The NHL's 2025-26 season marks a watershed moment in professional hockey economics. With the league's salary cap climbing to $95 million and television rights deals pumping unprecedented revenue into team coffers, player compensation has reached levels that seemed impossible just a decade ago. We've analyzed the current contract landscape to identify the ten players commanding the highest Average Annual Value (AAV) salaries - the standard metric that determines true player compensation across multi-year deals.

What emerges from the data is striking: eighteen players now clear the $10 million annual threshold, and the gap between superstar earnings and league average has never been wider. The figures below reflect verified contract values for the 2025-26 season, with actual salary breakdowns included where they diverge significantly from AAV calculations. These contracts represent more than money - they signal how NHL franchises value specific skills in today's game, from two-way dominance to elite goaltending to pure goal-scoring prowess.

How We Ranked the Highest-Paid Players

AAV serves as the fairest comparison point because NHL contracts frequently front-load or back-load actual cash payments. A player might receive $16 million in year three of a deal but carry a $12 million cap hit based on the contract's total value divided by its length. We've used AAV as our primary ranking criterion while noting instances where 2025-26 actual salaries paint a different picture of immediate compensation.

The rankings also reveal strategic choices by players and teams. Some superstars maximize short-term earnings. Others sacrifice immediate dollars for cap flexibility that helps management build championship rosters. A few contracts reflect the moment they were signed - deals inked three years ago that look like bargains now, or recent extensions that set new market ceilings. The NHL's projected salary cap growth to $113.5 million by 2027-28 means these figures will continue climbing as revenue streams expand.

The Top 10 Highest Paid NHL Players In The World 2026:

1. Leon Draisaitl

Leon Draisaitl sits atop the NHL's salary hierarchy at $14 million AAV, though his actual 2025-26 payday reaches $16.5 million. The Edmonton Oilers locked down the German center with an eight-year, $112 million extension that kicked in during the 2025-26 season, making him the league's highest earner when the ink dried. Draisaitl captured the Hart Trophy in 2019-20 and hasn't slowed since, posting four straight 100-plus point campaigns that showcase his offensive consistency.

During the 2024-25 season, Draisaitl tallied 52 goals and 54 assists across 71 games - numbers that earned him runner-up status in Hart Trophy voting. His partnership with Connor McDavid has become one of hockey's most productive tandems, propelling Edmonton to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2024 and 2025. Both times the Oilers fell to the Florida Panthers, leaving championship hardware as the final achievement missing from Draisaitl's resume.

At 30 years old, Draisaitl shows no decline in production. His shot release ranks among the NHL's quickest, and his vision in tight spaces creates scoring chances that lesser players can't manufacture. The contract's structure - heavily front-loaded with the $16.5 million 2025-26 salary - rewards Draisaitl for years of carrying Edmonton's offense while McDavid drew defensive attention. Edmonton management bet that Draisaitl's prime years align with the team's championship window, a calculation that looks increasingly sound as the Oilers continue contending.

2. Auston Matthews

The Toronto Maple Leafs center commands $13.25 million AAV, with $15.2 million hitting his bank account for the 2025-26 season under a four-year, $53 million deal. Matthews won the Hart Trophy in 2022 and has established himself as one of hockey's most lethal pure goal-scorers - a reputation built on two 60-goal seasons that demonstrated his ability to finish from anywhere in the offensive zone.

Injuries limited Matthews to 67 games during 2024-25, but he still managed 33 goals and 78 points despite the reduced workload. The 27-year-old Arizona native possesses a shot release so quick that goaltenders often react only after the puck has crossed the goal line. His wrist shot generates power from minimal windup, making him deadly on rush chances and power plays alike.

Matthews serves as Toronto's offensive cornerstone and one of the NHL's most marketable athletes, drawing endorsement deals that supplement his on-ice earnings. The Maple Leafs structured his contract to maximize short-term flexibility rather than long-term commitment, reflecting both the organization's championship urgency and Matthews' desire to potentially test free agency. His goal-scoring touch remains elite, and when healthy, few players can match his ability to convert scoring chances into goals.

