Find out the highest-paid NHL players, from the current top earners to those who have made the most money ever.
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Which NHL players have earned the most money?
First, let’s take a look at the top five highest paid NHL players in terms of total career earnings.
1. Alex Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin holds the No. 1 spot as his total career earnings stand at a whopping $170,720,893. Ovechkin has scored more regular season goals than any other player in NHL history, and has been the face of the Washington Capitals since being drafted first overall in 2004.
2. Sidney Crosby
Right behind Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby has earned the second-highest amount of money through NHL contracts, with the Pittsburgh Penguins star making $165,670,244 throughout his career.
3. Evgeni Malkin
Another Penguins star, Evgeni Malkin takes the third spot with $151,670,893 in career earnings. Malkin’s contracts have kept him among the league’s top earners for nearly two decades.
4. Anze Kopitar
With total career earnings of $143,250,000, Anze Kopitar ranks fourth on our list of the highest paid players in the NHL. In the 2025-26 season alone, Kopitar will earn a base salary of $7,000,000.
5. Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr rounds off our top five, having accrued $135m across 24 seasons in the league. The Czech star ended his career as the second-highest points-scorer in NHL history.
Who is the highest-paid NHL player currently?
But what about the highest paid NHL players now? And how much do NHL players get paid? Here’s a look at the top five earners for the 2025-26 season:
1. Leon Draisaitl
The highest-paid current NHL player is Leon Draisaitl, set to earn $16,500,000 in the 2025-26 season. The Edmonton Oilers star won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2020 and was the NHL’s leading goal scorer in 2025.
2. Nathan MacKinnon
Just behind Draisaitl we have Colorado Avalanche captain Nathan MacKinnon, who’s set to earn $16,050,000 in the 2025-26 season.
The 2023-24 Hart Memorial Trophy winner is one of the NHL’s most dominant two-way centres, and his salary certainly reflects this status.
3. Igor Shesterkin
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin holds the third spot on our list of the best paid NHL players, earning a huge $15,825,000. Known for his speedy reflexes and high save rate, he’s a key part of the New York Rangers’ success.
4. Auston Matthews
Earning $15,200,000, Auston Matthews claims fourth place on our list of the highest paid ice hockey players. In the 2025-26 season, Matthews will earn a base salary of $775,000 and a signing bonus of $14,425,000.
5. Elias Petterson
In fifth place we have Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson, whose earnings for the 2025-26 season stand at $14,500,000. Known for his elite playmaking ability, the Swede won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2019 as the league’s best rookie and has been a key member of Vancouver’s offense throughout his career.
Who are the highest-paid NHL players ever?
The highest annual earner in NHL history is Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who, as mentioned above, made $16.7 million in the 2024-25 season. Nathan MacKinnon followed closely behind, earning a huge $16.5 million.
Joe Sakic made $16.45m for the 1997-98 season, a figure that stood as the highest single-season salary in the league for more than two decades.
Mitch Marner made $16m for the 2019-20 season, with the likes of John Tavares following closely behind making $15.9m in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers slots into our list here, making $15.825 million in the 2025-26 season.
Connor McDavid’s salary of $15m in both 2018-19 and 2019-20 rounds off our list of top NHL salaries, with Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens earning the same amount.
Well, there you have it: the best paid NHL players both currently and in the history of the league. Whether it’s all-time legends like Jagr and Sakic, or current NHL stars like Draisaitl and Matthews, league salaries continue to reflect the value of elite talent.
Looking for more insights like this? Stay tuned to the Betway blog, where you can read about The top 10 NHL draft classes of all time and the top 10 NHL players of all time.
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