The Toronto Maple Leafs are still the NHL’s most valuable team (only now they don’t suck at hockey)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have long been the NHL’s most lucrative franchise, and a five per cent increase in league-wide revenue last year has now propelled it to even greater heights. According to Forbes magazine’s annual list, the club is now valued at $521 million and generated $193 million in revenue last season (the average team is worth $240 million and earns $103 million). Plus, with a stellar 14-9-2 record so far this year, the Leafs are finally earning all of most of at least some of their salaries. However, rising player costs have helped make most NHL teams unprofitable, creating a wealth disparity worthy of a “We are the 99 per cent” protest. In fact, the top three teams in the league—the Leafs, the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens—have a combined operating profit greater than the rest of the league put together. Read the entire story [Forbes] »