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Monday, April 28, 2025

The 25 Highest-Paid NHL Players for 2023-24

  • The Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon is the 2023-24 season’s highest-paid player.
  • The reigning Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights have two entries on the list.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars in the first period at Ball Arena.
Michael Ciaglo-USA TODAY Sports

Since remaining flat for three straight seasons from 2019 through 2022, the NHL salary cap has continued to climb marginally and is now at a record $83.5 million per team for the 2023-24 season. 

The league’s teams have constructed their opening night rosters under its current constraints and will pay their players accordingly. Still, the cap could see a substantial boost to $88 million for the following season.

Topping the list of the NHL’s highest on-ice earners for 2023-24 is the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon, who signed a record eight-year, $100.8 million extension after the Avs’ Stanley Cup win in 2022. 

Speaking of Stanley Cup champions, the reigning Vegas Golden Knights feature two entries: Alex Pietrangelo and captain Mark Stone.

Reigning league MVP Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers is tied for 17th in the league for 2023 salary due to the front-loaded nature of the eight-year, $100 million extension he signed in 2017 — though he still ranks second in the league by cap hit and average annual value.

The same concept applies to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews, who ranks fourth in the league in cap hit but doesn’t rank in the top 25 for 2023 salary at all; that’s bound to change next season when the record four-year, $53 million extension he signed in August kicks in.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who signed an eight-year, $88 million extension on the eve of the season, will also appear on next year’s list.

Here are the top 25 highest-paid NHL players by total compensation for the 2023-24 season. Data was compiled from CapFriendly.

RankPlayerTeamCap HitCompensation
1Nathan MacKinnonColorado Avalanche$12.6 million$16.5 million
2David PastrnakBoston Bruins$11.25 million$13 million
3Dougie HamiltonNew Jersey Devils$9 million$12.6 million
4 (tie)Seth JonesChicago Blackhawks$9.5 million$12.5 million
Alex OvechkinWashington Capitals$9.5 million$12.5 million
Kirill KaprizovMinnesota Wild$9 million$12.5 million
7Alex PietrangeloVegas Golden Knights$8.8 million$12.3 million
8 (tie)Aleksander BarkovFlorida Panthers$10 million$12 million
Zach WerenskiColumbus Blue Jackets$9.58 million$12 million
Adam FoxNew York Rangers$9.5 million$12 million
Timo MeierNew Jersey Devils$8.8 million$12 million
12 (tie)Erik KarlssonPittsburgh Penguins$11.5 million$11.5 million
Roope HintzDallas Stars$8.45 million$11.5 million
14 (tie)Brayden PointTampa Bay Lightning$9.5 million$11.25 million
Matthew TkachukFlorida Panthers$9.5 million$11.25 million
16Mikhail SergachevTampa Bay Lightning$8.5 million$11.05 million
17 (tie)Connor McDavidEdmonton Oilers$12.5 million$11 million
Artemi PanarinNew York Rangers$11.64 million$11 million
Drew DoughtyLos Angeles Kings$11 million$11 million
Charlie McAvoyBoston Bruins$9.5 million$11 million
Mark StoneVegas Golden Knights$9.5 million$11 million
Cale MakarColorado Avalanche$9 million$11 million
23 (tie)Jonathan HuberdeauCalgary Flames$10.5 million$10.5 million
Brady TkachukOttawa Senators$8.21 million $10.5 million
25Darnell NurseEdmonton Oilers$9.25 million$10.4 million
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