15 Highest Paid NHL Player In The League Right Now

Matthew Tkachuk is in his second season with the Florida Panthers and his salary is $11.25 million. His AAV and cap hit is $9.5 million.

Tkachuk's salary is composed of $10,250,000 in signing bonus and a $1 million base salary. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2016 as the 6th Overall pick, he signed an Entry-level Contract with the Flames on July 7, 2016. 

The 25-year-old forward played for the London Knights of the OHL before joining the Flames for the 2016-17 season. He signed a three-year, $21 million contract extension with Calgary after three seasons with the team. 

The Panthers acquired Tkachuk in a trade with Calgary on July 22, 2022, he was traded in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and the 2025 1st round pick(conditional). He signed an eight-year, $76 million contract before the trade with Florida. 

The 2023-24 season is underway and so far he has earned 19 points(4 G & 15 A) in 25 games played for the Panthers.  

Tampa Bay Lightning's Brayden Point is paid a salary of $11.25 million, comprising $6.25 million in signing bonuses and a $5 million base salary.

The Lightning drafted Point in 2014(79th overall), and he has played for the team as of the 2016-17 season. Before joining the franchise, he played for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL. 

He played 9 games for the team's AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch, he returned to the Warriors for the 2015-16 before making his NHL debut with the Lightning on October 13, 2016. 

After his entry-level contract expired, the 27-year-old forward signed a 3-year, $20.25 million extension. He then went on to sign an 8-year, $76 million extension with the Lightning on July 28, 2021. 

Point was on the Lightning squad for their 2020 and 2021 back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships, he scored the series winner(12:23, First, G6) for the team in 2020. 

He has played 525 regular season games in the NHL all for the Lightning and earned 493 points(230 G & 263 A). He has earned 30 points(12 G & 18 A) in 27 games this season so far. 

Roope Hintz of the Dallas Stars is paid $11.5 million in salary for 2023-24, $4 million in signing bonuses, and a $7.5 million base salary. His cap hit and AAV is $8.45 million. 

The Stars drafted him in 2015 as the 49th overall pick, he signed a 3-year entry-level contract with the Stars on May 4, 2017. He played for the HIFK of the Liiga(Finnish Elite League) before signing with the Dallas.

The Tampere, Finland native spent a season with the team's AHL affiliates Texas Stars before making his debut with Dallas on October 4, 2018. He got 35 points(20G & 15 A) in 70 games played for Texas that season.

Hintz signed a 3-year contract extension worth $9.45 million on November 9, 2020. He went on to sign an 8-year contract extension worth $67.6 million on November 29, 2022. 

He has played 335 games for the Dallas Stars to earn 265 points(125 G & 140 A). So far in 2023-24, he has played 23 games with the Stars to earn 20 points(8 G & 12 A).

Erik Karlsson's salary for 2023-24 is $11.5 million which consists of a $1 million signing bonus and a &10.5 million base salary. His Cap hit and AAV is $11.5 million.

Karlsson was drafted by the Ottawa Senators(15th overall) in 2008, he signed a 7-year $45.5 million contract with the Senators on June 19, 2012. He was traded to the San Jose  Sharks on September 13, 2018. 

The Sharks signed Karlsson to an 8-year, $92 million contract on June 17, 2019, he spent 5 seasons with the team. On August 6, 2023, he was acquired by the Penguins in a trade that involved the Canadiens as well. 

He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the best defenseman of the season three times in 2012, 2015, and 2013. 

The Landsbro, Sweden native has played 920 regular season games with the Senators and the Sharks to earn 761 points(178 G & 583 A). He has played 25 games for the Penguins and earned 19 points(6 G & 13 A) so far in 2023-24.

Timo Meier is paid $12 million in total salary for 2023-24, including a $6 million signing bonus and a $6 million base salary. His cap hit and AAV is $ 8.8 million.

The Sharks drafted Meier in 2015(9th overall) signing him to a 3-year entry-level contract shortly afterwards in July. He played 33 games for the Sharks' AHL affiliate San Jose Barracuda before making his NHL debut on December 16, 2016. 

Meier was traded to the New Jersey Devils after seven seasons with the Sharks on Feb 26, 2023, he finished the 2022-23 season with the Devils earning 14 points(9 G & 5 A) in 21 games. He signed an 8-year $70.4 million contract with the Devils on June 28, 2023. 

