NHL gamers are notoriously well-paid, with some incomes tens of tens of millions a 12 months, however who’s the best paid participant within the league in 2025.
Prime 10 Highest Paid NHL Gamers 2025
10. Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins) – $11,500,000
The tenth highest paid participant within the NHL is Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman, Erik Karlsson, who has been topic to some latest rumours over a commerce away from Pittsburgh.
Nonetheless, the Swede has contributed with 11 targets and 42 assists within the 2024/25 common season thus far, with one in every of these targets being a sport winner.
All through his time within the NHL, Karlsson has performed virtually 1100 video games, scoring 200 targets and contributing with 670 assists – incomes a spot within the NHL All-Star roster on seven events.
9. Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers) – $11,500,000
One other participant who can also be incomes $11.5 million per 12 months is New York Rangers goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, who’s presently in his sixth season within the NHL.
Within the 2024/25 season, Shesterkin has confronted 1751 photographs and conceded 167 occasions which is a good efficiency all issues thought-about.
The New York Rangers goalie is definitely the best paid participant in his place of all time, signing an eight-year deal value $92m.
8. William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs) – $11,500,000
Subsequent we’ve yet one more participant who’s incomes a wage of $11.5m, who additionally signed a deal of $92m over eight years in January 2024.
The Maple Leafs proper wing has scored 45 targets and contributed with 39 assists within the 2024/25 season thus far – however is but to attain a sport winner.
In 2024, the Swedish hockey star appeared within the NHL All-Star sport for the primary time, incomes a spot by means of the fan vote.
7. Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) – $11,600,000
Only a step up from the $11.5m we’ve been seeing thus far is the Vancouver Canucks star, Elias Pettersson, who can also be being linked with a commerce.
The 26-year-old has endured a tough 2024/25 marketing campaign, placing in his worst stage of efficiency since his fifth place choose within the 2017 NHL Draft.
Many have been vital over Pettersson’s show within the Stanley Cup playoffs final season, the place the Canucks misplaced 4-3 to the Edmonton Oilers in a seven sport sequence.
6. Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers) – $11,642,857
Arguably the weirdest wage on this listing goes to Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers, who signed his deal in July 2019.
The contract was set to run for seven years and was value round $81.5m and included a no-move clause whereas additionally being boosted by $74.5m in signing bonuses.
On the finish of the 2025/26 season, Panarin will likely be a free agent as his 2019 contract could have expired and the Russian has been concerned in some latest alleged controversy that makes a renewed deal tough.
5. Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars) – $12,000,000
One of many newer additions to this listing is Dallas Stars proper wing, Mikko Ranatanen, who agreed a brand new deal in March 2025.
This improved contract means the 28-year-old will earn $96m throughout eight-years and it begins through the 2025/26 season – ending in 2033.
In 2022, the End hockey participant achieved his largest feat within the sport by successful the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche.
4. Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) – $12,500,000
Edmonton Oilers star, Connor McDavid, is coming to the tip of his present take care of the NHL franchise, as his $12.5m per 12 months contract runs out on the finish of subsequent season.
The 28-year-old can signal a one-year extension on the finish of his present deal and the Oilers could also be eager to take action after McDavid’s spectacular 2024/25 efficiency.
To date, McDavid has scored 26 targets and contributed with 74 assists in 67 video games this season, which is an elite return however particularly spectacular for a middle.
3. Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) – $12,600,000
The third highest paid participant within the NHL is Colorado Avalanche participant, Nathan MacKinnon, who signed an eight-year take care of the franchise value $100.8m again in September 2022.
His deal will expire on the finish of the 2030-31 season, the place MacKinnon will likely be 35 so this might be his final main contract.
The Canadian hockey star was additionally a Stanley Cup champion in 2022 and has been with the Avalanche since 2013/14 – making this season his twelfth for the franchise.
2. Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) – $13,250,000
Simply lacking out on prime spot is Maple Leafs celebrity, Auston Matthews, who’s undoubtedly one of many largest stars in NHL historical past.
His rise in reputation has been rewarded in a large number of the way, being the quilt star for the favored NHL online game in 2020 and 2022 – whereas additionally incomes a sponsorship with Logan Paul and KSI’s ‘Prime Hydration’.
In August 2023, Matthews grew to become the best paid participant within the NHL after signing a four-year deal value $53m and has a cap of $13.25m per 12 months.
1. Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers) – $14,000,000
Lastly, the best paid participant within the NHL is Leon Draisaitl from the Edmonton Oilers, who signed probably the most profitable contract within the leagues’ historical past in September 2024.
The German middle signed a deal value £112m over eight years and this contract will run till the tip of the 2032-33 season.
To date within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, Draisaitl is the highest scorer within the NHL with 52 targets and has additionally contributed with 54 assists – sitting joint-third for purpose contributions.
