HIGHLIGHTS
- We’re taking a look at the top-10 highest-paid players in the league for 2026-27
- Numerous superstars are on the list, including Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov
- Read below to see the full list
The National Hockey League is one of the most entertaining leagues in the world, and there’s no shortage of superstars earning massive paydays. After all, these players put their bodies on the line every single night for a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. In this piece, we’re looking at the highest-paid NHL players by cap hit for the 2026-27 season.
The list features plenty of notable names. Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov will see his historic contract extension kick in next season, while Leon Draisaitl is also among the league’s top earners. Below, we’ll count down from No. 10 to No. 1.
All contract figures are courtesy of Spotrac.
#10 Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks — $11.6 Million
Vancouver Canucks fans likely won’t be thrilled to see Elias Pettersson ranked among the league’s highest-paid players, considering his production over the last two seasons. However, the Swedish forward will carry an $11.6 million cap hit for the next six years until he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2032.
Pettersson registered just 45 points in 2024-25 and followed that up with 51 points in 2025-26. The Canucks appear to be heading toward a rebuild, and Pettersson hasn’t exactly proven he’s a long-term cornerstone. Given the size of his contract, though, moving him won’t be easy.
#9 Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars — $12 Million
The Dallas Stars acquired Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes last spring, and he immediately signed an eight-year, $96 million extension that will pay him $12 million annually through 2033.
Rantanen had another productive campaign in 2025-26, scoring 22 goals while adding 55 assists as a key part of the Stars’ core. While he’s no longer posting 100-point seasons as he did with the Colorado Avalanche, the Finnish winger remains an irreplaceable piece for Dallas.
#8 Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights — $12 Million
Mitch Marner was shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal during the summer of 2025, signing an eight-year, $96 million contract in the process. He’ll earn $12 million next season, and Marner has already proven to be worth the investment.
The Canadian forward recorded 80 points, including 24 goals and 56 assists. Although those numbers weren’t quite at the level we saw during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Marner also played a smaller role offensively in Vegas and averaged his lowest ice time in seven seasons.
#7 Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets — $12 Million
Shortly before the 2025-26 season began, Kyle Connor signed an eight-year, $96 million extension with the Winnipeg Jets. Connor is the face of the franchise, and he’ll receive a significant raise after previously earning $7.14 million annually.
The increase is well deserved. Connor has posted back-to-back 90-point campaigns, finishing 2025-26 with 39 goals and 53 assists. He ranked second on the Jets in scoring behind only Mark Scheifele.
#6 Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers — $12.5 Million
It’s still difficult to comprehend that Connor McDavid isn’t the NHL’s highest-paid player, but that’s largely because he accepted a lower salary in order to help the Edmonton Oilers build a stronger roster around him.
Unfortunately for Edmonton, that strategy didn’t pay off in 2026 as the Oilers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Still, McDavid remains one of the greatest players to ever step onto NHL ice. The three-time Hart Trophy winner finished the 2025-26 campaign with 138 points and 90 assists while scoring 48 goals.
#5 Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche — $12.604 Million
Nathan MacKinnon is right alongside McDavid in the conversation for the best player in hockey, so it’s no surprise to see him among the league’s top earners.
MacKinnon will make $12.604 million in 2026-27 after another sensational campaign in which he led the Avalanche to the NHL’s best regular-season record. The superstar center scored a league-best 53 goals while finishing with 127 points, which ranked third overall. MacKinnon is the face of the Avalanche franchise and fully deserves his place on this list.
#4 Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs — $13.25 Million
Auston Matthews continues to be the cornerstone of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise, and he remains near the top of the NHL salary rankings with a $13.25 million cap hit.
However, the 2025-26 campaign was a nightmare for both Matthews and the Leafs. Toronto missed the playoffs, while Matthews posted a career-low 53 points before suffering a season-ending knee injury late in the year.
#3 Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights — $13.5 Million
Jack Eichel continues to establish himself as one of the league’s elite players, and his contract reflects that status. The Vegas Golden Knights star will earn $13.5 million next season after signing an eight-year, $108 million extension in October 2025.
The deal officially kicks in for 2026-27. Eichel finished this past season with 90 points, marking his second consecutive campaign with at least 90 points after posting 94 in 2024-25.
#2 Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers — $14 Million
While Connor McDavid may be the face of the Edmonton Oilers, the franchise would not have reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals without Leon Draisaitl.
The German superstar carried the NHL’s highest AAV during the 2025-26 season at $14 million, and he’ll earn the same amount again next year. Draisaitl once again delivered elite production, recording 97 points and extending his streak of seasons with at least 95 points to four straight years.
