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NHL salaries keep going up, and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar became the third player to set a record this offseason.
Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov was going to enter this season with a record $17 million cap hit. But he was passed by Anaheim forward Leo Carlsson, who averages $18 million in the Philadelphia Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet that was matched by the Ducks.
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The San Jose Sharks topped that with a five-year, $94 million extension ($18.8 million average) for Macklin Celebrini, and Makar topped that again with his eight-year, $163.2 million extension ($20.4 million average) signed on Aug. 28. He’s the first NHL player with a $20 million cap hit and came in just short of the $20.8 million maximum.
Both of their deals kick in during the 2027-28 season.
The NHL salary cap has been spiking since the flat cap COVID era, allowing for the rapid rise in individual contracts. The offer sheet to 21-year-old Carlsson also helped fuel the increase. The top average in 2022-23 had been $12.5 million by Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, who now has been passed by seven different players
Here’s a look at the highest-paid NHL players by cap hit, salary and position (figures from puckpedia.com):
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson will average $18 million in his five-year contract.
Highest-paid NHL players in 2026-27 by cap hit
Note: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will average $20.4 million and Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will average $18.8 million, starting in 2027-28.
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▶ Top 50 plus ties
C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $18,000,000
LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $17,000,000
C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $15,000,000
C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $14,000,000
C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $13,500,000
C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $13,250,000
C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,604,000
C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $12,500,000
LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $12,000,000
RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $12,000,000
LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $12,000000
C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,600,000
C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $11,500,000
C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $11,500,000
D Erik…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nhls-highest-paid-players-2026-230718563.html
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Publish date : 2026-08-28 23:07:00
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