Similar to forwards, compensation among NHL defensemen is very balanced with less than $4 million separating the first and 25th highest-paid defensemen. For the 2025–26 season, no defenseman makes more than $12 million in annual salary.
Penguins two-way player Erik Karlsson is the current 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 2023.
Sharing the second spot are Rasmus Dahlin and Drew Doughty, who both earn $11 million a year. In the fourth position is Evan Bouchard, who inked a contract extension with the Oilers following the 2025 season. However, he will soon be eclipsed by the Stars’ Thomas Harley, who will make $10.58 million a year starting in the 2026–27 season.
Rounding out the top five is Zach Werenski at $9.58 million. Werenski signed a six-year, $57.5 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets in 2021.
Close behind are Charlie McAvoy, Seth Jones, Noah Dobson, and Adam Fox, who each make $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. Dobson’s deal doesn’t run out until 2033.
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.
| 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 | Evan Bouchard | Edmonton Oilers | $10.5 million |
| 5 | Zach Werenski | Columbus Blue Jackets | $9.58 million |
| T-6 | Charles McAvoy | Boston Bruins | $9.5 million |
| T-6 | Seth Jones | Florida Panthers | $9.5 million |
| T-6 | Noah Dobson | Montreal Canadiens | $9.5 million |
| T-6 | Adam Fox | New York Rangers | $9.5 million |
| 10 | Darnell Nurse | Edmonton Oilers | $9.25 million |
| 11 | Roman Josi | Nashville Predators | $9.06 million |
| T-12 | Cale Makar | Colorado Avalanche | $9 million |
| T-12 | Jakob Chychrun | Washington Capitals | $9 million |
| T-12 | Dougie Hamilton | New Jersey Devils | $9 million |
| T-12 | Luke Hughes | New Jersey Devils | $9 million |
| 16 | Alex Pietrangelo | Vegas Golden Knights | $8.8 million |
| 17 | Moritz Seider | Detroit Red Wings | $8.55 million |
| T-18 | Mikhail Sergachev | Utah Hockey Club | $8.5 million |
| T-18 | Brock Faber | Minnesota Wild | $8.5 million |
| T-18 | Ivan Provorov | Columbus Blue Jackets | $8.5 million |
| 21 | Miro Heiskanen | Dallas Stars | $8.45 million |
| 22 | Owen Power | Buffalo Sabres | $8.35 million |
| T-23 | Brent Burns | Carolina Hurricanes | $8 million |
| T-23 | Jacob Trouba | Anaheim Ducks | $8 million |
| T-23 | Jake Sanderson | Ottawa Senators | $8 million |
| T-23 | Thomas Chabot | Ottawa Senators | $8 million |
| T-23 | John Carlson | Washington Capitals | $8 million |
| T-23 | Victor Hedman | Tampa Bay Lightning | $8 million |
- Updated: April 28, 2026
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