- Source: 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 a list of the twenty NHL players who have earned the most in salaries between the 1989–90 season and the 2023–24 season.
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 and sponsor contracts.
These totals also do not take into account partial seasons played—for which a player would only receive a partial salary—except for the shortened 2004–05 season, which affected every player. Thus, the listed totals are a sum of the amounts each player was contracted to receive for a full season.
† "Years active" excludes the 2004–05 NHL season, as the league was not operating that year. It also includes seasons prior to the 1989–90 NHL season, although the salaries paid during this time may not be included in the total due to scarcity of information.
Top five contracts by season
= 1989–90 season
=Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) US$2 million (equivalent to $4.7 million in 2023)
Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $1.72 million ($4 million in 2023)
Mark Messier (Edmonton Oilers) $0.86 million ($2 million in 2023)
Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) $0.7 million ($1.6 million in 2023)
Bryan Trottier (New York Islanders) $0.575 million ($1.3 million in 2023)
= 1990–91 season
=Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $3 million
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $2.18 million
Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) $1.3 million
Ray Bourque (Boston Bruins) $1.194 million
Brett Hull (St. Louis Blues) $1.116 million
= 1991–92 season
=Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) US$3 million (equivalent to $6.7 million in 2023)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $2.34 million ($5.2 million in 2023)
Brett Hull (St. Louis Blues) $1.5 million ($3.4 million in 2023)
(tie) Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres) $1.4 million ($3.1 million in 2023)(tie) Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) $1.4 million ($3.1 million in 2023)
= 1992–93 season
=Eric Lindros (Philadelphia Flyers) US$3.5 million (equivalent to $7.4 million in 2023)
Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $3 million ($6.3 million in 2023)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $2.408 million ($5.1 million in 2023)
Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $2.385 million ($5 million in 2023)
Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres) $1.775 million ($3.7 million in 2023)
= 1993–94 season
=Eric Lindros (Philadelphia Flyers) US$3.35 million (equivalent to $6.9 million in 2023)
Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) $3.2 million ($6.6 million in 2023)
(tie) Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $3 million ($6.2 million in 2023)(tie) Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $3 million ($6.2 million in 2023)
Patrick Roy (Montreal Canadiens) $2.659 million ($5.5 million in 2023)
= 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.
Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) $3.66 million (Predicted salary of $6.54 million)
Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $3.45 million (Predicted salary of $6.29 million)
Scott Stevens (New Jersey Devils) $3.24 million (Predicted salary of $5.8 million)
Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) $2.61 million (Predicted salary of $4.5 million)
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $2.361,429 million (Predicted salary of $4.071429 million)
= 1995–96 season
=Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings/St. Louis Blues) $6.54 million
Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $6.29 million
Keith Tkachuk (Winnipeg Jets) $6 million
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $4.5714 million
Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) $4.5 million
= 1996–97 season
=Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) $11.35 million
Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $6 million
Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) $5 million
Pat LaFontaine (Buffalo Sabres) $4.6 million
Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche) $4.567 million
= 1997–98 season
=Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) $16.45 million
Chris Gratton (Philadelphia Flyers) $10.15 million
Wayne Gretzky (New York Rangers) $6.25 million
Mark Messier (New York Rangers) $6 million
Pavel Bure (Vancouver Canucks) $5.5 million
= 1998–99 season
=Sergei Fedorov (Detroit Red Wings) $14.5 million
Paul Kariya (Anaheim Ducks) $8.25 million
Eric Lindros (Philadelphia Flyers) $8 million
Dominik Hasek (Buffalo Sabres) $8 million
Mats Sundin (Toronto Maple Leafs) $6.347 million
= 1999–00 season
=Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins) $11.7 million
Paul Kariya (Anaheim Ducks) $11 million
Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche) $9 million
Theoren Fleury (New York Rangers) $8.5 million
Eric Lindros (Philadelphia Flyers) $8.5 million
= 2000–01 season
=Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche) $10 million
Paul Kariya (Anaheim Ducks) $10 million
Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9.842708 million
Pavel Bure (Florida Panthers) $9 million
Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues) $7.3 million
= 2001–02 season
=Jaromir Jagr (Washington Capitals) $11 million
Pavel Bure (Florida Panthers/New York Rangers) $10 million
Paul Kariya (Anaheim Ducks) $10 million
Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) $9.832727 million
Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) $9.5 million
Teemu Selanne (San Jose Sharks) $9.5 million
= 2002–03 season
=Jaromir Jagr (Washington Capitals) $11.48 million
Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues) $11 million
Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) $10.5 million
Pavel Bure (New York Rangers) $10 million
Paul Kariya (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) $10 million
= 2003–04 season
=Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche) $11 million
Jaromir Jagr (Washington Capitals) $11 million
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).
