Top hockey players are cashing in on rising NHL revenues after a summer spending spree

In the NHL offseason, top players like Leo Carlsson, Macklin Celebrini, and Cale Makar are reaping the benefits of rising revenues. After Carlsson received a $90 million offer from the Philadelphia Flyers, it sparked a wave of high-profile deals across the league. Makar broke the record with an $163.2 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche, while Celebrini signed a $94 million extension with the San Jose Sharks.

The salary cap has increased from $81.5 million in 2019 to $104 million this season and $113.5 million for the 2027-28 season, leading to significant salary growth for players. In 2005, the cap was $39 million, with no player earning more than $7.8 million per year. Now, players earn 50% of hockey-related revenue under the collective bargaining agreement.

Makar's contract is the highest in league history, and other players like Hughes and Kucherov could surpass it soon. While the NFL and NBA have more than 100 players making over $20.4 million, hockey is catching up with players like Makar earning $20.4 million annually. The hard cap limits a player's earnings to 20% of the cap, but the desire to win and superstars like Makar, MacKinnon, and Necas will help teams compete for the Stanley Cup.