Who are the highest-paid NHL players? Ranking hockey stars' salaries, cap hits

This story was updated to add new information.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews becomes the NHL's top-paid player this season now that his four-year, $53 million extension has taken effect.

But his reign will last only one season.

Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl has signed an eight-year, $112 million extension that begins in 2025-26. His $14 million cap hit next season will pass Matthews' $13.25 million as NHL teams take advantage of the rising salary cap.

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was the top-paid player ($12.6 million cap hit) in 2023-24 and Oilers captain Connor McDavid led with a $12.5 million average annual salary in 2022-23.

There will also be a change in the highest-paid goaltender next season with the New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin agreeing to an eight-year extension with a record $11.5 million cap hit.

Here are the NHL leaders in cap hit and salary for the 2024-25 season (per puckpedia.com):

Highest-paid NHL players by salary cap hit

Player, team, cap hit, contract

1. Auston Matthews, Toronto, $13,250,000, four years, $53 million

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado, $12,600,000, eight years, $100.8 million

3. Connor McDavid, Edmonton, $12,500,000, eight years, $100 million

4. Artemi Panarin, N.Y. Rangers, $11,642,857, seven years, $81.5 million

5. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver, $11,600,000, eight years, $92.8 million

6. Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh, $11,500,000, eight years, $92 million

7. William Nylander, Toronto, $11,500,000, eight years, $92 million

8. David Pastrnak, Boston, $11,250,000, eight years, $89 million

9. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo, $11,000,000, eight years, $88 million

10. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles, $11,000,000, eight years, $88 million

11. John Tavares, Toronto, $11,000,000, seven years, $77 million

12. Mitch Marner, Toronto, $10,903,000, six years, $65,418,000

13. Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary, $10,500,000, eight years, $84 million

14. Jack Eichel, Vegas, $10,000,000, eight years, $80 million

15. Aleksander Barkov, Florida, $10,000,000, eight years, $80 million

16. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida, $10,000,000, seven years, $70 million

17. Tyler Seguin, Dallas, $9,850,000, eight years, $78.8 million

18. Sebastian Aho, $9,750,000, eight years, $78 million

19. Zach Werenski, Columbus, $9,583,333, six years, $57.5 million

20. Seth Jones, Chicago, $9,500,000, eight years, $76 million

21. Charlie McAvoy, Boston, $9,500,000, eight years, $76 million

22. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida, $9,500,000, eight years, $76 million

23. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay, $9,500,000, eight years, $76 million

24. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay, $9,500,000, eight years, $76 million

25. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay, $9,500,000, eight years, $76 million

26. Mark Stone, Vegas, $9,500,000, eight years, $76 million

27. Jamie Benn, Dallas, $9,500,000, eight years, $76 million

28. Adam Fox, N.Y. Rangers, $9,500,000, seven years, $66.5 million

29. Alex Ovechkin, Washington, $9,500,000, five years, $47.5 million

30. Darnell Nurse, Edmonton, $9,250,000, eight years, $74 million

31. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado, $9,250,000, six years, $55.5 million

Note: Canadiens goalie Carey Price averages $10.5 million but isn't included because he's on long-term injured reserve.

Highest-paid NHL players by 2024-25 salary

Player, team, salary (includes signing bonus)

1. Auston Matthews, Toronto, $16,700,000

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado, $16,500,000

3. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver, $14,500,000

4. William Nylander, Toronto, $13,500,000

5. Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay, $13,263,157

6. David Pastrnak, Boston, $13,000,000

7. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo, $13,000,000

8. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey, $12,600,000

9. Seth Jones, Chicago, $12,500,000

10. Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas, $12,500,000

11. Aleksander Barkov, Florida, $12,000,000

12. Sebastian Aho, Carolina, $12,000,000

13. Adam Fox, N.Y. Rangers, $12,000,000

14. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay, $12,000,000

15. Darnell Nurse, Edmonton, $12,000,000

16. Zach Werenski, Columbus, $11,500,000

17. Charlie McAvoy, Boston, $11,500,000

18. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida, $11,250,000

19. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Washington, $11,250,000

20. Roope Hintz, Dallas, $11,250,000

21. Timo Meier, New Jersey, $11,100,000

22. Mikhail Sergachev, Utah, $11,050,000

23. Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh, $11,000,000

24. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles, $11,000,000

25. Alex Ovechkin, Washington, $11,000,000

26. Mark Stone, Vegas, $11,000,000

27. Dylan Larkin, Detroit, $11,000,000

28. Sam Reinhart, Florida, $11,000,000

29. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas, $11,000,000

30. Seth Jarvis, Carolina, $10,950,000

Highest-paid NHL defensemen

Player, team, cap hit

1. Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh, $11,500,000

2. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo, $11,000,000

3. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles, $11,000,000

4. Zach Werenski, Columbus, $9,583,333

5. Seth Jones, Chicago, $9,500,000

6. Charlie McAvoy, Boston, $9,500,000

7. Adam Fox, N.Y. Rangers, 9,500,000

8. Darnell Nurse, Edmonton, $9,250,000

9. Roman Josi, Nashville, $9,059,000

10. Cale Makar, Colorado, $9,000,000

11. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey, $9,000,000

12. Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas, $8,800,000

13. Moritz Seider, Detroit, $8,550,000

14. Mikhail Sergachev, Utah, $8,500,000

15. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas, $8,450,000

16. Owen Power, Buffalo, $8,350,000

17. Jake Sanderson, Ottawa, $8,050,000

18. Brent Burns, Carolina, $8,000,000

19. John Carlson, Washington, $8,000,000

20. Jacob Trouba, Anaheim, $8,000,000

21. Thomas Chabot, Ottawa, $8,000,000

Highest-paid NHL goaltenders

Player, team, cap hit

1. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida, $10,000,000

2. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay, $9,500,000

3. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg, $8,500,000

4. Ilya Sorokin, N.Y. Islanders, $8,250,000

5. Jeremy Swayman, Boston, $8,250,000

6. John Gibson, Anaheim, $6,400,000

7. Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey, $6,000,000

8. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis, $6,000,000

9. Philipp Grubauer, Seattle, $5,900,000

10. Igor Shesterkin, N.Y. Rangers, $5,666,667

11. Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus, $5,400,000

12. Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh, $5,375,000

13. Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles, $5,250,000

14. Thatcher Demko, Vancouver, $5,000,000

15. Juuse Saros, Nashville, $5,000,000

16. Linus Ullmark, Ottawa, $5,000,000

17. Adin Hill, Vegas, $4,900,000

18. Ville Husso, Detroit, $4,750,000

19. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo, $4,750,000

20. Spencer Knight, Florida, $4,500,000

Note: Injured Price and Robin Lehner ($5 million) aren't included. Lehner's cap hit isn't being charged to the Golden Knights, according to The Athletic.

What is the NHL salary cap for 2024-25?

The 2024-25 NHL salary cap is $88 million, up from $83.5 million last season. It was the first significant rise since the pandemic. Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the December board of governors meetings that the salary cap is projected to rise to at least $92.4 million in 2025-26.

Who could pass Leon Draisaitl?

Very simple. McDavid. He can receive a contract extension on July 1, 2025, and he can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. Either way, the three-time MVP will reap the benefits of being the NHL's best player since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2015.

Rantanen also might top $14 million, particularly if he hits free agency this summer. The Avalanche aren't likely to want his salary to top that of teammate MacKinnon.

A player to watch: Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard's entry-level contract expires in 2026, though he'll be a restricted free agent. But he's considered a generational player and McDavid got his $12.5 million cap hit contract extension after his second season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is the highest-paid NHL player? Salaries of hockey stars, ranked