Jaromir Jagr (New York Rangers) $8.36 million
Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) $7.6 million
Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues) $7.6 million
Alexei Yashin (New York Islanders) $7.6 million
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.
Jaromir Jagr (New York Rangers) $8.36 million
Brad Richards (Tampa Bay Lightning) $7.8 million
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.
Daniel Briere (Philadelphia Flyers) $10 million
Scott Gomez (New York Rangers) $10 million
Thomas Vanek (Buffalo Sabres) $10 million
Jaromir Jagr (New York Rangers) $8.36 million
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.
Dany Heatley (Ottawa Senators) $10 million
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million
Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) $9 million
Mats Sundin (Vancouver Canucks) $8.6 million
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.
Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning) $10 million
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million
Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) $9 million
Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) $9 million
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.
Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning) $10 million
Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks) $10 million
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.
Brad Richards (New York Rangers) $12 million
Ilya Bryzgalov (Philadelphia Flyers) $10 million
Christian Ehrhoff (Buffalo Sabres) $10 million
Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning) $10 million
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.
Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) $14 million
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.
Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) $14 million
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $12 million
Zach Parise (Minnesota Wild) $12 million
Ryan Suter (Minnesota Wild) $12 million
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.
Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) $14 million
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $12 million
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.
Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) $14 million
Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) $12 million
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.
Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings) $14 million
Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
Shea Weber (Montreal Canadiens) $12 million
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.
Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) $13.8 million
Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars) $13 million
Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings) $13 million
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.
John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15.9 million
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) $15 million
Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) $15 million
Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars) $13 million
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.
Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) $16 million
Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15.9 million
John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15.9 million
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.
Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs $15.9 million
Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) $15 million
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) $14 million
Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers) $13 million
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.
Erik Karlsson (San Jose Sharks) $14.5 million
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.
Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars) $13 million
Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers) $12.5 million
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.
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) $16.5 million
David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins) $13 million
Dougie Hamilton (New Jersey Devils) $12.6 million
Seth Jones (Chicago Blackhawks) $12.5 million
Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild) $12.5 million
= 2024–25 season
=The team salary cap is $88 million. No player can earn more than $17.6 million.
Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) $16.7 million
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) $16.5 million
Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) $14.5 million
William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs) $13.5 million
Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning) $13.26 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.
† 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
†† Bobby Hull was playing the World Hockey Association at this time, a short-lived rival to the NHL.
See also
Salary cap
NHL Players Association
List of highest-paid NBA players by season
List of highest-paid Major League Baseball players
List of salaries
Notes
External links
USA Today Salaries Database NHL salaries from 2000–2007
NHLSCAP - Up to date NHL Salary cap information
CapGeek.com
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/index.php
http://www.nhlnumbers.com/
NHL players' salary history
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- List of highest-paid NHL players by season
- List of highest-paid NBA players by season
- List of highest-paid Major League Baseball players
- NHL salary cap
- 2023–24 NHL transactions
- National Hockey League
- List of largest sports contracts
- NHL Winter Classic
- 2021–22 NHL season
- NHL commissioner
