Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs no longer the most valuable Canadian sports teams
The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs were once considered unquestionably the two most valuable sports franchises in all of Canada. The two teams were far and away ahead of the rest of the country. Unfortunately for the NHL and due to its lack of growth, that's no longer the case.
This week Sportico revealed their updated list of the most valuable franchise in Canada and while both Toronto and Montreal still find themselves in the top 5, both teams have been passed. Here are the final results.
The Toronto Raptors find themselves in the number one spot, followed by the Maple Leafs, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Montreal Canadiens and the Edmonton Oilers finish off the top 5. It is likely that as early as next season the Blue Jays will find themselves in the 2nd spot as MLB continues to grow at exponential speeds.
So why are hockey teams falling down this list?
NHL teams continue to grow in value, they are doing so at a much slower rate than any of the other major sports. Combined this with the terrible Sportsnet deal the NHL signed in Canada, and the league's popularity has stagnated in many respects. With both MLB and the NBA having signed extremely lucrative TV deals that see revenue increase, the NHL has turned to board advertisements to try and bridge this gap.
So despite what Gary Bettman continues to claim, the NHL is far from healthy when compared to other major professional sports. Only time will tell if the NHL can right the ship and get things back on track.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
POLL |
AOUT 21 | 154 ANSWERS Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs no longer the most valuable Canadian sports teams What is your favorite sport to watch? |
Hockey, obviously | 115 | 74.7 % |
Basketball | 7 | 4.5 % |
Baseball | 17 | 11 % |
Football | 15 | 9.7 % |
List of polls |
|
9 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Dubas Highlights Roster Battles as Several Young Players Eye Penguins Spots |
|
11 hours ago | By Tom Banks Penguins Media Caught Off Guard by Dubas' Shocking Rebuild Statement |
|
13 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Former Pittsburgh Penguins Coach and Stanley Cup Champion Fired |
|
14 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Dubas Breaks Silence on Mike Sullivan's Future in Pittsburgh |
|
16 hours ago | By Tom Banks Kyle Dubas Weighs In on Malkin's Role and Future in Pittsburgh |
|
18 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Penguins GM Kyle Dubas Makes Major Goalie Announcement |
|
19 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Brady Tkachuk Fires Back at Disrespectful Leafs Fans After Brutal Loss |
|
21 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Penguins Could be Eyeing Two Wingers, Including Former First Overall Pick |