The Herisau, Switzerland native has played 488 regular season games in the NHL to earn 341 points (168 G & 173 A) as of yet. He got 11 points(5 G & 6 A) in 16 games with the Devils in 2023-24. 

Adam Fox's salary is $12 million for 2023-24, excluding a signing bonus. His AAV and cap hit is $9.5 million.

The Calgary Flames drafted Fox in 2016(66th overall), and they traded his NHL playing rights to the Carolina Hurricanes on June 23, 2018. The Canes traded his NHL rights to the NY Rangers on April 19, 2019. 

The Rangers signed him to a 3-year entry-level contract on May 2, 2019. He made his NHL debut with the team in October 2019. He played for Harvard University in the ECAC before starting his professional career with the Rangers. 

The Jericho, New York, native won the James Norris in 2021. He signed a 7-year, $66.5 million contract extension with the Rangers on November 1, 2021. 

Fox has played 299 regular season games in the NHL and has earned 251 points(39 G & 212A). He has gotten 16 points(3 G & 13 A) in 14 games in the 2023-24 and is still playing.

Zach Werenski is paid $12 million for 2023-24, it consists of a $2 million signing bonus and a base salary of $10 million. His Cap hit and AAV is $9.5833 million.

The Alternate Captain for the Blue Jackets was drafted by the team in 2015 as the 8th overall pick. He played seven games for the team's AHL affiliates before making his NHL debut on October 13, 2016.

Werenski signed a 3 years $15 million contract on September 9, 2019. He then went on to sign a 6-year $57.5 million contract extension with Colombus on July 29, 2021. 

The Grosse Pointe, Michigan native has played 441 regular season games in the NHL so far to earn 264 points(80 G & 184 A). He has earned 19 points(1G & 18 A) in the 2023-24 season so far.

Aleksander Barkov has a payroll of $12 million for the 2023-24 season, $11 million as signing bonuses, and a $1 million base salary. His cap hit and AAV is $10 million.

In 2013, he signed a three-year entry-level contract worth $10.725 million, followed by a six-year extension worth $35 million in 2016.

The Tampere Finland had a history of lucrative contracts with Florida before his current deal, an eight-year $80 million contract extension signed on October 8, 2021. 

The 28-year-old captain of the Florida Panthers is a two-way force, excelling both offensively and defensively. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the best defensive forward in the league in 2021.

Barkov's offensive production is equally impressive. He has amassed 655 points (251 G & 404 A) in 686 career games. This season, he has 24 points (8 goals and 16 assists) in 22 games, showcasing his consistent offensive contributions.

Alex Pietrangelo, the VGK defenseman, earns $12.3 million, which consists of $8 million in signing bonuses and $4.3 million in base salary. His cap hit is $8.8 million.

The King City, Ontario native was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2008 as the 4th overall pick. He signed a 3-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues which he extended in 2013, he signed a 7-year extension worth $45.5 million. 

The 33-year-old defenseman for the has amassed 583 points (141 G & 442 A) in 974 games. In the 2023-24 season so far he has recorded 12 points (1 G & 11 A) in 27 games this season.

Vegas's alternate captain is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Blues in 2019 and the Golden Knights in 2023.

After leading the Blues to their historic Stanley Cup victory in 2019 as their Captain, he signed an eight-year extension worth $68 million in the same year.

His most recent contract is the one signed with Vegas in 2020, a 7-year contract worth $61.6 million.

Kirill Kaprizov earns a massive $12.5 million payout comprising a whopping $10 million base salary and a $2.5 million signing bonus in 2023-24. His cap hit and AAV is $9 million.

The 26-year-old left-winger joined the team in 2020, he was drafted by the Wild in 2015. He played for the CSKA Moscow before making his NHL debut on January 14, 2021. 

The Novokuznetsk, Russia, native signed his first NHL contract in 2020 which was a 2-year entry-level contract. He signed a 5-year contract extension worth  $45 million on September 21, 2021, after finishing his rookie season as the Calder Memorial Trophy winner.

In just 226 games, he has amassed an impressive 257 points (122 G & 135 A) so far. This season, he currently sits at 23 points (8 G & 15A) in 23 games. 

Alex Ovechkin earns a total salary of $12.5 million, broken down as $11.5 million in signing bonuses and a $1 million base salary. His cap hit sits at $9.5 million.

