List of highest-paid NHL players by season

Here are several lists of National Hockey League players' salaries since the 1989–90 NHL season. This list does not include income from corporate endorsements or salaries before 1988–89.

Top salaries in the NHL since 1989

This is an unofficial list of the twenty NHL players who have earned the most in total salary from the 1989–90 through the 2023–24 seasons.

These figures have been gleaned from certain financial sites dedicated to professional sports, and so may not be perfectly accurate. This is merely an estimation that, for the most part, does not take into account bonuses nor sponsor contracts. They do not take into account inflation, nor the growth in the popularity of the game allowing league revenue, and thus player salaries, to grow faster than inflation over the decades. For example, the highest salary in 1989–90 was Mario Lemieux's US$2 million (equivalent to $4.8 million in 2024), while the salary cap for any single player in the 2024–25 season was $17.6 million.

These totals take into account players missing an entire season due to illness or injury, such as Jonathan Toews missing all of 2020–21 due to illness. These totals do not take into account reductions for partial seasons played, due to injuries or suspensions, for which a player would only receive a partial salary.

The list counts no salary for any player during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, when the 2004–05 season was cancelled in its entirety. It is not apparent, from the notes left here, if there has been an adjustment for the reduction in salaries paid when the 1994–95 NHL lockout shortened the 1994–95 season by 42.9% (48 games played of a scheduled 84), or when the 2012–13 NHL lockout shortened the 2012–13 season by 41.5% (48 games played of a scheduled 82), or when the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2019–20 season by varying amounts, with teams having played anywhere from 68 to 71 of their scheduled 82 games when the season was halted.

Key
† Became a Stanley Cup champion during their playing career
Top 20 NHL salary-earners from 1989–90 to 2023–24
Rank Player name Salary (USD) Total Seasons[a] Years active[a]
1 Sidney Crosby† $141,340,243 19 2005–present
2 Alexander Ovechkin† $138,220,892 19 2005–present
3 Shea Weber $129,030,338 16 2005–2021
4 Jaromir Jagr† $128,139,753 24 1990–2008; 2011–2018
5 Evgeni Malkin† $126,720,892 18 2006–present
6 Anze Kopitar† $120,454,878 18 2006–present
7 Vincent Lecavalier† $116,266,608 17 1998–2016
8 Patrick Kane† $115,637,195 17 2007–present
9 Jonathan Toews† $115,562,195 13 2007–2023
10 Chris Pronger† $111,379,268 18 1993–2012
11 Ryan Suter $111,193,397 19 2005–present
12 Joe Thornton $110,637,195 24 1997–present
13 Zach Parise $110,243,397 19 2005–2024
14 Carey Price $105,944,368 15 2007–2022
15 Brad Richards† $105,567,467 15 2000–2016
16 Henrik Lundqvist $102,783,390 15 2005–2020
17 Drew Doughty† $99,929,878 16 2008–present
18 Steven Stamkos† $99,551,829 16 2008–present
19 Zdeno Chara† $99,538,695 24 1997–2022
20 Erik Karlsson $99,346,046 15 2009–present
  1. ^ a b Excludes the 2004–05 season, as the entire NHL schedule was cancelled that year.

Top five contracts by season

1989–90 season

  1. Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) US$2 million (equivalent to $4.8 million in 2024)
  2. Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $1.72 million ($4.1 million in 2024)
  3. Mark Messier (Edmonton Oilers) $0.86 million ($2.1 million in 2024)
  4. Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) $0.7 million ($1.7 million in 2024)
  5. Bryan Trottier (New York Islanders) $0.575 million ($1.4 million in 2024)

1990–91 season

  1. Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $3 million
  2. Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $2.18 million
  3. Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) $1.3 million
  4. Ray Bourque (Boston Bruins) $1.19 million
  5. Brett Hull (St. Louis Blues) $1.12 million

