This evening, Forbes released it's annual NHL team valuations, slotting the Stars as the 10th most valuable NHL franchise.

As you can probably imagine, an enormous debt coupled with the team's on-ice fortunes taking a hit the last two years drove down the value of the franchise. According to Forbes, the value dropped 8% to $227 million from $245 million in 2009. And as time goes on without a sale, you can bet that valulation is going to drop even further.

And if the 88% debt/value ratio doesn't give you an idea of the how much debt's been saddled on the club, Forbes had this to say in the Skinny section of the Stars profile.

Tom Hicks may have to unload the Stars for under $250 million. If that is the case Hicks will see no equity gain in the Stars despite buying the team for just $84 million in 1995.

When all is said and done, Tom Hicks rise and fall as a sports owner here in Dallas and abroad in Liverpool will be one of the saddest tales in professional sports ownership.