BUFFALO, N.Y. — It's been over three years now since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and professional sports teams and leagues across the globe are continuing to recover financially from the struggles of the pandemic.
Now that most leagues have returned to normal operations for the past couple of seasons, the numbers are starting to trend in the right direction for team financials.
According to a report from Sportico, NHL team valuations have increased by 29 percent compared to last season's average.
For the Buffalo Sabres though, that statistic remains true as well.
According to the 2023 NHL valuation rankings, Sportico lists the Sabres at 30th overall in the league for overall franchise value at $900 million, up $265 million from last year and $300 million from 2021.
Although Buffalo is seeing a steady increase in team value, their overall ranking in the league continues to fall toward the bottom. In 2021, the Sabres ranked 27th out of 32 teams across the league. 2022 saw them fall to 28th overall, but in 2023, they rank 30th out of 32.
The Sabres' rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, tops the list with a valuation of $2.65 billion, and the Arizona Coyotes closes out this year's list with a value of $675 million.