Huh? Even with such ponderous trades and a decades long Stanley Cup drought, the Toronto Maple Leafs are STILL the richest franchise in the National Hockey League. Yes, even with 32 years of failure behind their beloved team, Leaf fans still flock to their games year after year after year.
After every rare win, there is a spring in the typical Leaf fan's step and excitement that "This is the year, man!" but after the subsequent losing streak, most remain to silently obsessing about the Ottawa Senators or waxing nostalgic about when the Leafs were relevant and taking extraordinary glee in the misfortunes of the hated Habs. Unfortunately for Toronto's fans, the Montreal Canadiens have off years and slip from time to time in the standings, but always make moves and smart drafts and become competitive again and again. The Leafs seems to drift aimlessly, with short glimmers of hope that get dashed quickly when the playoffs loom and the Buds have to begin setting up their tee-off times.
The Leafs have again been rated (by Forbes magazine) as the most valuable team in the NHL with a price of $470 million. The Rangers were 2nd with $416 mill, while the Canadiens were 3rd with a respectable $339 mill. The Leafs are currently mired as the 2nd worst in the NHL standings. They have won 3 of their first 16 games and most already see them as also-rans for a playoff birth. Only the woeful Carolina Hurricanes sit below them.
When will there be professional hockey in Toronto again?!
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