The NHL's 25 highest-paid players for 2025-26: Where Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner rank on list

NHL salaries haven't risen nearly as rapidly as some other leagues, but more players than ever are making north of $10 million per year — and the number is expected to continue to rise in the years ahead.

With Mitch Marner headlining a strong free agent class and Edmonton's Connor McDavid due for a new contract at some point in the next year, another wave of lucrative deals is set to alter the NHL's richest contract leaderboard.

For now, it's actually another Oiler who can call himself the highest-paid player in hockey.

Here's a complete look at the NHL's highest-paid players for 2025-26 and largest overall contracts.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

NHL's 25 highest-paid players in 2025-26

Eighteen NHL players are set to make $10 million in 2025-26, with Oilers star Leon Draisaitl topping the charts at $14 million per year. After Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Mikko Rantanen round out the five NHL players making at least $12 million annually.

Rantanen's new extension with the Stars kicks in next season and makes him the NHL's fifth highest-paid player, while Mitch Marner is almost certain to join the leaderboard when he signs his free-agent deal. 

Rangers star Igor Shesterkin ranks as the highest-paid goaltender at $11.5 million per year, as he and Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky are the only goaltenders making at least $10 million annually. 

Here are the 25 highest-paid players in the NHL for 2025-26: 

* — Under contract but not expected to play hockey again.

MORE: Ranking the NHL's top free agents

Richest contracts in the NHL

Draisaitl also owns the NHL's largest contract in terms of total value at $112 million over eight years. Draisaitl signed the deal in September 2024 to extend his tenure with the Oilers.

With Sidney Crosby's deal ending in 2025, there are four active deals of at least $100 million. Three of those players have combined for five MVP awards, but the other — Shea Weber — hasn't played in the NHL since 2021 and has already been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Weber's rights are currently owned by the Blackhawks.

After the 2025-26 season, Weber, McDavid, Artemi Panarin, and an inactive Carey Price will all see their deals expire. Here are the 15 largest active NHL contracts:

MORE: Ranking the best landing spots for Mitch Marner

* — Under contract but not expected to play hockey again.