HIGHLIGHTS
- We’re taking a look at the top-five highest-paid NHL players of all time
- Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are right up there
- Read below for the full list
NHL salaries have exploded over the past two decades, but the player with the richest contract isn’t always the player who has earned the most money throughout his career. Longevity, multiple extensions, and sustained elite play all contribute to career earnings.
Here’s a look at the five players who have made the most money in NHL history.
All contract earnings courtesy of Spotrac.
1. Sidney Crosby — $173.3 million
It’s no surprise to see Sidney Crosby at the top of the list. One of the best players ever, Sid the Kid has now played in the NHL for 21 seasons and counting. What’s even more impressive is that Crosby has suited up for only the Pittsburgh Penguins in his prestigious career, leading them to three Stanley Cup titles.
Being a superstar helps him make a lot of money, as Crosby has earned $173.3 million in his career. Even in Year 21, Crosby still posted 74 points and helped the Pens make the playoffs, although they bowed out in the first round. He currently makes $8.7 million per season, and Crosby will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 campaign. He’s also won two Olympic gold medals and scored the winning goal in 2010 against the USA, one of the most iconic moments in Canada’s history.
2. Alex Ovechkin — $170.7 million
Playing for the same franchise must be the recipe for making boatloads of money in the National Hockey League. Coming in at No. 2 is Alexander Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals franchise icon who just became the all-time leading scorer in NHL history in the 2024-25 season, surpassing Wayne Gretzky.
Ovi has contemplated retirement but is still considering coming back for another season, though it’s unclear whether it’ll be with the Caps. Ovi’s career earnings total $170.7 million, and his five-year, $47.5 million deal with Washington just expired. His longevity is even more impressive than Crosby’s, as he came into the NHL in 2004. A 13-year deal earlier in his career helped Ovi rack up the money.
3. Evgeni Malkin — $157.1 million
Another Penguins franchise cornerstone makes the list. Evgeni Malkin has been Crosby’s running mate for two decades, and he’s also made a whopping $157.1 million in his NHL career. The big Russian just signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal to return to Pittsburgh.
Malkin came into the league in the same year as Crosby, and he’s consistently put up solid numbers. He’s coming off a 61-point season, scoring 19 times and tallying 42 assists. He’s a massive reason the Pens were able to capture three Stanley Cups.
4. Drew Doughty — $143.9 million
With career earnings approaching $144 million, Drew Doughty ranks fourth on this list. The veteran defenseman has spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Kings after being selected second overall in the 2008 NHL Draft. Doughty developed into one of the league’s best blueliners, helping the Kings win Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 while winning the Norris Trophy in 2016.
He has also represented Canada on the international stage, winning two Olympic gold medals. His longevity, elite play, and multiple long-term contracts have helped him become one of the highest-paid players in NHL history.
5. Anze Kopitar — $143.2 Million
Anze Kopitar rounds out the top five with just over $143 million in career earnings, all of which have come with the Kings as well. Drafted 11th overall in 2005, Kopitar quickly established himself as one of the NHL’s best two-way centers and has served as the face of the franchise for nearly two decades.
He helped lead Los Angeles to Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014, while also winning two Selke Trophies as the league’s top defensive forward and two Lady Byng Trophies. His consistency, leadership, and long-term contract extensions have secured his place among the NHL’s all-time career earnings leaders. Kopitar called it a career after the 2025-26 season, and the Kings gave him an emotional yet powerful sendoff.
Full List of Top 50 NHL Career Earners
| Rank | Player | Position | Career Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sidney Crosby | C | $173,290,244 |
| 2 | Alex Ovechkin | LW | $170,720,893 |
| 3 | Evgeni Malkin | C | $157,170,893 |
| 4 | Drew Doughty | D | $143,929,878 |
| 5 | Anze Kopitar | C | $143,250,000 |
| 6 | Steven Stamkos | C | $141,925,000 |
| 7 | Erik Karlsson | D | $138,929,878 |
| 8 | Jaromir Jagr | RW | $135,382,322 |
| 9 | Vincent Lecavalier | RW | $133,383,338 |
| 10 | Shea Weber | D | $132,831,000 |
| 11 | Carey Price | G | $131,050,000 |
| 12 | Patrick Kane | RW | $125,387,195 |
| 13 | Ryan Suter | D | $123,767,666 |
| 14 | John Tavares | C | $121,541,463 |
| 15 | Connor McDavid | C | $119,875,000 |
| 16 | Tyler Seguin | C | $116,000,000 |
| 17 | Nicklas Backstrom | C | $115,550,000 |
| 18 | Nathan MacKinnon | C | $113,987,500 |
| 19 | Chris Pronger | D | $113,950,000 |
| 20 | Zach Parise | LW | $113,922,250 |
| 21 | Artemi Panarin | LW | $113,675,805 |
| 22 | Sergei Bobrovsky | G | $113,366,829 |
| 23 | Joe Thornton | C | $111,541,561 |
| 24 | Jonathan Toews | C | $111,062,195 |
| 25 | Alex Pietrangelo | D | $109,725,000 |
| 26 | Brad Richards | C | $107,412,116 |
| 27 | Brent Burns | D | $106,550,000 |
| 28 | Roberto Luongo | G | $106,455,148 |
| 29 | Henrik Lundqvist | G | $104,908,390 |
| 30 | Auston Matthews | C | $103,925,000 |
| 31 | Victor Hedman | D | $103,200,000 |
| 32 | Jamie Benn | LW | $103,194,512 |
| 33 | Marian Gaborik | RW | $103,025,013 |
| 34 | Leon Draisaitl | C | $102,848,540 |
| 35 | Logan Couture | C | $101,234,756 |
| 36 | Kris Letang | D | $100,803,780 |
| 37 | Jack Eichel | C | $100,687,500 |
| 38 | Zdeno Chara | D | $100,413,695 |
| 39 | Claude Giroux | C | $100,048,780 |
| 40 | Jeff Skinner | LW | $99,461,460 |
| 41 | Patrice Bergeron | C | $97,784,153 |
| 42 | Matt Duchene | C | $97,374,663 |
| 43 | Brent Seabrook | D | $97,327,200 |
| 44 | Patrick Marleau | LW | $97,017,172 |
| 45 | Mitchell Marner | C | $96,513,000 |
| 46 | Jarome Iginla | RW | $96,122,561 |
| 47 | Aleksander Barkov | C | $95,987,500 |
| 48 | Dougie Hamilton | D | $95,875,000 |
| 49 | Roman Josi | D | $95,821,695 |
| 50 | Ryan Getzlaf | C | $95,471,766 |
The table above shows the top 50 NHL players by career earnings through the 2026-27 season. Crosby leads the way at $173.3 million, with Ovechkin and Malkin right behind him to round out the top three. Wayne Gretzky doesn’t appear on the list, since most of his earnings predate the cap era and Spotrac’s tracked data.