3. Nathan MacKinnon

Nathan MacKinnon's eight-year, $100.6 million extension carries a $12.6 million AAV, though the Colorado Avalanche center receives $16.05 million for 2025-26 under the contract's front-loaded payment structure. MacKinnon captured his first Hart Trophy in 2024 after years of finishing high in voting, then placed fourth the following season - consistent recognition that reflects his sustained excellence.

When signed in 2022, MacKinnon's deal briefly made him the NHL's highest-paid player before subsequent contracts pushed him down the rankings. The 29-year-old Canadian combines explosive skating ability with elite two-way play, serving as the engine that powers Colorado's attack. His speed through the neutral zone creates odd-man rushes, while his defensive commitment makes him a complete player rather than a one-dimensional scorer.

MacKinnon's work ethic has become legendary throughout the league. His off-season training regimen sets standards that other players attempt to emulate, and his physical conditioning allows him to maintain top-end speed deep into games when opponents tire. He was the driving force behind Colorado's 2022 Stanley Cup championship, finally capturing the title that had eluded him despite years of individual excellence. The Avalanche built their roster around MacKinnon's unique skillset, and the investment has paid dividends in both regular season dominance and playoff success.

4. Connor McDavid

Hockey's consensus best player earns just $12.5 million AAV after signing a team-friendly two-year, $25 million extension in October 2024. McDavid receives $14 million for 2025-26, deliberately accepting below-market compensation to provide Edmonton with salary cap flexibility for roster construction. The three-time Hart Trophy winner could command significantly more on the open market, but his contract sacrifice reflects singular focus on delivering a Stanley Cup to Edmonton.

McDavid's speed remains unmatched in the modern NHL. His ability to accelerate through defensive coverage creates breakaway chances that other players can't generate, while his vision allows him to thread passes through traffic that appear impossible until the puck arrives on a teammate's stick. He's recorded multiple seasons exceeding 100 assists, production levels rarely seen in the contemporary NHL.

The contract decision stands in stark contrast to other superstars who maximize earnings regardless of team impact. McDavid's willingness to leave money on the table demonstrates his commitment to championship glory over personal wealth accumulation. The Edmonton captain has individual hardware - Hart Trophies, Art Ross Trophies, scoring titles - but the Stanley Cup remains the achievement that would cement his legacy as hockey's greatest player. His reduced cap hit has allowed Edmonton to retain Leon Draisaitl while adding supporting pieces, a roster construction approach that brings the Oilers closer to ultimate victory.

5. Mitchell Marner

Mitchell Marner commands $12 million AAV with $15 million arriving in 2025-26 after joining the Vegas Golden Knights via sign-and-trade from Toronto. The eight-year, $96 million contract rewards Marner's career-high 120 points during the 2023-24 season, production that demonstrated his evolution from complementary scorer to primary offensive weapon.

The 28-year-old has tallied 12 playoff goals since joining Vegas, bringing elite playmaking and offensive creativity to a team that values skill on the rush. Marner's power play quarterbacking ability makes him particularly valuable - his vision from the point creates scoring chances through passes that defenses struggle to anticipate. He processes the game at high speed, identifying passing lanes before they fully develop.

Marner's departure from Toronto marked the end of an era for the Maple Leafs but provided Vegas with a franchise cornerstone entering his prime years. His ability to generate scoring chances for linemates elevates the performance of players around him, a trait that justifies his substantial salary. The Golden Knights bet that Marner's offensive ceiling hasn't been reached, and his early production with the team suggests the gamble will pay off.

5. Mikko Rantanen

Mikko Rantanen tied Marner at $12 million AAV when the Dallas Stars signed the Finnish winger to an eight-year, $96 million contract that pays $15 million for 2025-26. Rantanen spent years dominating with Colorado before joining Dallas, consistently posting point-per-game performances that demonstrated his offensive reliability across different systems and linemates.

The 28-year-old combines size, skill, and shooting ability into a package that defenses struggle to contain. At 6'4", Rantanen uses his frame to protect pucks along the boards while possessing the hands to make plays in tight spaces. His shot generates power from his release point, allowing him to score from distance when goaltenders expect passes.