1991–92 season

  1. Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) US$3 million (equivalent to $6.9 million in 2024)
  2. Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $2.34 million ($5.4 million in 2024)
  3. Brett Hull (St. Louis Blues) $1.5 million ($3.5 million in 2024)
  4. (tie) Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres) $1.4 million ($3.2 million in 2024)
    (tie) Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) $1.4 million ($3.2 million in 2024)

1992–93 season

  1. Eric Lindros (Philadelphia Flyers) US$3.5 million (equivalent to $7.6 million in 2024)
  2. Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $3 million ($6.5 million in 2024)
  3. Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $2.41 million ($5.2 million in 2024)
  4. Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $2.39 million ($5.2 million in 2024)
  5. Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres) $1.78 million ($3.9 million in 2024)

1993–94 season

  1. Eric Lindros (Philadelphia Flyers) US$3.35 million (equivalent to $7.1 million in 2024)
  2. Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) $3.2 million ($6.8 million in 2024)
  3. (tie) Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $3 million ($6.4 million in 2024)
    (tie) Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $3 million ($6.4 million in 2024)
  4. Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens) $2.66 million ($5.6 million in 2024)

1994–95 season

After the 1994–95 NHL season was shortened to 48 games due to a lockout, players earned only about 56% of their predicted salary.

  1. Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $3.66 million (Predicted salary of $6.54 million)
  2. Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $3.45 million (Predicted salary of $6.29 million)
  3. Scott Stevens (New Jersey Devils) $3.24 million (Predicted salary of $5.8 million)
  4. Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) $2.61 million (Predicted salary of $4.5 million)
  5. Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $2.36 million (Predicted salary of $4.07 million)

1995–96 season

  1. Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings/St. Louis Blues) $6.54 million
  2. Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $6.29 million
  3. Keith Tkachuk (Winnipeg Jets) $6 million
  4. Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $4.57 million
  5. Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) $4.5 million

1996–97 season

  1. Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $11.35 million
  2. Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $6 million
  3. Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) $5 million
  4. Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres) $4.6 million
  5. Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche) $4.57 million

1997–98 season

  1. Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) $16.45 million[1]
  2. Chris Gratton (Philadelphia Flyers) $10.15 million[1]
  3. Wayne Gretzky (New York Rangers) $6.25 million
  4. Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $6 million
  5. Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) $5.5 million

1998–99 season

  1. Sergei Fedorov (Detroit Red Wings) $14.5 million [1]
  2. Paul Kariya (Anaheim Ducks) $8.25 million
  3. Eric Lindros (Philadelphia Flyers) $8 million
    Dominik Hasek (Buffalo Sabres) $8 million
  4. Mats Sundin (Toronto Maple Leafs) $6.35 million

1999–00 season

  1. Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins) $11.7 million
  2. Paul Kariya (Anaheim Ducks) $11 million
  3. Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche) $9 million
  4. Theoren Fleury (New York Rangers) $8.5 million
    Eric Lindros (Philadelphia Flyers) $8.5 million

2000–01 season

  1. Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche) $10 million
    Paul Kariya (Anaheim Ducks) $10 million
  2. Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9.8 million
  3. Pavel Bure (Florida Panthers) $9 million
  4. Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues) $7.3 million

2001–02 season

  1. Jaromir Jagr (Washington Capitals) $11 million
  2. Pavel Bure (Florida Panthers/New York Rangers) $10 million
    Paul Kariya (Anaheim Ducks) $10 million
  3. Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) $9.83 million
  4. Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) $9.5 million
    Teemu Selanne (San Jose Sharks) $9.5 million

2002–03 season

  1. Jaromir Jagr (Washington Capitals) $11.48 million
  2. Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues) $11 million
  3. Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) $10.5 million
  4. Pavel Bure (New York Rangers) $10 million
    Paul Kariya (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) $10 million

2003–04 season

  1. Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche) $11 million
    Jaromir Jagr (Washington Capitals) $11 million
  2. Sergei Fedorov (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) $10 million
    Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) $10 million
    Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues) $10 million

2004–05 season

Season cancelled (see 2004–05 NHL lockout).

2005–06 season

The team salary cap was $39 million. Under the latest NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, no player could earn more than 20 percent of the team salary cap ($7.8 million).

