The highest valued contracts in the NHL by total value and average annual salary.
NHL contract values have been skyrocketing in recent years, largely due to the league's increasing salary cap. The salary cap is increasing due to the NHL's recent post-pandemic spike in revenue, and that means that players are now earning significantly larger contracts than years prior.
In 2026, Cale Makar signed a record breaking deal with the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the first player to make an average annual salary of over $20 million. Makar's extension is worth a total of $163.2 million over the eight seasons (2027-2034).
Check out the most expensive contract in the NHL below:
Highest Average Annual Salaries in the NHL
Player | Average Annual Salary | Years |
Cale Makar (COL) | $20,400,000 | 8 |
Macklin Celebrini (SJS) | $18,800,000 | 5 |
Leo Carlsson (ANA) | $18,000,000 | 5 |
Kirill Kaprizov (MIN) | $17,000,000 | 8 |
Connor Bedard (CHI) | $15,000,000 | 5 |
Leon Draisaitl (EDM) | $14,000,000 | 8 |
Adam Fantilli (CBJ) | $13,750,000 | 6 |
Jack Eichel (VGK) | $13,500,000 | 6 |
Cutter Gauthier (ANA) | $13,500,000 | 8 |
Auston Matthews (TOR) | $13,250,000 | 4 |
Many other young stars including Macklin Celebrini, Leo Carlsson, and Connor Bedard have signed massive extensions in recent seasons, are will be earning more money than some of the league's most established stars, such as Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Zach Werenski.
Largest Active Contracts in the NHL
Player (Team) | Total Value | Years |
Cale Makar (COL) | $163,200,000 | 8 |
Kirill Kaprizov (MIN) | $136,000,000 | 8 |
Leon Draisaitl (EDM) | $112,000,000 | 8 |
Jack Eichel (VGK) | $108,000,000 | 8 |
Nathan MacKinnon (COL) | $100,800,000 | 8 |
Mikko Rantanen (DAL) | $96,000,000 | 8 |
Mitch Marner (VGK) | $96,000,000 | 8 |
Kyle Connor (WPG) | $96,000,000 | 8 |
Macklin Celebrini (SJS) | $94,000,000 | 5 |
Elias Pettersson (VAN) | $92,800,000 | 8 |
Largest Contracts in NHL History
Player (Team) | Total Value | Years |
Cale Makar (COL) | $163,200,000 | 8 |
Kirill Kaprizov (MIN) | $136,000,000 | 8 |
Alex Ovechkin (WAS) | $124,000,000 | 13 |
Leon Draisaitl (EDM) | $112,000,000 | 8 |
Shea Weber (NSH) | $110,000,000 | 14 |
Jack Eichel (VGK) | $108,000,000 | 8 |
Sidney Crosby (PIT) | $104,400,000 | 12 |
Nathan MacKinnon (COL) | $100,800,000 | 8 |
Ilya Kovalchuk (NJD) | $100,000,000 | 15 |
Connor McDavid (EDM) | $100,000,000 | 8 |
Makar hold's the record for the largest contract in NHL history, with a total value of $163.2 million. Makar signed his contract in 2026, making it a recent addition to this list.
Alex Ovechkin has the third largest contract of all-time, when he earned $124 million over 13 years (2008-2020). The other expired contracts on this list include Shea Weber (2012-2025), Sidney Crosby (2013-2024), Ilya Kovalchuk (2010-2024), and McDavid (2018-2025).
Kovalchuk and Rick DiPietro hold the record for the longest contracts in NHL history, spanning 15 seasons.
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These lists were updated 11/13/2026.
