Sportico’s latest NHL franchise valuations put the New Jersey Devils in rare company.
Released Tuesday morning, the rankings were topped by the league’s usual heavyweights - the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens - with the Maple Leafs sitting at roughly $4.8 billion. But the Devils climbed into the top 10, landing at $2.72 billion and checking in as the ninth-most valuable franchise in the NHL.
That number sits about $300 million above the league’s average franchise value of $2.43 billion. It also reflects a huge year-over-year jump for New Jersey, which rose 32% from last year.
That growth rate was exactly double the average increase across the league, and it pushed the Devils up from 11th to 9th in just one year. It’s the first time the franchise has appeared in Sportico’s top 10.
The valuation formula includes arenas, affiliate leagues and practice rinks, and the Prudential Center likely plays a major role in the Devils’ position. The building hosts a heavy slate of events all year long, including major music acts, and its location in the country’s most densely populated state only adds to its value.
Jack Hughes is part of the story, too. He remains a draw on his own, and the source of that pull only grew stronger when he scored the overtime winner to give the United States a gold medal at the Olympics. His elite run after that also helped late-game ticket sales.
Even without a playoff berth, the Devils still posted a massive rise in valuation during a season that didn’t include the postseason boost teams usually enjoy. Looking ahead, the club is expected to be a playoff team in 2026-27 under Sunny Mehta after the roster changes that have been made. New players bring new jersey sales, and with improved services at the Prudential Center and the team staying relevant throughout the season, the Devils could keep climbing on next year’s list as well.
In Other News...
Daniil Orlov Is Forcing His Way Into The Devils Blue Line Debate
Daniil Orlov has spent the opening stretch of the 2026-27 season making a case the Devils probably did not expect to be having this early. The 22-year-old defense prospect has six points in nine games, production that has already put him among the leagues more productive blueliners and added some intrigue to a New Jersey back end that is never short on moving parts.
What makes Orlov stand out is not just the numbers, but the way he gets around the ice and moves the puck once he is there. His skating and defensive mobility give him a cleaner path to NHL minutes than most prospects, and while he may not carry the highest ceiling among the organizations Russian defensemen, he looks increasingly like the kind of player who can step into a fourth-pair role and hold his own. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Face A Tough Trade Question On Their Blue Line
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One possible answer would come from Detroit, where front office turnover and unresolved business around Simon Edvinsson have made the situation worth monitoring. If the Devils decide to press harder on that front, they would have to weigh both the financial cost and the roster ripple effect of adding another young defenseman, which is exactly the sort of calculation that can define a team trying to take the next step. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Bottom Six Already Faces An Early Test Without Connor Brown
Connor Browns preseason momentum will have to wait. The Devils forward will miss the first two games of the season after suffering a minor lower-body injury in practice, a frustrating early setback for a team still trying to sort out its lower lines and establish a dependable fourth line. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Brown will get further imaging and then be reevaluated, which leaves the club managing a short-term absence before the opening stretch really gets underway.
For New Jersey, the timing matters because Brown was part of the mix competing for the fourth-line right-wing role, and the Devils have several options to cover his spot in the meantime. It gives the bottom six an immediate early test, with camp battles suddenly carrying a little more weight as the team tries to keep its lineup balance intact without one of its newer forwards available right away. [Read more 🡒]