Oct 13, 2015
Leafs last (again) in ESPN's 'Ultimate Standings'
For the second straight year, the Toronto Maple Leafs are ranked as the worst sports franchise in North America. According to ESPN's annual 'Ultimate Standings' list, the struggling NHL team is once again listed at 122nd out of 122 professional sports teams.
TSN.ca Staff
For the second straight year, the Toronto Maple Leafs are ranked as the worst sports franchise in North America.
According to ESPN's annual 'Ultimate Standings' list, the struggling NHL team is once again listed at 122nd out of 122 professional sports teams.
The top Canadian team is the Montreal Canadiens, 37th overall (up from 55th last year) and 15th among NHL franchises. The Calgary Flames were ranked 17th among NHL teams (56th overall), followed by the Ottawa Senators (18th, 58th), Winnipeg Jets (20th, 69th), Edmonton Oilers (28th, 112th) and Vancouver Canucks (29th, 113th).
The rankings - which didn’t take into the CFL or MLS into account - are based on eight categories: affordability, coaching, fan relations, ownership, players, stadium experience, overall value and championship potential.
The San Antonio Spurs placed first overall for the second straight year, while the Toronto Raptors dropped to 94th overall from 74th last year and 22nd among NBA teams.
The Toronto Blue Jays are ranked 24th among MLB teams and 99th overall, though voting was completed over the summer when the team was at .500.