.

The Montreal Canadiens moved up from third to second, with an estimated worth of $1.18 billion. The Leafs fell to third at $1.15 billion.

At $186 million, down from $190 million in 2014, the Florida Panthers remain the league's least valuable.

The week ahead: Spotlight on the Rangers and desperate Ducks

The magazine attributed New York’s rise to a number of factors, not least of which is the team’s recent run of success on the ice. That led to the generation of the most revenue by one franchise during the 2014-15 season, a reported $229 million, including more than $95 million from premium seating and advertising at Madison Square Garden.

On-ice success also boosted the values of the Chicago Blackhawks ($925 million, up 12%), Washington Capitals ($565 million, up 13%), Anaheim Ducks ($400 million, up 9.5%) and Tampa Bay Lightning ($260 million, up 15%).

While the Leafs and other Canadian teams suffered from the declining loonie, the Habs saw their value increase by 18%, bucking the trend. Forbes attributed that rise to a new long-term local television deal with French-language broadcaster RDS that will pay the Habs an average of $68 million (Canadian) per season, more than double the previous amount.

Forbes estimates the average NHL franchise is now valued at $505 million, up 3% from last year. That’s still significantly lower than the average value of a franchise in the NFL ($2 billion), MLB ($1.2 billion) or the NBA ($1.1 billion).

Here’s a look at Forbes’ valuations for each team in the league:

1. New York Rangers
Current value: $1.2 billion
2014 value: $1.1 billion

2. Montreal Canadiens
Current value: $1.18 billion
2014 value: $1 billion

3.Toronto Maple Leafs
Current value: $1.15 billion
2014 value: $1.3 billion

4. Chicago Blackhawks
Current value: $925 million
2014 value: $825 million

5. Boston Bruins
Current value: $750 million
2014 value: $750 million

6. Vancouver Canucks
Current value: $745 million
2014 value: $800 million

7. Philadelphia Flyers
Current value: $660 million
2014 value: $625 million

8. Detroit Red Wings
Current value: $600 million
2014 value: $570 million

9. Los Angeles Kings
Current value: $580 million
2014 value: $580 million

10.Washington Capitals
Current value: $565 million
2014 value: $500 million

11. Pittsburgh Penguins
Current value: $560 million
2014 value: $565 million

12. Edmonton Oilers
Current value: $455 million
2014 value: $475 million

13. Dallas Stars
Current value: $450 million
2014 value: $420 million

14. San Jose Sharks
Current value: $445 million
2014 value: $425 million

15.Calgary Flames
Current value: $435 million
2014 value: $451 million

16. Anaheim Ducks
Current value: $400 million
2014 value: $365 million

17. Minnesota Wild
Current value: $380 million
2014 value: $370 million

18. Ottawa Senators
Current value: $370 million
2014 value: $400 million

19. Colorado Avalanche
Current value: $360 million
Current Value: $360 million

20. Winnipeg Jets
Current value: $350 million
2014 value: $358 million

21. New Jersey Devils
Current value: $330 million
2014 value: $330 million

22. New York Islanders
Current value: $325 million
2014 value: $300 million

23. Buffalo Sabres
Current value: $300 million
2014 value: $288 million

24. St. Louis Blues
Current value: $270 million
2014 value: $235 million

25. Tampa Bay Lightning
Current value: $260 million
2014 value: $230 million

26. Nashville Predators
Current value: $255 million
2014 value: $250 million

27. Columbus Blue Jackets
Current value: $226 million
2014 value: $200 million

28. Carolina Hurricanes
Current value: $225 million
2014 value: $220 million

29. Arizona Coyotes
Current value: $220 million
2014 value: $225 million

30. Florida Panthers
Current value: $186 million
2014 value: $190 million