DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are the eighth-most valuable franchise in the NHL, worth $600 million, according to Forbes.com.
Forbes, in its annual NHL team evaluations, said the Red Wings' value increased by five percent from last year, when they were ranked ninth in the league.
The New York Rangers are the most valuable franchise, worth $1.2 billion, on a list that once against is dominated by the Original Six. The Rangers supplanted the Toronto Maple Leafs, who dropped to third at $1.15 billion, behind the Montreal Canadiens at $1.18 billion.
Forbes.com wrote: "The Leafs had held the top spot since 2006 (Forbes did not compile valuations in 2005 due to the 2004-05 lockout) but have been undone by bad hockey and a weaker Canadian currency relative to the Greenback.