Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby is set to earn the most in endorsement money among NHL players this year according to ForbesCharles LeClaire
While there can be endless debate over who the best team and the best player is in the NHL, Forbes magazine says there is a clear winner in each category when determining who wields the most financial might.
For the ninth consecutive year, the Toronto Maple Leafs topped Forbes' annual ranking of the most valuable hockey franchises at $1.3-billion (all figures US), a 13-per cent change from the previous year. The NHL club is one of three teams to crack the billion dollar barrier - the New York Rangers ($1.1-billion) and Montreal Canadiens ($1-billion) being the other two. A third Canadian franchise, the Vancouver Canucks ($800-million), finished in the top five just behind the Chicago Blackhawks ($825-million).
Forbes says the average value of an NHL franchise rose by more than 18-per cent over the past year, due in large part to the recent 12-year, $4.6-billion broadcast agreement between the league and Rogers Communications. The financial publication noted that the Maple Leafs, Rangers and Canadiens also boast the three richest local television deals and charge some of the highest ticket prices in the league.
Among the remaining Canadian-based NHL clubs, the Edmonton Oilers sit 12th on the list, with Forbes putting their value at $475-million while their provincial rivals, the Calgary Flames, are next at $451-million. Forbes notes that while the Flames have managed to turn a profit in recent years, they have missed out on valuable playoff revenue the last five years and play in one of the league's oldest buildings, which also limits their ability to bring in more money.
The Ottawa Senators, who also confirmed a new multi-year regional broadcast deal this year, rank 16th at $400-million while the Winnipeg Jets place 20th at $358-million.
Forbes noted that 29 of the 30 teams rose in value over the previous year with the Florida Panthers being the lone exception. However, that was due to an error made last year when it used an incorrectly reported sale price for the team to determine its value in 2013.
Defenceman Shea Weber may boast the biggest annual salary among players but it is Sidney Crosby who takes the crown for total take home pay, according to Forbes. Crosby's resume, which already includes a Stanley Cup championship and back-to-back Olympic gold medals, has enabled him to cash in on the marketing side as well as on the ice. The Penguins star is set to earn $16.5-million this year which includes a league-leading $4.5-million in endorsements from blue chip companies such as Reebok, Gatorade, Tim Horton's and Rogers Communications. Weber is second on the list with $14.1-million, most of that courtesy a front-loaded 14-year, $110-million contract he signed back in 2012 with the Nashville Predators which pays him $14-million in each of the first four years of the deal.
Alex Ovechkin may be third on the list at $14-million but the Washington Capitals star is second only to Crosby, considered his chief rival on the ice, when it comes to endorsement income with Nike, Gillette, Coca-Cola and Beats by Dre among the stable of companies backing the Russian.
Deals with hockey equipment company Easton and athletic apparel maker Under Armour help Minnesota's Zach Parise climb into fourth spot at $11.8-million while Samsung, P&G and Bauer all help to lift New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist into the top five at $11.7-million.
Forbes says the top 10 highest pair players in the NHL will earn a collective $121-million this year from salary and endorsements but only Crosby and Ovechkin will exceed seven figures in money earned outside of hockey among the top 10.