  1. Jaromir Jagr (New York Rangers) $8.36 million[2]
  2. Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) $7.6 million
    Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues) $7.6 million
    Alexei Yashin (New York Islanders) $7.6 million
  3. Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames) $7 million

2006–07 season

The team salary cap was $44 million. No player could earn more than $8.8 million.

  1. Jaromir Jagr (New York Rangers) $8.36 million
  2. Brad Richards (Tampa Bay Lightning) $7.8 million
  3. Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) $7.6 million
    Mats Sundin (Toronto Maple Leafs) $7.6 million
    Alexei Yashin (New York Islanders) $7.6 million

2007–08 season

The team salary cap was $50.3 million. No player could earn more than $10.06 million.

  1. Daniel Briere (Philadelphia Flyers) $10 million
    Scott Gomez (New York Rangers) $10 million
    Thomas Vanek (Buffalo Sabres) $10 million
  2. Jaromir Jagr (New York Rangers) $8.36 million
  3. Kimmo Timonen (Philadelphia Flyers) $8 million

2008–09 season

The team salary cap was $56.7 million. No player could earn more than $11.34 million.

  1. Dany Heatley (Ottawa Senators) $10 million
  2. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million
    Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) $9 million
  3. Mats Sundin (Vancouver Canucks) $8.6 million
  4. Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames) $8.5 million

2009–10 season

The team salary cap was $56.8 million. No player could earn more than $11.36 million.

  1. Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning) $10 million
  2. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million
    Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million
    Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) $9 million
  3. Chris Drury (New York Rangers) $8.05 million

2010–11 season

The team salary cap was $59.4 million. No player could earn more than $11.88 million.

  1. Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning) $10 million
    Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks) $10 million
  2. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million
    Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million
    Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) $9 million

2011–12 season

The team salary cap was $64.3 million. No player could earn more than $12.86 million.

  1. Brad Richards (New York Rangers) $12 million
  2. Ilya Bryzgalov (Philadelphia Flyers) $10 million
    Christian Ehrhoff (Buffalo Sabres) $10 million
    Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning) $10 million
  3. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million

2012–13 season

The team salary cap was $70.2 million. No player could earn more than $14.04 million.

  1. Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) $14 million
  2. Tyler Myers (Buffalo Sabres) $12 million
    Zach Parise (Minnesota Wild) $12 million
    Brad Richards (New York Rangers) $12 million
    Ryan Suter (Minnesota Wild) $12 million

2013–14 season

The team salary cap was $64.3 million. No player could earn more than $12.86 million.

  1. Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) $14 million
  2. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $12 million
    Zach Parise (Minnesota Wild) $12 million
    Ryan Suter (Minnesota Wild) $12 million
  3. Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes) $9.25 million

2014–15 season

The team salary cap was $69 million. No player could earn more than $13.8 million.

  1. Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) $14 million
  2. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $12 million
  3. Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers) $11 million
    Zach Parise (Minnesota Wild) $11 million
    Ryan Suter (Minnesota Wild) $11 million

2015–16 season

The team salary cap was $71.4 million. No player could earn more than $14.28 million.

  1. Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) $14 million
  2. Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
    Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
  3. Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $12 million
  4. Phil Kessel (Pittsburgh Penguins) $10 million

2016–17 season

The team salary cap was $73 million. No player could earn more than $14.6 million.

  1. Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings) $14 million
  2. Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
    Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
  3. Shea Weber (Montreal Canadiens) $12 million
  4. Ryan O'Reilly (Buffalo Sabres) $11 million

2017–18 season

The team salary cap was $75 million. No player could earn more than $15 million.

  1. Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
    Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
  2. Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars) $13 million
    Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings) $13 million
  3. Shea Weber (Montreal Canadiens) $12 million

2018–19 season

The team salary cap was $79.5 million. No player could earn more than $15.9 million.