The 38-year-old legend and captain of the Capitals,  is one of the highest-scoring players in NHL history, currently sitting second all-time with 827 goals behind Wayne Gretzky(894). 

The Russian left Winger has a career record of 1,369 games played to earn 1,499 points(827 G & 672 A). In the current season, he has earned 14 points(5 G & 9 A) so far.

Ovechkin began his NHL career with a standard 3-year entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals, he was the team's first draft pick in 2004.

He signed his first contract extension in 2008 which was a massive 13-year contract extension worth $124 million. His most recent contract is the 5-year, $47.5 million contract extension he signed with the team on July 27, 2021. 

Seth Jones the Chicago Blackhawks defenseman, earns a $5 million signing bonus, and a $7.5 million base salary totaling to $12.5 million. His cap hit is $9.5 million.

The 28-year-old is one of the highest-paid players in the NHL. He was drafted by the Nashville Predators who traded him to Columbus in the last year of his 3-year entry-level contract. 

The Blue Jackets signed him to a 6-year contract extension valued at $32.4 million on June 29, 2016. They traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks after 6 seasons with the team and on July 28, 2021, he signed an 8-year, $76 million contract with Chicago.

The Arlington, Texas native is a two-way defenseman, excelling both defensively and offensively. He has amassed 384 points (82 G & 302 A) in 754 career games, showcasing his ability to contribute on both ends of the ice.

Jones has managed to record 10 points (all assists) in 24 games. His leadership, defensive prowess, and offensive contributions make him a crucial part of the Blackhawks' defense.

Dougie Hamilton's current salary is $12.6 million, consisting of $2 million in signing bonuses and $10.6 million in base salary. His cap hit is slightly lower at $9 million.

The 30-year-old defenseman's NHL journey began with a standard three-year entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins in 2011. 

The Toronto, Ontario native was traded to Calgary by the Bruins in 2015, native, he went on to sign a six-year contract extension worth $34.5 million with them. He was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018. 

After three seasons with the Canes, Hamilton left as a free agent, and on July 28, 2021, he went on to sign a massive 7-year contract extension worth a staggering $63 million with the New Jersey Devils. 

In his career, he has accumulated 461 points (142 G & 319 A) in 771 games, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively from the blue line. This season he has recorded 16 points (5 G & 11 A ) in 20 games. 

David Pastarnak is the second highest-paid NHL player earning a total salary of $13 million, including a hefty $4.5 million signing bonus and a base salary of $8.5 million. 

The 27-year-old star right-winger for the Boston Bruins was drafted by the team in 2014 as the 25th overall pick.

He signed his first extension which was a 6-year, $40 million contract in 2017; his initial contract with the team was a standard 3-year entry-level deal.

On March 2, 2023, he signed a massive 8-year contract extension worth a whopping $90 million making him one of the highest-paid players in the league.

In his career, Pasternak has accumulated an impressive 653 points (315 G & 338 A) in 616 games, solidifying his place among the league's elite offensive players.

The Havířov, Czech Republic, native continues to live up to his high-paying contract this season as well; he has already racked up 36 points (14 G & 22 A) in 27 games so far. His cap hit sits at a significant $11.25 million.

Nathan MacKinnon is the highest-paid player in the NHL. His salary for 2023-24 is a whopping $16.5 million, with $15.725 in signing bonuses and a $775,000 base salary.

The 28-year-old center's salary is $3.5 million higher than the second highest-paid player, David Pasternak, who earns $13 million. His Cap hit sits at $12.6 million.

Drafted first overall in 2013 by the Avs, MacKinnon has established himself as one of the league's best players, earning the Frank J. Selke Trophy for best defensive forward in 2021.

The Alternate Captain was crucial in the Avalanche's Stanley Cup victory in 2022. His leadership, offensive production, and defensive prowess were instrumental in their championship run.

The Avalanche signed him to a massive 8-year contract worth $100.8 million on September 20, 2022. This was a big jump from his previous 7-year contract, worth $44.1 million, signed on July 8, 2016. 

MacKinnon's offensive talent is undeniable. He has accumulated 793 points (290 G & 500 A) in 685 career games. This season, he is consistent with 34 points (9 G & 25 A) in 25 games.