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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.
| Rank | Player | Team | Cap Hit | Compensation |
| 1 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | $12.6 million | $16.5 million |
| 2 | David Pastrnak | Boston Bruins | $11.25 million | $13 million |
| 3 | Dougie Hamilton | New Jersey Devils | $9 million | $12.6 million |
| 4 (tie) | Seth Jones | Chicago Blackhawks | $9.5 million | $12.5 million |
| Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | $9.5 million | $12.5 million | |
| Kirill Kaprizov | Minnesota Wild | $9 million | $12.5 million | |
| 7 | Alex Pietrangelo | Vegas Golden Knights | $8.8 million | $12.3 million |
| 8 (tie) | Aleksander Barkov | Florida Panthers | $10 million | $12 million |
| Zach Werenski | Columbus Blue Jackets | $9.58 million | $12 million | |
| Adam Fox | New York Rangers | $9.5 million | $12 million | |
| Timo Meier | New Jersey Devils | $8.8 million | $12 million | |
| 12 (tie) | Erik Karlsson | Pittsburgh Penguins | $11.5 million | $11.5 million |
| Roope Hintz | Dallas Stars | $8.45 million | $11.5 million | |
| 14 (tie) | Brayden Point | Tampa Bay Lightning | $9.5 million | $11.25 million |
| Matthew Tkachuk | Florida Panthers | $9.5 million | $11.25 million | |
| 16 | Mikhail Sergachev | Tampa Bay Lightning | $8.5 million | $11.05 million |
| 17 (tie) | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | $12.5 million | $11 million |
| Artemi Panarin | New York Rangers | $11.64 million | $11 million | |
| Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings | $11 million | $11 million | |
| Charlie McAvoy | Boston Bruins | $9.5 million | $11 million | |
| Mark Stone | Vegas Golden Knights | $9.5 million | $11 million | |
| Cale Makar | Colorado Avalanche | $9 million | $11 million | |
| 23 (tie) | Jonathan Huberdeau | Calgary Flames | $10.5 million | $10.5 million |
| Brady Tkachuk | Ottawa Senators | $8.21 million | $10.5 million | |
| 25 | Darnell Nurse | Edmonton Oilers | $9.25 million | $10.4 million |
