Be honest: when you think about high-paying salaries, does your mind immediately go to hockey? If not, maybe it should! When people talk about the NHL’s “highest-paid” stars, they’re usually pointing to average annual value (AAV)—the contract number that drives a player’s cap hit and tells you, in plain terms, how much a team spends on them each year. It’s not always the same as cash earned in a given season, but it’s the cleanest way to compare deals across the league. With that in mind, it’s time we looked at five guys who are cleaning up the most cash.
Leon Draisaitl
Draisaitl sits at the top of the mountain with a $14,000,000 AAV, which is the kind of figure that makes just about everyone, from fans to accountants, blink twice. He’s paid like a franchise pillar because he is one, and Edmonton’s bet is that his scoring gravity will keep pulling wins into orbit.
Auston Matthews
You don’t need to be a Leafs fan to know this name. Matthews checks in next at $13,250,000 AAV, and Toronto fans know that number comes with expectations the size of a hockey bag stuffed with boulders. You’re paying for elite finishing, a constant threat in the slot, and the sense that any game can turn around in his favor.
Nathan MacKinnon
MacKinnon’s deal carries a $12,600,000 AAV, and though that’s a massive number, it feels fitting for a player who skates like no one ever did. Colorado isn’t just buying points; it’s buying pace, and that relentless push that makes opponents spend entire nights backpedaling.
Connor McDavid
McDavid lands at $12,500,000 AAV, and yes, it’s slightly behind the very top despite him being the sport’s most consistent highlight reel. That being said, Edmonton’s cap sheet admits what you already know: when he’s on the ice, normal hockey rules don’t always apply.
Mitch Marner
Marner rounds out this top group at $12,000,000 AAV, a number that reflects game-breaking playmaking and the ability to tilt the ice without bulldozing anyone. He’s the perfect player if you like your offense served with creativity and a little mischief.