  1. John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15.9 million
  2. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) $15 million
    Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) $15 million
  3. Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars) $13 million
  4. John Carlson (Washington Capitals) $12 million

2019–20 season

The team salary cap was $81.5 million. No player could earn more than $16.3 million.

  1. Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) $16 million
  2. Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15.9 million
    John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15.9 million
  3. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) $15 million
    Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) $15 million

2020–21 season

The team salary cap was $81.5 million. No player could earn more than $16.3 million.

  1. Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs $15.9 million
  2. Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15 million
  3. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) $14 million
  4. Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers) $13 million
  5. Sergei Bobrovsky (Florida Panthers) $12 million

2021–22 season

The team salary cap was $81.5 million. No player could earn more than $16.3 million.

  1. Erik Karlsson (San Jose Sharks) $14.5 million
  2. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) $13 million
    Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers) $13 million
    Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) $13 million
    Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars) $13 million

2022–23 season

The team salary cap was $82.5 million. No player could earn more than $16.5 million.

  1. Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars) $13 million
  2. Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers) $12.5 million
  3. Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers) $12 million
    Sergei Bobrovsky (Florida Panthers) $12 million
    Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) $12 million

2023–24 season

The team salary cap was $83.5 million. No player could earn more than $16.7 million.

  1. Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) $16.5 million
  2. David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins) $13 million
  3. Dougie Hamilton (New Jersey Devils) $12.6 million
  4. Seth Jones (Chicago Blackhawks) $12.5 million
  5. Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild) $12.5 million

2024–25 season

The team salary cap was $88 million. No player could earn more than $17.6 million.

  1. Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) $16.7 million
  2. Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) $16.5 million
  3. Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) $14.5 million
  4. William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs) $13.5 million
  5. Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning) $13.26 million

2025–26 season

The team salary cap is $95.5 million. No player can earn more than $19.1 million.

  1. Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers) $16.5 million
  2. Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) $16.05 million
  3. Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers) $15.825 million
  4. Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15.2 million
  5. Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights) $15 million

Sample salaries from earlier seasons

Salary figures prior to the 1989–90 season are not readily available. The following table presents a sample of salaries from various seasons; the players listed were not necessarily the highest paid that year.

Season Player name Salary[3]
1917–18 Newsy Lalonde CAN $1,300
1921–22 Newsy Lalonde CAN $2,000
1923–24 Howie Morenz CAN $3,500
1925–26 Frank Fredrickson CAN $3,500
1942–43 Ronnie Rowe[a] CAN $3,000
1953–54 Jean Beliveau CAN $21,000
1954–55 Jean Beliveau CAN $21,000
1955–56 Jean Beliveau CAN $21,000
1956–57 Jean Beliveau CAN $21,000
1957–58 Jean Beliveau CAN $21,000
1959–60 Doug Harvey CAN $25,000
1959–60 Maurice Richard CAN $25,000
1962–63 Frank Mahovlich CAN $25,000
1963–64 (NHL minimum salary) CAN $7,000
1963–64 Phil Esposito US $54,990
1965–66 Gump Worsley CAN $28,000
1966–67 Bobby Orr US $35,000
1967–68 Bobby Orr US $35,000
1967–68 Derek Sanderson US $10,000
1969–70 Derek Sanderson US $13,000
1974–75 Mario Tremblay CAN $80,000
1977–78 Bobby Hull[b] US $1,000,000
1977–78 Bernie Parent US $1,000,000
1977–78 Derek Sanderson US $1,000,000
1982–83 Brian Hayward US $65,000
  1. ^ Ronnie Rowe was offered a rookie contract of $2,900 plus $100 as a signing bonus. The contract was declined, and Rowe stayed in juniors to play with the OHA's Toronto Marlboros[4]
  2. ^ Bobby Hull was playing the World Hockey Association at this time, a short-lived rival to the NHL.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c The given salary includes a signing bonus.
  2. ^ $7.8 million + $0.56 million in arrears from the Washington Capitals.
  3. ^ Hockey Zone Plus: Historic Salaries
  4. ^ eBay.com: Ronnie Rowe Genuine 1942-43 contract
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