NHL Rich List: Who are the highest-paid players in the 2023/2024 season?

With a relatively light free-agent class this year, things have been a little conservative on the money front in the NHL this year. Having said that, there have been some notable changes to the highest-paid list going into the 2023/24 season.

Of course, it can be tricky to get a true reflection of player income, given we don’t know the nature of endorsements and other off-ice earnings. But looking purely at contracts, these are this season’s highest-paid players.

Auston Matthews contract negotiations with the Maple Leafs have been widely discussed, so it should come as no surprise to see the center at the top of this list. His new contract, valued at $13.25m annually sees him move up to the top position back from seventh last year.

Prior to Matthews negotiations last month, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon was set to top this list with his $12.6m contract. He is currently in the second year of his eight-year contract with the Avalanche. 

Given that he’s arguably the biggest name and best player in the NHL, it’s perhaps a little surprising to some that Conor McDavid is only third on the list with his $12.5m contract. Let’s not forget though, this is the same contract eight-year contract he signed back in 2017.

Winger Artemi Panarin continues to be handy pick up for the Rangers, despite his high $11.6m salary. The 31-year-old has recorded three 90-point campaigns since he signed in 2019.

Erik Karlsson is the highest paid defenseman in the NHL and just a few years ago could claim to be the third-highest player overall with his $11.5m contract. The last couple of years have been tricky and Karlsson, a San Jose Sharks veteran, found himself traded to the Penguins over the summer.

Bruins Winger David Pastrnak capitalized on his stellar 22/23 season earlier this year when he signed an eight-year contract guaranteeing him 11.25m annually.

You could say the Maple Leafs have got their money’s worth out of John Tavares. Signing a $77m contract over seven years back in 2018, Tavares has consistently delivered for his childhood club and is coming off an 80-point season last year.

The only other defenseman in the top 10, Drew Doughty is currently enjoying the fifth of his eight year $88m contract. Though he’s coming off the back of his best ever offensive year, it’s fair to say he’s currently not providing $11m a year kind of value to the Kings.

The Maple Leafs don’t mind paying for quality it must be said, as three of their stars have made it to the top 10 this year. Marner signed his $10.9m per year contract in 2019 and he’s only improved in that time, recording a 99-point season last year.

Once again the league’s highest-paid goaltender, Carey Price doesn’t have to do too much to earn his 10.5m a year from the Canadiens, and has played only five games since the start of the 2021 season. Of course, we’re sure he’d love to be back out there on the ice, but it’s a bit of a mess for the Canadiens.

For the same price, winger Jonathan Huberdeau has not exactly set the world on fire in Calgary either. Huberdeau was traded from the Florida Panthers on the back of a sensational 21/22 season, but didn’t really earn his $10.5m last year, it must be said.

Now approaching his final contract year – an $80m over eight-year deal – Kopitar has been consistent for the Kings. While we probably won’t see him on this list again, the 36-year-old is coming off the back of a top year that saw him take home the Lady Byng Trophy.

In a different boat is Jack Eichel, who is in his sixth year at $10m a season. Eichel delivered consistently for the Golden Knights Stanley Cup-winning campaign last year and seems to be getting better each year. At 26, he might find himself moving up in a couple of years.

The second goalie to feature here, Bobrovsky proved he was worth his $10m a year salary as he helped keep his side’s Stanley Cup dreams alive until the final last season, overcoming a bad start to the year where he struggled to even get a start.

And finally for this list, we have another $10m Florida man, Barkov has been a fantastic two-way player for the Panthers. Last season, he registered 78 points in 68 games, and also found himself in the top 10 in voting for the Selke Trophy for the forward who plays the best defense.