Who is the Highest Paid Player in the NHL?

In a league with 32 teams, only 17 players have NHL contracts worth $10 million or more on average per season. With the salary cap set at $88 million for the 2024-25 season, these five stand out as the NHL's highest paid players, taking up significant percentages of their teams' salary cap.

1. Auston Matthews (TOR) - $13,250,000

Even in a league with Alexander Ovechkin, Auston Matthews is considered the best goal scorer in the NHL today. For his career, Matthews has 368 goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 562 games.

Coming off the 2022-2023 season in which he scored 40 goals in 74 games, Matthews was rewarded with a 4 year / $53 million deal. The cap hit of $13.25 million per season made him the highest paid NHL player in the cap era. He instantly returned the investment for the Leafs in the 2023-24 season, scoring 69 goals in 81 games, leading the NHL in goals by a wide margin of 12.

2. Nathan MacKinnon (COL) - $12,600,000

Scoring 140 points last season still wasn’t enough for Mackinnon to win the Art Ross, losing out to Nikita Kucherov by four points. In six full seasons since 2017, Mackinnon has registered at least 90 points, making him one of the most valuable players in the NHL. Over his last 153 regular season games, Mackinnon has 251 points, which puts him third in the NHL over that span.

Leading the Colorado Avalanche alongside Mikko Rantanen, there is no real price tag you could put on a special talent like Nathan Mackinnon. However, Joe Sakic and the Avs signed MacKinnon to an 8yr / $100.8 million contract before the beginning of the 2022-2023 season.

3. Connor McDavid (EDM) - $12,500,000

McDavid became only the sixth player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe as a part of the losing team. Becoming the fourth player in NHL history to record 100 assists in a regular season, there is nothing Connor McDavid can’t do. The way he is able to take over the game by himself is unbelievable and his ability to set up his teammates just seems second nature to him.

McDavid signed an 8 year / $100 million deal in the 2018-2019 season, becoming the highest paid hockey player in the league at the time. He only has two more years left under contract in Edmonton as he searches for his first Stanley Cup. When his contract is up, McDavid is likely to reclaim the top spot as highest paid hockey player in the NHL.

4. Artemi Panarin (NYR) - $11,642,857

Since arriving in New York, Panarin has been nothing short of spectacular, contributing 33 points in 43 playoff games. During the regular season Panarin plays like a top 10 talent, contributing 90 or more points in each of his four full seasons with the Rangers.

The Bread Man got paid when he moved on from the Columbus Blue Jackets and made his way to the Big Apple, inking a 7 year / $81.5 million deal. Entering his age 33 season, Panarin still has not shown any sign of slowing down and is looking to lead the New York Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 2014.

5. Elias Pettersson (VAN) - $11,600,000

The future of the Vancouver Canucks is in good hands, and it is because of the exceptional play of Elias Pettersson. Since being drafted fifth overall by the Canucks in 2017 NHL Draft, Pettersson has been a star, recording 412 points in 407 games. In his rookie season, Petterson contributed 66 points in 71 games, which landed him the Calder Memorial Trophy awarded to the top rookie of the year.

Pettersson signed a 8 year / $92.8 million deal during the 2023-2024 season, making him the highest paid player in Canucks history and among the top in NHL salaries.