According to Forbes, the NHL now boasts three teams valued at $1 billion or more.

For the ninth straight year, the Maple Leafs topped the list of most valuable franchises, with an estimated value of $1.3 billion. The Rangers ($1.1 billion) and Canadiens ($1 billion) also hit that mark as the magazine conducted its annual analysis of team finances.

The NHL's average team value rose 18.6 percent to $490 million.