Rantanen's departure from Colorado marked a significant roster shift for the Avalanche but provided Dallas with the franchise cornerstone they'd pursued for years. He enters his prime earning years with production history that suggests continued excellence - the consistency that makes him worth every dollar of his deal. Dallas management structured the contract to front-load payments, rewarding Rantanen immediately while maintaining future flexibility as the salary cap rises.

7. Artemi Panarin

Artemi Panarin earns $11.64 million AAV with $13 million paid in 2025-26 under his seven-year contract with the New York Rangers. Panarin set a career-high with 120 points during the 2023-24 season, showcasing the elite playmaking and goal-scoring abilities that have made him one of the league's most productive forwards since entering the NHL.

The Russian winger becomes a free agent at season's end, making 2025-26 a crucial campaign for both player and organization. Known as the "Breadman," Panarin has been instrumental in New York's offensive success since arriving in 2019, consistently producing at elite levels regardless of linemates or system adjustments. His ability to create offense from seemingly nothing keeps defensive pairings honest.

Panarin's skating ability allows him to generate speed through the neutral zone, while his hands in tight spaces create scoring chances that other players can't manufacture. He's equally dangerous as a shooter or passer, forcing goaltenders to respect both options when he carries the puck. The Rangers have built their offensive identity around Panarin's creativity, and his pending free agency represents one of the biggest questions facing the franchise as they attempt to balance championship contention with long-term financial planning.

8. Elias Pettersson

Elias Pettersson commands $11.6 million AAV with $14.5 million coming in 2025-26 from the Vancouver Canucks. Pettersson signed his lucrative extension after establishing himself as one of the NHL's premier young talents, a center who combines elite skating, vision, and offensive instincts to drive Vancouver's attack.

The 25-year-old Swedish center has become the franchise's cornerstone player following departures of other key stars, shouldering responsibility for both offensive production and defensive reliability. Pettersson's two-way play sets him apart from purely offensive centers - he excels in the defensive zone while maintaining the offensive creativity that makes him dangerous every shift.

Vancouver's front office bet that Pettersson's prime years would align with the team's championship window, a calculation that requires surrounding him with complementary pieces. His ability to elevate teammates' performance justifies the substantial contract - linemates consistently post career-high production when playing alongside Pettersson. The Canucks structured the deal to front-load payments, rewarding Pettersson for early career success while maintaining future flexibility as younger players develop.

9. Igor Shesterkin

Igor Shesterkin set the AAV record for goaltenders at $11.5 million, earning $15.825 million in 2025-26 as the highest-paid netminder in NHL history. The New York Rangers goaltender ranks second to Henrik Lundqvist in save percentage among Rangers goalies, a statistical achievement that reflects his phenomenal performance between the pipes since becoming the team's starter.

At just 29 years old, Shesterkin occupies his athletic prime and provides elite goaltending that can single-handedly win games. His quick lateral movement allows him to track pucks across the crease, while his rebound control limits second chances that often doom lesser goaltenders. Shesterkin's ability to steal games when the Rangers struggle offensively makes him worth the record contract.

The deal reflects the modern NHL's valuation of franchise goaltenders who can carry teams through playoff runs. Goaltending historically commanded lower salaries than skaters, but Shesterkin's contract signals market evolution as teams recognize that elite netminding provides championship-level value. The Rangers committed to Shesterkin long-term, betting that his prime years will deliver the Stanley Cup that has eluded the franchise since 1994.

10. William Nylander

William Nylander ties Shesterkin at $11.5 million AAV, forming one of hockey's most potent offensive duos alongside Auston Matthews in Toronto. The right winger has developed into one of the league's most dangerous offensive threats with smooth skating and elite finishing ability that make him nightmare material for opposing defenses.

The Swedish forward has consistently produced point-per-game seasons and brings versatility by playing both wing positions when needed. Nylander's contract extension keeps Toronto's core intact for another championship push, maintaining offensive firepower that the Maple Leafs hope will finally deliver playoff success after years of early exits.

Nylander's ability to create offense at even strength and on special teams makes him worth every dollar of his deal. His shot release ranks among the NHL's quickest, while his passing vision creates scoring chances for linemates when defenses overcommit to stopping his shot. Toronto management structured his contract to align with Matthews' deal, keeping both stars locked in through the franchise's championship window while maintaining roster flexibility to add supporting pieces around the core.