Funny Money

The Detroit News published an interesting article using some figures that Forbes provided about NHL franchises. Some of this information may surprise you...some of it may not.

Detroit still finds itself among the top five in terms of franchise value:

1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. New York Rangers
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. Detroit Red Wings
5. Boston Bruins

  Little Brother in Chicago stands in seventh place.  Detroit is valued at $315 million while Chicago sits at $300 million.  But both nearly have equal revenue generated:

• Detroit $119 million
• Chicago $120 million

So despite all the sell-outs, all the beer sold at the United Center, and all that brand spanking new SC Championship material bought, Chicago still is making about the same amount of money as Detroit - hit harder than any other NHL city in the recession.

Here's an interesting and disturbing fact...according to Forbes, 16 NHL franchise are actually hemorrhaging money.  At least a couple of them may surprise you.  Here's the list of teams that Forbes has generating negative Operating Income:

1. Phoenix Coyotes
2. Atlanta Thrashers
3. Tampa Bay Lightning
4. Nashville Predators
5. New York Islanders
6. Columbus Blue Jackets
7. Carolina Hurricanes
8. St. Louis Blues
9. Florida Panthers
10. Buffalo Sabres
11. Anaheim Ducks
12. San Jose Sharks
13. Ottawa Senators
14. Washington Capitals
15. Minnesota Wild
16. Pittsburgh Penguins

It's a sobering thing to read that MORE THAN HALF of the teams in the league are actually losing money.

What's that? The two NHL franchises playing in this year's Winter Classic are at a negative operating income?  Weird.  Too bad Pittsburgh doesn't get paid by the troll over at Abel to Yzerman...too bad the Chief over there doesn't either.