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New York Rangers
Overall: 75
Title track: 41
Ownership: 71
Coaching: 28
Players: 33
Fan relations: 38
Affordability: 119
Stadium experience: 67
Bang for the buck: 82
Change from last year: -5
Backing the Blueshirts isn't cheap, but the Rangers have repaid their fans' loyalty with interest over the past four years, reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2012 and last season, and coming within three overtime wins of the Stanley Cup in 2014. Despite falling just short of capturing their sport's glittering prize, the future looks bright on Broadway with the core of Alain Vigneault's team -- including captain Ryan McDonagh, center Derek Stepan and all-world goaltender Henrik Lundqvist -- all locked up long-term.
What's good
Vigneault was a finalist for the NHL's coach of the year award after leading the Rangers to the league's best record last season, and the ice-cool French Canadian's influence hasn't gone unnoticed in the Big Apple. Vigneault has proved hugely popular with both his players and Rangers die-hards, so it's no surprise coaching (No. 28) is the highest score, soaring 22 spots since he replaced the hotheaded John Tortorella in the summer of 2013. Vigneault has also worked wonders with the roster, reflected by a players ranking that has improved every year since he arrived (No. 33 this year).
What's bad
Just three teams in sports cost more to support than the Rangers, whose affordability ranking is worse than all but the Canucks, Maple Leafs and Knicks, their MSG mates. Those same teams were the only three that scored worse than the Rangers when fans were asked about the cost of tickets. The Rangers also share unpopular MSG company chairman Jim Dolan with the Knicks, and although the hockey squad's recent successes make its fans more forgiving of the scowling cable scion, its ownership ranking still sits squarely in the bottom half of our standings (19th among NHL owners).
What's new
While the bang for the buck is better (by 27 spots) than it was in 2010 -- the only time in the past decade that Lundqvist & Co. missed the playoffs -- it's heading in the wrong direction. The 22-place drop in this category in the past 12 months is by far the Rangers' biggest plunge. It's easy to see why. The $120.37 average game-day outlay trails only the Leafs' among NHL teams, and programs, hot dogs and beer cost more at the Garden than in any of the league's 29 other arenas. A Cup win in the next few seasons would make those $10.50 brews go down a lot easier.
Next: Carolina Hurricanes | Full rankings