New York Rangers: Despite recent lack of success, Rangers voted most valuable NHL team

The New York Rangers have not played a hockey game in quite some time. However, something great happened to them during their recent six-day break.

The New York Rangers are many things. Aggravating to watch. Turning many heads this year by winning a little more than expected. Historically cursed.

This list could go on for days.

However, one thing the New York Rangers officially are is worth a lot of money.

According to the forbes.com list of most valuable NHL teams, the Rangers top the list by .1 billion dollars.

The Rangers are reportedly worth $1.55B. That is an insane amount of money.

Let’s consider all these things to make this all the more impressive.

For starters, they do not play in their building alone, most NHL teams do not do that, but still, a lot of NFL and soccer teams have their stadiums to themselves.

Another interesting note is that the NHL is still not the most prominent sports league in the USA. Often sharing revenues and markets with the Canadian cities and fans. Yet, the Rangers are still valued in the billions.

But, to me, the most surprising thing about the Rangers being number one on the list, by a wide margin at that, is their recent lack of success.

The Rangers have not won a Stanley Cup in a long time. 1994 was the last time the Rangers won the ultimate prize.

That is almost an entire generation ago. The NHL has grown as a whole a lot since then with new teams and markets being tapped.

Yeah, the Rangers relatively recently played in a Cup Final, but they failed to win.

What is even more interesting about this list, and you can see the full list here, is that success of the franchise does not seem to be the biggest factor in value here.

It might seem that way, but it is not.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are ranked as the second most valuable NHL team and they have not even been to a Cup Final since the Rangers last won it.

In fact, the Capitals, who are the most recent team to win the Cup, just barely cracked the top 10 on the list at 10th place on the dot.

So, what does this mean?

Well, I would say it means that we need to trust the Rangers as they enter this phase of their history.

They are “rebuilding” and focusing more on the development and building of young talent/acquiring assets rather than making a playoff run.

The Rangers are still worth the most money and have the most revenue. So clearly they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

To me, I would even be a little bias and say that it is all the power of the New York Market that propels them. After all, the Yankees are the most valuable team in the MLB.

But no, that is not even the reason. The New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils the other two teams in the market, rank at 22 and 19 respectively.

So, my guess is that the reason for the Rangers topping the list is Madison Square Garden.

That, combined with having a massive fan base and an iconic hockey brand have to be the main reasons.

It does not seem to be successes that set these standards, but rather the other assets the team has, like the Garden.

Plus, the New York Knicks rank 7th as the most valuable sports franchises in the World. So, yes, it has to be because of Madison Square Garden.

So, say what you want about James Dolan and his failure to build a winner with his teams. But, he has for sure built quite the Empire. In New York City, that is what it’s all about.

But, Ranger fans, do not for a second think you had nothing to do with this. Madison Square Garden has to be profitable and full in order to be successful.

You are the ones who still go to all the games all these seasons.

The New York Rangers are many things. They are an Empire. But, to be the most valuable NHL team in all of the land, is impressive.

Use this as bragging rights, use this to help fill the void of not having a Stanley Cup.

I can see why it might be even more aggravating for the struggles considering money is not the problem.

But the Rangers are untouchable, the NHL needs them more than they need the NHL. That is saying something.

It’ll all work itself out one day.