The Toronto Maple Leafs are hot -- and you can take that to the bank.
The Leafs, who are on course to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004, have seen their value rise 3% since last year to $521 million.
That makes them the most valuable team in the NHL, based on Forbes.com's rankings announced Wednesday.
Coincidentally, the Original Six teams take the top half-dozen spots.
The Montreal Canadiens are ranked third at $445 million and the Vancouver Canucks are seventh at $300 million -- the only other Canadian franchises to crack the top 10.
The Calgary Flames ($220 million) are 13th; Edmonton Oilers ($212 million) 15th; Ottawa Senators ($201 million) 17th;
and the Winnipeg Jets ($164 million) 24th.
The value of the Jets franchise has increased by 21% thanks to its move from Atlanta. It was worth $135 million last year.
The average NHL franchise is now valued at $240 million, Forbes says, 47% more than it was before the lockout that cancelled the 2004-05 season.
Revenue in 2010-11 was up 5% to an average of $103 million per team. But player costs increased by 11% to an average of $59 million per team and, as a result, 18 of 30 franchises lost money, Forbes reported,
Rank Team (2010 rank) 2011 value $mil (2010 value) % change 2010 to '11
1) Toronto Maple Leafs (1) 521 (505) 3%
2) New York Rangers (2) 507 (461) 10%
3) Montreal Canadiens (3) 445 (408) 9%
4) Detroit Red Wings (4) 336 (315) 7%
5) Boston Bruins (5) 325 (302) 8%
6) Chicago Blackhawks (7) 306 (300) 2%
7) Vancouver Canucks (8) 300 (262) 15%
8) Philadelphia Flyers (6) 290 (301) -4%
9) Pittsburgh Penguins (9) 264 (235) 12%
10) Los Angeles Kings (12) 232 (215) 8%
11) Dallas Stars (10) 230 (227) 1%
12) Washington Capitals (16) 225 (197) 14%
13) Calgary Flames (13) 220 (206) 7%
14) Minnesota Wild (14) 213 (202) 5%
15) Edmonton Oilers (20) 212 (183) 16%
16) San Jose Sharks (18) 211 (194) 9%
17) Ottawa Senators (17) 201 (196) 3%
18) Colorado Avalanche (15) 198 (198) E
19) Anaheim Ducks (19) 184 (188) -2%
20) New Jersey Devils (11) 181 (218) -17%
21) Tampa Bay Lightning (28) 174 (145) 20%
22) Buffalo Sabres (21) 173 million (169) 2%
23) Carolina Hurricanes (24) 169 (162) 4%
24) Winnipeg Jets (29) 164 (135) 21%
25) Nashville Predators (27) 163 (148) 10%
26) Florida Panthers (22) 162 (168) -4%
27) St. Louis Blues (23) 157 (165) -5%
28) Columbus Blue Jackets (25) 152 (153) -1%
29) New York Islanders (26) 149 (151) -1%
30) Phoenix Coyotes (30) 134 (134) E
-- Source: Forbes.com