#1 Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild — $17 Million
Kirill Kaprizov was only the 41st highest-paid player in the NHL during the 2025-26 season, but he’ll jump all the way to No. 1 next year.
The Minnesota Wild superstar signed a massive extension last offseason that will pay him $17 million annually beginning in 2026-27, the highest AAV in NHL history. The deal runs through the 2033-34 season.
Kaprizov has certainly earned the massive payday. The Russian sniper finished fourth in the league in goals with 45 during the 2025-26 campaign while also adding 44 assists. He remains the driving force behind a Wild team that looks poised to contend in the Western Conference for years to come.
Full List of Highest-Paid NHL Players by Cap Hit (2026-27)
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirill Kaprizov | MIN | LW | $17,000,000 |
| 2 | Leon Draisaitl | EDM | C | $14,000,000 |
| 3 | Jack Eichel | VGK | C | $13,500,000 |
| 4 | Auston Matthews | TOR | C | $13,250,000 |
| 5 | Nathan MacKinnon | COL | C | $12,604,000 |
| 6 | Connor McDavid | EDM | C | $12,500,000 |
| T-7 | Kyle Connor | WPG | LW | $12,000,000 |
| T-7 | Mitchell Marner | VGK | RW | $12,000,000 |
| T-7 | Mikko Rantanen | DAL | RW | $12,000,000 |
| 10 | Elias Pettersson | VAN | C | $11,600,000 |
| 11 | Igor Shesterkin | NYR | G | $11,567,857 |
| T-12 | Erik Karlsson | PIT | D | $11,500,000 |
| T-12 | Martin Necas | COL | C | $11,500,000 |
| T-12 | William Nylander | TOR | C/RW | $11,500,000 |
| 15 | David Pastrnak | BOS | RW | $11,250,000 |
| T-16 | Rasmus Dahlin | BUF | D | $11,000,000 |
| T-16 | Drew Doughty | LAK | D | $11,000,000 |
| T-16 | Artemi Panarin | LAK | LW | $11,000,000 |
| 19 | Adrian Kempe | LAK | LW | $10,625,000 |
| 20 | Thomas Harley | DAL | D | $10,587,500 |
| T-21 | Evan Bouchard | EDM | D | $10,500,000 |
| T-21 | Jonathan Huberdeau | CGY | LW | $10,500,000 |
| T-23 | Aleksander Barkov | FLA | C | $10,000,000 |
| T-23 | Logan Cooley | UTA | C | $10,000,000 |
| 25 | Tyler Seguin | DAL | C | $9,850,000 |
| 26 | Sebastian Aho | CAR | LW | $9,750,000 |
| 27 | Zachary Werenski | CBJ | D | $9,583,333 |
| T-28 | Noah Dobson | MTL | D | $9,500,000 |
| T-28 | Adam Fox | NYR | D | $9,500,000 |
| T-28 | Seth Jones | FLA | D | $9,500,000 |
| T-28 | Nikita Kucherov | TBL | RW | $9,500,000 |
| T-28 | Charlie McAvoy | BOS | D | $9,500,000 |
| T-28 | Brayden Point | TBL | C | $9,500,000 |
| T-28 | Mark Stone | VGK | RW | $9,500,000 |
| T-28 | Matthew Tkachuk | FLA | LW | $9,500,000 |
| T-28 | Andrei Vasilevskiy | TBL | G | $9,500,000 |
| 37 | Darnell Nurse | EDM | D | $9,250,000 |
| 38 | Mathew Barzal | NYI | C | $9,150,000 |
| 39 | Roman Josi | NSH | D | $9,059,000 |
| T-40 | Jakob Chychrun | WAS | D | $9,000,000 |
| T-40 | Jake Guentzel | TBL | C/LW | $9,000,000 |
| T-40 | Dougie Hamilton | NJD | D | $9,000,000 |
| T-40 | Luke Hughes | NJD | D | $9,000,000 |
| T-40 | Jackson Lacombe | ANA | D | $9,000,000 |
| T-40 | Cale Makar | COL | D | $9,000,000 |
| 46 | Lane Hutson | MTL | D | $8,850,000 |
| T-47 | Timo Meier | NJD | LW | $8,800,000 |
| T-47 | Alex Pietrangelo | VGK | D | $8,800,000 |
| 49 | Travis Konecny | PHI | C/LW | $8,750,000 |
| T-50 | Sidney Crosby | PIT | C | $8,700,000 |
| T-50 | Dylan Larkin | DET | C | $8,700,000 |
The table above shows the top 50 highest-paid NHL players by cap hit heading into the 2026-27 season. Kaprizov’s $17 million AAV sets a new league high, with Draisaitl and Eichel rounding out the top three. A handful of stars carry matching cap hits, which is why you’ll notice ties at several spots on the list.
