A major development in the potential sale of the Chicago Blackhawks and Danny Wirtz is smiling ear to ear

Sportico recently released the rankings of all 32 NHL teams' market value.

Without surprise, the top positions are all held by Original Six markets. The Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadiens hold the first three positions, with the Boston Bruins in the fourth spot.

The Blackhawks were sixth last year but fell in the standings. That doesn't mean the franchise didn't grow.

The Blackhawks are now valued at $2.74 billion, a massive increase from $1.36 billion in 2021.

That represents overall growth of over 100% in four years, including a 12% rise this season alone.

Still, Chicago lost a spot in those rankings to the Edmonton Oilers, who are valued slightly higher at $2.76 billion.

The Hawks spent the last several seasons rebuilding. This will help long-term growth, but for now, profits may not rise at the same rhythm as other teams.

Notably, the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers saw a massive 51% growth, jumping nine positions in the rankings, while the Hurricanes jumped 10 spots with a 49% increase.

The numbers also reflect that hockey itself is growing. Every NHL franchise has seen gains in recent years, proving that the league's market is healthier than ever.

With plenty of young talent set to develop in Chicago over the coming seasons, the future looks brighter than it has in years.

In a few years, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Hawks' value increase even more, especially if the team has success on the ice.