Similar to forwards, compensation among NHL defensemen is very balanced with less than $4 million separating the first and 25th highest-paid defensemen. In 2025, no defenseman makes more than $12 million in annual salary.
Penguins enforcer Erik Karlsson is the highest-paid defenseman making $11.5 million annually. Karlsson signed an eight-year, $92 million contract with the Sharks in 2019 before being traded to the Penguins in August of 2023.
Sharing the second spot are Rasmus Dahlin and Drew Doughty, who both earn $11 million yearly. In the fourth position is Blue Jackets stopper Zachary Werenski at $9.58 million. Werenski signed a six-year, $57.5 million contract extension in 2021.
Charles Mcavoy, Seth Jones, and Adam Fox round out the top five with each making $9.5 million annually. Fox is set to become a free agent in 2029 while Mcavoy and Jones won’t hit the market until 2030.
Carolina’s Dmitry Orlov rounds out the top 25. He is just behind teammate Brent Burns at $8 million, representing one of three teams with both who made the list.
Ranking The Highest-Paid NHL Defensemen
Here is the full list of the 25 highest-paid NHL defensemen by average annual salary. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
- Updated: March 9th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Yearly Compensation |
| 1 | Erik Karlsson | Pittsburgh Penguins | $11.5 million |
| T-2 | Rasmus Dahlin | Buffalo Sabres | $11 million |
| T-2 | Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings | $11 million |
| 4 | Zachary Werenski | Columbus Blue Jackets | $9.58 million |
| T-5 | Charles Mcavoy | Boston Bruins | $9.5 million |
| T-5 | Seth Jones | Florida Panthers | $9.5 million |
| T-5 | Adam Fox | New York Rangers | $9.5 million |
| 8 | Darnell Nurse | Edmonton Oilers | $9.25 million |
| 9 | Roman Josi | Nashville Predators | $9.06 million |
| T-10 | Cale Makar | Colorado Avalanche | $9 million |
| T-10 | Dougie Hamilton | New Jersey Devils | $9 million |
| 12 | Alex Pietrangelo | Vegas Golden Knights | $8.8 million |
| 13 | Moritz Seider | Detroit Red Wings | $8.55 million |
| 14 | Mikhail Sergachev | Utah Hockey Club | $8.5 million |
| 15 | Miro Heiskanen | Dallas Stars | $8.45 million |
| 16 | Owen Power | Buffalo Sabres | $8.35 million |
| T-17 | Brent Burns | Carolina Hurricanes | $8 million |
| T-17 | Jacob Trouba | Anaheim Ducks | $8 million |
| T-17 | Jake Sanderson | Ottawa Senators | $8 million |
| T-17 | Thomas Chabot | Ottawa Senators | $8 million |
| T-17 | John Carlson | Washington Capitals | $8 million |
| 22 | Victor Hedman | Tampa Bay Lightning | $7.88 million |
| 23 | Shea Weber | Utah Hockey Club | $7.86 million |
| 24 | Quinn Hughes | Vancouver Canucks | $7.85 million |
| 25 | Dmitry Orlov | Carolina Hurricanes | $7.75 million |
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