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Top 5 NHL teams with the lowest valuation ft. Arizona Coyotes
Sports data firm Sportico published a ranking of the most valuable sports franchises in North America, including NHL teams. Unsurprisingly, the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys topped the list with a whopping valuation of $10.32 billion.
The list includes all teams from the four major North American sports along with MLS teams. The highest-valued NHL club is the Toronto Maple Leafs with a $2.65 billion valuation.
Interestingly, five NHL franchises stand out among the least-valued teams in North America. So, let’s take a look at these teams’ valuations, according to the overall list of 153 North American franchises.
Top 5 NHL teams with the lowest valuation
#5: Winnipeg Jets
The Jets land 124th on the list with a valuation of $925 million. It’s worth pointing out that this Jets team is based on the former Atlanta Thrashers that moved to Winnipeg, not the original 1979 Jets that entered the league from the defunct WHA. That team moved to Arizona, becoming the Coyotes in the mid-90s.
#4: Florida Panthers
Surprisingly, the reigning Stanley Cup champions rank one spot below the Jets at 125th. The Panthers are valued at $910 million. While the club’s valuation should increase now that it’s won a championship, it’s curious nonetheless to see the team ranked so low among the league’s other clubs.
#3: Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres arrived in the league in 1970 with the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are ranked 105th with a $1.2 billion valuation, while the Sabres are 126th with an $895 million price tag.
The difference in valuation could be attributed to the size of the teams' markets. Vancouver is a much larger hockey market than Buffalo. Nevertheless, it’s not a surprise to see the Sabres ranked so low given the team’s lack of success over the last decade or so.
#2: Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets are ranked below the Sabres with a valuation of $875 million, making them the team in 127th place.
Like the Sabres, the Blue Jackets are a relatively small market team. When compared to other major sports teams in the Ohio area such as the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals or the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s not a stretch to see the Blue Jackets this far down the list.
#1: Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are still technically an NHL franchise. While the team does not have an arena, players, or staff, the team continues to exist on paper.
Currently, the Coyotes are the lowest-valued NHL club at $675 million. That value is good for 135th place in North American sports, slightly above MLS’s Charlotte FC.
It’s interesting to see this valuation, considering that the Smith Group paid $1.2 billion for the rights to relocate the Coyotes to Utah. Incidentally, Utah is not on the list for the time being.
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