Sportico's NHL franchise valuations came out Tuesday morning. As expected, the list was headlined by the league's biggest markets: the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadiens predictably found themselves right at the top, with the league-highest Maple Leafs getting placed at about $4.8 billion.
A little bit further down the list, but still within the top 10, are the New Jersey Devils, who most believe to be a small-to-mid-market team. The Devils are valued at $2.72 billion according to the list, about $300 million higher than the mean value of $2.43 billion. New Jersey enjoyed a 32% valuation increase from last year, exactly double the average year-over-year growth per team. Because of that gigantic leap, the Devils moved up from 11th to 9th in just one year. It is the first time they're listed as being a top-10 most valuable franchise in the NHL.
Arenas, affiliate leagues, and practice rinks are all included in the valuations, and the first of the three likely has a lot to do with the Devils' mark being as high as it is. The Prudential Center hosts a ton of events throughout the year, many of which are gigantic names in music. Being the busiest venue in the country's most densely populated state certainly has its perks as far as money is concerned.
The New Jersey Devils are the ninth-most-valuable franchise in the NHL
The Jack Hughes factor certainly doesn't hurt -- people really do play to watch him play. The Olympics only exacerbated that, with Hughes becoming a national hero by scoring the overtime game-winning goal to win the United States a gold medal. His all-world tear afterwards certainly played a part in late-game ticket sales, too.
Even in a middling season without playoffs -- a time of year when profits boost tremendously -- the Devils saw a monumental rise in valuation. It stands to reason that they will be a playoff team in 2026-27, given the changes that the roster has undergone under Sunny Mehta. New names with new jersey sales, improved services at the Prudential Center, and staying relevant throughout the season will only further upgrade their standing on this list next year.
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