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 leads all NHL coaches with his $5.5 million pay. Sullivan has been the coach for 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 may not last long after his contract expires in 2025.
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. This includes their run of three straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances.
Tied for third on the list is 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 2024, among publicly reported salary figures. The list was compiled using data from Sportinglad, Hockeyzoneplus, and Hockey-Reference.
- Updated: December 26, 2024
| Rank | Coach | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Mike Sullivan | Pittsburgh Penguins | $5.5 million |
| 2 | Jon Cooper | Tampa Bay Lightning | $5.3 million |
| T-3 | Peter Laviolette | New York Rangers | $4.9 million |
| T-3 | Jared Bednar | Colorado Avalanche | $4.9 million |
| 5 | Bruce Cassidy | Vegas Golden Knights | $4.5 million |
| 6 | Peter DeBoer | Dallas Stars | $4.25 million |
| 7 | John Tortorella | Philadelphia Flyers | $4 million |
| 8 | Paul Maurice | Florida Panthers | $3.9 million |
| 9 | Craig Berube | Toronto Maple Leafs | $3.5 million |
| 10 | Martin St. Louis | Montreal Canadiens | $2.9 million |
| 11 | Rick Tocchet | Vancouver Canucks | $2.75 million |
| T-12 | Rod Brind’Amour | Carolina Hurricanes | $2 million |
| T-12 | Jay Woodcroft | Edmonton Oilers | $2 million |
| 14 | Jim Montgomery | St Louis Blues | $1.9 million |
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