Top 10 highest-paid NHL players in 2026 ranked by annual salary: Leo Carlsson, Kirill Kaprizov, Connor Bedard and more. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The growing salary cap has given franchises the opportunity to retain top-end talent with huge long-term contracts. The most common comparison point for player salaries is the annual average value (AAV), or cap hit, which provides a clear picture of what teams value their biggest stars at. The new rankings feature a mix of established superstars and young franchise cornerstones heading into the 2026–27 season.Leo Carlsson’s landmark extension with the Anaheim Ducks has him atop the salary race, with Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov and Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard close behind. Combined, these deals represent the league’s increasing investment in top players who can lead teams on and off the ice.
Top 10 highest-paid NHL players in 2026 and their annual salaries
The rankings below are based on each player’s average annual value (AAV), the annual salary cap hit of each NHL contract.RankPlayerTeamPositionAnnual Salary (AAV)1Leo CarlssonAnaheim DucksCenter$18,000,0002Kirill KaprizovMinnesota WildLeft Wing$17,000,0003Connor BedardChicago BlackhawksCenter$15,000,0004Leon DraisaitlEdmonton OilersCenter$14,000,0005Jack EichelVegas Golden KnightsCenter$13,500,0006Auston MatthewsToronto Maple LeafsCenter$13,250,0007Nathan MacKinnonColorado AvalancheCenter$12,600,0008Connor McDavidEdmonton OilersCenter$12,500,0009Mitch MarnerVegas Golden KnightsRight Wing$12,000,00010Mikko RantanenDallas StarsRight Wing$12,000,000
Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks)
Anaheim Ducks matched a five-year, $90 million offer sheet for Swedish center Leo Carlsson, who is the NHL’s top-paid player at $18 million a year. Carlsson, the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, quickly emerged as Anaheim’s building block, his size, skill and goal-scoring ability made him one of hockey’s most promising young stars, earning him the league’s richest annual contract entering the 2026-27 season.
Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild)
Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov is second with a $17 million AAV after his record-setting eight-year extension worth $136 million, the dynamic winger is still one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NHL and still the face of the Wild franchise. His elite scoring consistency and leadership earned him one of the biggest contracts ever handed out to a winger.
Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks)
Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks (C) signed a $15 million, five years Bedard was the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and has quickly become the centerpiece of the Blackhawks’ rebuild. He won the Calder Trophy early in his career and has been one of the next generational superstars in hockey with his elite offensive production.
Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)
Leon Draisaitl is still one of the highest-paid players in hockey at an AAV of $14M. After years as an elite producer alongside Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers star is entering the first season of his eight-year, $112 million extension. Draisaitl is the most complete offensive player in the league and still a former Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy winner anchoring Edmonton’s Stanley Cup hopes.
Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights)
Vegas Golden Knights captain Jack Eichel is fifth with an average annual value of $13.5 million, since then, Eichel has developed into one of the NHL’s top two-way centers, helping Vegas win the Stanley Cup. His speed, playmaking and leadership still justify his place among the league’s highest-paid players.
Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Auston Matthews, $13.25 million AAV. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain is one of hockey’s most prolific goal scorers and has also won multiple Rocket Richard Trophy titles in his career. Matthews also won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s MVP and remains the leader of the Toronto attack. His elite finishing ability, leadership and consistency have made him one of the NHL’s biggest stars and highest earners.
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon ranks seventh, with an annual salary of $12.6 million. MacKinnon is a Stanley Cup champion and one of the fastest skaters in the NHL. He’s made a name for himself as an elite playmaker who can dominate games in any situation. The eight-year extension is a testament to Colorado’s long-term investment in one of the league’s premier franchise players whose relentless style keeps the Avalanche’s championship hopes alive.
Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
Connor McDavid is eighth with a $12.5 million AAV, a figure many think is too low for the league’s best player in today’s contract market. He’s the captain of the Edmonton Oilers and a multiple-time winner of the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy, whose incredible speed, vision and offensive production have redefined modern hockey. Many of the newer contracts now eclipse his annual salary, but McDavid remains the standard for on-ice excellence in the league.
Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights)
Mitch Marner, who has an annual salary of $12 million, has joined the Vegas Golden Knights and is ninth. Widely regarded as one of the NHL’s top playmakers, Marner is consistently among the league leaders in assists and contributes on both special teams. His ability to create scoring chances and good defensive awareness has made him one of the most complete forwards in hockey and a valuable addition to Vegas.
Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars)
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen closes out the top 10 with a $12 million AAV. The Finnish star has grown into one of the NHL’s best power forwards with his size, puckhandling and consistent production. Since leaving for Dallas, Rantanen has been an elite scorer, helping to bolster one of the better lineups in the Western Conference entering the 2026-27 season.
Highest NHL contracts behind the league’s biggest annual salaries
These rankings are based on Annual Average Value, but often tell a different story than total contract value. Long-term deals signed by established superstars still rank among the richest contracts in NHL history, even if they don’t always carry the highest cap hit. Kirill Kaprizov has the biggest overall contract in the league right now, but Leon Draisaitl and Jack Eichel are also two of the biggest long-term contracts in hockey.
Largest NHL contract values
RankPlayerTeamContract ValueContract Length1Kirill KaprizovMinnesota Wild$136 million8 Years2Leon DraisaitlEdmonton Oilers$112 million8 Years3Jack EichelVegas Golden Knights$108 million8 Years4Nathan MacKinnonColorado Avalanche$100.8 million8 Years5Kyle ConnorWinnipeg Jets$96 million8 YearsLonger deals provide players financial security and allow teams to spread cap charges over multiple seasons. Leo Carlsson’s five-year extension, however, has the highest annual salary but is worth less overall than Kaprizov’s record-setting agreement.
Longest active NHL contracts
PlayerTeamContract LengthSebastian AhoCarolina Hurricanes8 YearsAleksander BarkovFlorida Panthers8 YearsSam BennettFlorida Panthers8 YearsMathew BarzalNew York Islanders8 YearsMichael AndersonLos Angeles Kings8 YearsEight-year deals are still the longest term players can sign to stay with their current team, and they continue to be the currency of choice in the NHL’s biggest contracts.
Highest total cash earnings during the 2026–27 season
PlayerTeamTotal CashLeo CarlssonAnaheim Ducks$20.8 millionKirill KaprizovMinnesota Wild$19.1 millionJack EichelVegas Golden Knights$17.7 millionConnor BedardChicago Blackhawks$17 millionLeon DraisaitlEdmonton Oilers$16.5 millionMany NHL contracts include signing bonuses and other scheduled payments that result in cash earnings being considerably higher than a player’s annual cap hit.
Biggest NHL signing bonuses
PlayerTeamSigning BonusKirill KaprizovMinnesota Wild$128 millionLeon DraisaitlEdmonton Oilers$104 millionNathan MacKinnonColorado Avalanche$85.34 millionLeo CarlssonAnaheim Ducks$85.3 millionIgor ShesterkinNew York Rangers$85 millionSigning bonuses have become a popular way for teams to structure blockbuster deals and give players guaranteed money, regardless of what happens to the salary cap in future years.
Highest percentage of NHL salary cap
PlayerTeamAAV % of Salary CapLeo CarlssonAnaheim Ducks17.31%Kirill KaprizovMinnesota Wild16.35%Nathan MacKinnonColorado Avalanche15.09%Auston MatthewsToronto Maple Leafs15.06%Leon DraisaitlEdmonton Oilers14.66%The new era of NHL player pay starts in 2026-27 with record-setting contracts that show the league’s financial growth continues. Leo Carlsson’s $18 million per year salary now sets the standard across the NHL, with Kirill Kaprizov, Connor Bedard, Leon Draisaitl and Jack Eichel all hot on his heels with blockbuster extensions of their own. Not surprisingly, established stars like Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner and Mikko Rantanen still rank among hockey’s highest-paid, a reflection of the value of franchise-defining talent. As the salary cap is expected to increase in the coming years, today’s record-setting contracts could be the blueprint for an even more lucrative generation of NHL contracts.