Last Wednesday, Forbes released its valuations for each NHL franchise. The Caps are ranked tenth in total valuation at $725 million, well over the league average of $630 million.
The leaders for valuation include the New York Rangers ($1.5 billion), the Toronto Maple Leafs ($1.45 billion), and the Montreal Canadiens ($1.3 billion).
Here’s the rest of the top 10.
Screenshot via Forbes
Forbes also provided these quick facts on the franchise.
Owner: Ted Leonsis
Championships: 1
Price Paid: $85 M
Year Purchased: 1999
Revenue: $194 M
Operating Income: $46 M
Debt/Value: 17%
Player Expenses: $85 M
Gate Receipts: $90 M
Wins-to-player cost ratio: 146
The Capitals’ franchise posted the biggest single-year increase in the NHL. Their 16 percent improvement is likely due to their Stanley Cup run and their recent television deal, and is followed closely by the expansion Vegas Golden Knights with a 15 percent increase.
In 2016, Monumental Sports and Entertainment signed a 15-year cable deal with CSN Mid-Atlantic. The deal saw the Capitals’ license fee rise from $13 to $28 million per year.
In 2017, Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs, bought a 20 percent stake in Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the second largest stake in the 19-person Monumental group.
Forbes also announced that Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin ranks fourth amongst the highest paid NHL players at $14.5 million in total earnings per season. The top five include Connor McDavid ($19.5 million), John Tavares ($17.3 million), Carey Price ($15.6 million), and Sidney Crosby ($13.8 million).
