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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

The Highest-Paid Coaches in the NHL

  • Only Mike Sullivan and Jon Cooper earn over $5 million a year.
  • Seven coaches earn less than $3 million a year.
David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The NHL has seen a recent surge in popularity, as the past season was its most-watched in decades.

The top teams from the biggest markets have emphasized coaching hires, and head coach salaries in the league have grown substantially. The highest-paid NHL coaches rake in high salaries compared to other major sports.

Mike Sullivan’s $5.5 million salary leads all NHL coaches. He has been the coach of the Penguins since 2015.

He won back-to-back Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. Sullivan’s spot as the highest-paid NHL coach may not last long after his contract expires this year, especially considering the team’s playoffs drought.

Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper brings in $5.3 million to land second on the list. Cooper is the NHL’s longest-tenured coach, having been with the Lightning since 2013.

He’s taken them to four Stanley Cup Finals and won two, including their run of three straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances.

Tied for third on the list are the Rangers’ Peter Laviolette and the Avalanche’s Jared Bednar. Both earn $4.9 million annually.

Laviolette is the winningest American-born head coach in NHL history, with over 800 career wins. He won the 2005-2006 Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes.

Bednar has been Colorado’s head coach for his entire career.

His 2021-2022 Avalanche squad ended the Lightning’s hopes of a three-peat by winning the Stanley Cup.

The fifth coach on the list is Bruce Cassidy of Vegas, who earns $4.5 million to lead the Knights. 

He spent most of his career on the East Coast with the Capitals and then the Bruins before heading out west.

In 2023, he led the Knights to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup win after defeating the Panthers in five games.

Only four coaches who don’t have a winning record over their coaching career made the list.

Ranking the Highest-Paid NHL Coaches

Here is the entire list of the highest-paid NHL coaches of 2025, among publicly reported salary figures. The list was compiled using data from Sportinglad, Hockeyzoneplus, and Hockey-Reference.

  • Updated: March 29, 2025
RankCoachTeamTotal Compensation
1Mike SullivanPittsburgh Penguins$5.5 million
2Jon CooperTampa Bay Lightning$5.3 million
T-3Peter LavioletteNew York Rangers$4.9 million
T-3Jared BednarColorado Avalanche$4.9 million
5Bruce CassidyVegas Golden Knights$4.5 million
6Peter DeBoerDallas Stars$4.25 million
7Paul MauriceFlorida Panthers$3.9 million
8Craig BerubeToronto Maple Leafs$3.5 million
9Martin St. LouisMontreal Canadiens$2.9 million
10Rick TocchetVancouver Canucks$2.75 million
T-11Andrew BrunetteNashville Predators$2 million
T-11Rod Brind’AmourCarolina Hurricanes$2 million
T-11Jay WoodcroftEdmonton Oilers$2 million
14Jim MontgomerySt Louis Blues$1.9 million
15Scott William ArnielWinnipeg Jets$1.5 million

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