From Crosby to Ovechkin to Jagr and beyond, who are the highest-paid NHL players ever? You have salary and earnings questions, Boardroom has answers.
There’s truly no greater figure on two skates than Wayne Gretzky, and there never will be. But would you believe that the Canadian legend simply known as the Great One isn’t even among the top 100 salary earners in NHL history?
Sure, the man perhaps known more the Generation Z as Dustin Johnson’s father-in-law has made exponentially more as a businessman, team executive, and media figure since retiring in 1999, but it’s a bit gobsmacking to think about. Looking deeper, that got us thinking in a different direction — who does top the list of the NHL’s highest-paid players ever?
Whether you’re ride-or-die with Sidney Crosby, worship at the altar of Alex Ovechkin, or can’t quit the eternal majesty of Zdeno Chara, we have all the puck-tastic numbers you desire — check out Boardroom’s master list of highest-paid NHL players of all time.
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The Highest-paid NHL Players of All Time
All dollar figures via Spotrac through the 2022-23 NHL season.
1. Penguins C Sidney Crosby: $149,890,244
- Career: 2005-present
- NHL seasons: 18
2. Capitals LW Alexander Ovechkin: $138,220,893
- Career: 2004-present
- NHL seasons: 18
3. RW Jaromir Jagr: $135,382,322
- Career: 1990-2018
- NHL seasons: 25
4. Penguins C Evgeni Malkin: $135,270,893
- Career: 2004-present
- NHL seasons: 17
5. D Shea Weber: $129,831,000
- Career: 2003-present
- NHL seasons: 18
6. RW Vincent Lecavalier: $126,335,718
- Career: 1998-2016
- NHL seasons: 25
7. Kings C Anze Kopitar: $126,335,718
- Career: 2005-present
- NHL seasons: 18
8. RW Patrick Kane: $115,637,195
- Career: 2007-present
- NHL seasons: 16
9. D Chris Pronger: $113,950,000
- Career: 1993-2011
- NHL seasons: 23
10. D Ryan Suter: $112,492,666
- Career: 2003-present
- NHL seasons: 18
11. C Joe Thornton PG: $111,541,561
- Career: 1997-present
- NHL seasons: 24
12. LW Zach Parise: $110,243,398
- Career: 2003-present
- NHL seasons: 18
13. Lightning C Steven Stamkos: $110,175,000
- Career: 2008-present
- NHL seasons: 15
14. Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews: $109,062,195
- Career: 2006-present
- NHL seasons: 15
15. Canadiens G Carey Price: $107,550,000
- Career: 2005-present
- NHL seasons: 16
16. G Roberto Luongo: $106,455,148
- Career: 1997-2019
- NHL seasons: 22
17. G Henrik Lundqvist: $104,908,390
- Career: 2000-2020
- NHL seasons: 17
18. C Brad Richards: $104,245,448
- Career: 1998-2016
- NHL seasons: 21
19. RW Marian Gaborik: $103,025,013
- Career: 2000-2018
- NHL seasons: 20
20. D Zdeno Chara: $100,413,695
- Career: 1996-2022
- NHL seasons: 23
Other Notable Career NHL Earners
24. LW Patrick Marleau: $97,017,172
27. Bruins C Patrice Bergeron: $95,284,153
30. RW Marian Hossa: $93,024,390
37. LW Rick Nash: $88,618,780
38. C Eric Staal: $87,613,415
42. G Marc-Andre Fleury: $84,991,432
44. Red Wings LW Henrik Zetterberg: $82,936,585
45. D P.K. Subban: $78,660,670
50. C Pavel Datsyuk: $77,246,951
57. C Connor McDavid: $74,625,000
t-64. Canucks LW Daniel and C Henrik Sedin: $71,635,732 each
66. Devils C Patrick Elias: $71,626,327
73. D Sergei Gonchar: $68,683,490
85. G Jonathan Quick: $64,375,122
91. Bruins LW Brad Marchand: $63,446,464
