The NHL is losing $20 million per day due to a lockout that has lasted 73 days, according to commissioner Gary Bettman, but the average value of its franchises has increased 18 percent from a year ago, according to Forbes.com.

Forbes ranks the Detroit Red Wings as the sixth-most valuable NHL franchise, worth an estimated $346 million.

“Through last season the Red Wings have sold out 70 consecutive games at Joe Louis Arena, including the playoffs, an amazing streak considering the city's economic plight,'' Forbes wrote.

The Red Wings amassed revenues of $128 million in 2011-12, with an operating income of $20.8 million, the Web site reported.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are the most valuable franchise, worth $1 billion, the first NHL team to reach that figure. Interestingly, the top six are the Original Six teams. The average NHL club is worth $282 million.

Forbes blames the lockout in the increasing disparity between the most valuable clubs and the least valuable teams.



"The spread between the rich and poor teams is dramatic,'' Forbes writes. "The five most valuable teams – the Maple Leafs ($1 billion), New York Rangers ($750 million), Montreal Canadiens ($575 million), Chicago Blackhawks ($350 million) and Boston Bruins ($348 million) – are worth $605 million, on average. The five least valuable – the Carolina Hurricanes ($162 million), New York Islanders ($155 million), Columbus Blue Jackets ($145 million), Phoenix Coyotes ($134 million) and St. Louis Blues ($130 million) – are worth just $145 million, on average.''

Forbes ranked the Red Wings No. 2 on its list of teams that have been the best per payroll dollar spent since the last lockout in 2004-05. Detroit's player cost-to-win ratio was 124, behind only San Jose at 125, over the past seven seasons.

The Web site said each team’s final score represents how much better or worse it performed compared to the average team since the last lockout. A score of 120 means the team outperformed the league average by 20 percent in terms of games won per payroll dollar spent.

“Detroit is perhaps the league’s best example of how high player costs can pay off on the ice,'' Forbes wrote. “The team has ranked among the top ten teams in player spending in five of the last seven seasons, but heavy spending helped create a superstar lineup that is consistently one of the NHL’s top teams. Since the 2004-05 lockout the Red Wings have collected 11 playoff series wins, made three trips to the Western Conference finals and collected a Stanley Cup victory in 2007-08.''

Toronto ranked last, with a score of 77.

in the league, with a total income of $12.7 million ($8.7 million in salary and $4 million in endorsements). No Red Wings cracked the top 15.

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