Red Wings News: What the Wings are worth, top prospect injured long-term

Recently, CNBC released its annual official NHL Team Valuations. Some fans really don't care about the organization's value, but sometimes I nerd out and find myself infatuated with the business side of things.

The league overall is generating an increased 15 percent more revenue in 2025 than it did in 2024, thanks to lucrative media rights deals. The average NHL team is now worth a stunning $2.2 billion. Michael Ozanian, of CNBC, recently pointed out that in April, the NHL agreed to a 12-year national Canadian media rights deal worth $7.79 billion, based on exchange rates as of Nov. 24, that will begin with the 2026-27 season.

It is more than twice the amount the league is getting from its existing 12-year deal with Rogers. Ozanian also mentioned the league’s current U.S. national media rights deals, which are worth a combined annual average of $630 million through the 2027-28 season, are also expected to see a big increase in the next cycle. “The next U.S. rights deal for the NHL should approach a doubling,” said Lee Berke, CEO of LHB Sports, Entertainment & Media, whose firm advises teams and leagues on media deals. “Sports rights move the needle for distributors, subscribers, and viewers.”

I immediately predicted that the Toronto Maple Leafs would be worth the most, and I was right. The Leafs are worth $4.3 billion overall, which is an eight-percent increase. Toronto comes in second to Edmonton with $382 million in 2025 revenue. The Oilers currently lead the league in overall revenue at $431 million and are fifth in overall value at $3.1 billion.

Ironically, the top three organizations that hold the most overall value are Original Six franchises, none of which are our beloved Detroit Red Wings (Toronto, New York Rangers, and the Montreal Canadiens).

Detroit saw a stellar 20 percent increase in revenue in 2025. The Detroit Red Wings currently rank as the 10th-most lucrative NHL organization, sporting an overall valuation of $2.47 billion, generating $251 million in revenue, and carrying 4 percent debt.

Detroit Red Wings top prospect seriously injured

The Detroit Red Wings organization received word this past Friday that one of their top-ten prospects will be sidelined for quite some time. Forward Dmitri Buchelnikov is expected to have surgery on Monday and is expected to miss two to three months with an upper-body injury.

Buchelnikov, 22, had been enjoying a very productive season with CSKA Moscow in the KHL. He's recorded 10 goals and 20 points through 30 games while maintaining a plus-2 rating in 2025-26.

Last season with Balashikha Vityaz of the KHL, the second round selection of the Detroit Red Wings notched 15 goals and 54 points over 65 games.