- Nathan MacKinnon is the highest-paid Canadian hockey player in 2024-25, earning $16.5 million.
- Three of the top 10 NHL earners are Canadian (MacKinnon, Dougie Hamilton, and Alex Pietrangelo).
- The 10-highest Canadian earners will all make at least $10.9 million in 2024-25.
NHL salaries are on the rise alongside the salary cap, which increased by $4.5 million to $88 million for the 2024-25 season.
The top 10 Canadian earners will all make at least $10.9 million in the upcoming season, with Nathan MacKinnon sitting atop the list at $16.5 million.
Who Is the Highest-Paid Canadian Hockey Player?
| Ranking | Player | Team | 2024-25 Annual Salary | Cap Hit |
| 1 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | $16.5 million | $12.6 million |
| 2 | Dougie Hamilton | New Jersey Devils | $12.6 million | $9 million |
| 3 | Alex Pietrangelo | Vegas Golden Knights | $12.5 million | $8.8 million |
| 4 | Brayden Point | Tampa Bay Lightning | $12 million | $9.5 million |
| 5 | Darnell Nurse | Edmonton Oilers | $12 million | $9.25 million |
| 6 | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Washington Capitals | $11.25 million | $8.5 million |
| 7 | Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings | $11 million | $11 million |
| 8 | Mark Stone | Vegas Golden Knights | $11 million | $9.5 million |
| 9 | Sam Reinhart | Florida Panthers | $11 million | $8.625 million |
| 10 | Jordan Kyrou | St. Louis Blues | $10.9 million | $8.125 million |
MacKinnon is the second-highest-paid NHLer.
The Colorado Avalanche superstar and reigning MVP signed an eight-year, $100.8 million deal in September 2022, equating to about $12.6 million annually.
Dougie Hamilton, Alex Pietrangelo, Brayden Point, and Darnell Nurse round out the top five Canadian earners.
Who Are the Highest-Paid Hockey Players?
| Ranking | Player | Team | Nationality | 2024-25 Annual Salary | Cap Hit |
| 1 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | American | $16.7 million | $13.25 million |
| 2 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | Canadian | $16.5 million | $12.6 million |
| 3 | Elias Pettersson | Vancouver Canucks | Swedish | $14.5 million | $11.6 million |
| 4 | William Nylander | Toronto Maple Leafs | Swedish | $13.5 million | $11.5 million |
| 5 | Jake Guentzel | Tampa Bay Lightning | American | 13.3 million | $9 million |
| 6 | David Pastrnak | Boston Bruins | Czechia | $13 million | $11.25 million |
| 7 | Rasmus Dahlin | Buffalo Sabres | Swedish | $13 million | $11 million |
| 8 | Dougie Hamilton | New Jersey Devils | Canadian | $12.6 million | $9 million |
| 9 | Alex Pietrangelo | Vegas Golden Knights | Canadian | $12.5 million | $8.8 million |
| 10 | Seth Jones | Chicago Blackhawks | American | $12.5 million | $9.5 million |
Auston Matthews signed a four-year, $53 million deal in August 2023, making him the NHL’s highest earner.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ sniper is usually among the NHL odds favourites to win the MVP.
The NHL’s 10 highest-paid players are evenly split regarding nationalities, with three hailing from Canada, the United States, and Sweden and one, David Pastrnak, from Czechia.
Pastrnak opened the 2024-25 season with some of the best hockey odds to win the Rocket Richard Trophy.
How Much Does Connor McDavid Make?
Connor McDavid will earn $10 million in 2024-25, with a cap hit of $12.5 million.
He signed an eight-year, $100 million deal in July 2017, which, at the time, made him the league’s highest earner.
The world’s best hockey player becomes a restricted free agent in 2026-27 and will almost certainly sign a new contract that again makes him the highest-paid player.
He opened the season as my best online sportsbook bet to win his fourth Hart Trophy.
Who is the Highest Paid Maple Leaf?
Matthews signed a four-year, $53 million deal in August 2023, making him the highest earner in NHL history.
What Was Wayne Gretzky’s Salary?
Wayne Gretzky signed a 10-year, $3 million deal and earned $300,000 per year with the Edmonton Oilers between 1979 and 1988.
In the summer of 1988, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, he inked a three-year, $25.5 million deal that saw him earn $8.5 million per year, making him the NHL’s highest earner.
He made almost three times as much in one season with the Kings as during his 10-year contract with the Oilers. He signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the New York Rangers in 1997-98.
Gretzky earned about $43.268 million from 1989 to 99.
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