Who are the NHL's highest-paid players in 2026-27? See full breakdown
Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson is the highest-paid player in 2026-27, but Macklin Celebrini and Cale Makar will pass him next season.
The NHL is experiencing a record-breaking surge in player salaries, with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar setting a new standard. Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, originally set to have a $17 million cap hit, was surpassed by Anaheim forward Leo Carlsson, who signed an eight-year, $90 million offer sheet. The San Jose Sharks then matched that with a five-year, $94 million extension for Macklin Celebrini, while Makar himself broke the record with a remarkable eight-year, $163.2 million deal ($20.4 million average).
These deals, starting in the 2027-28 season, signify the significant rise in individual player contracts, driven by the increasing NHL salary cap. The top average in the 2022-23 season stood at $12.5 million, surpassed by seven different players this year. Makar's new deal makes him the first NHL player to reach the $20 million cap hit, nearing the $20.8 million maximum.
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