Maple Leafs hit bottom again in ESPN franchise poll

The Toronto Maple Leafs may be near the top of the list when it comes to franchise monetary values, but when it comes to satisfying their fans and producing on the ice they rank dead last.

According to a new ESPN The Magazine ultimate franchise ranking, which mixes in fan polling with other research, the Leafs rated the lowest among 122 teams from the NHL, NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball.

That's an accomplishment that likely won't lead to a commemorative plaque being hung  at the Air Canada Centre anytime soon.

If the fans are in a surly mood, it might have something to do with the fact that it's been almost five decades since the Leafs won a championship.

The annual survey put the Leafs at or near the bottom in almost every one of the eight categories that make up the ranking. On affordability -- which factored in the price of tickets, concessions and parking -- the Leafs ranked 122nd. On bang for the buck , which factored victories and fan expenditures, they finished -- you guessed it -- 122nd.

On championships won or expected within fans' lifespans, they finished 121st, with only the Minnesota Timberwolves supplying a more dismal past, present and future. On players' game effort and likeability, they ranked 120th. On fan relations, the Leafs stood 117th. On the strengh of the team's coaching, 113th.

The Leafs' crowning accomplishment in the survey was in the area of ownership's honesty and loyalty to core players and local community. There, the team finished behind only 104 other teams. On the other hand, the teams they ranked ahead of included pariah Donald Sterling's old team, the L.A. Clippers, and the  perennially dysfunctional Miami Marlins.

The Leaf brass likely won't be shocked by this low opinion of its product. The franchise finished last in 2012 and rose to the lofty heights of 119th place last year.

Canadian franchises in general did not fare all that well. The highest-ranked franchise from the Great White North was the Montreal Canadiens, who placed 55th.

Also coming up short in the rankings were the Toronto Raptors (74), Toronto Blue Jays (81) Calgary Flames (89), Ottawa Senators (92), Vancouver Canucks (112) and Edmonton Oilers (115.)

The rankings are based on a survey of 1,002 North American sports fans on what they want most in return for the emotion, money and time they invest in their favourite teams.  In addition, more than 100,000 fans were asked to rate their home teams in each area.

ESPN then used research from the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center to determine how well, or badly, teams turn fans' money into victories.

The San Antonio Spurs were ranked first overall, with the Anaheim Ducks second. Four NHL teams -- the Ducks, L.A. Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks -- finished in the top 10.