15 highest-paid NHL players headed into the 2027-28 season

The NHL hierarchy has shifted quite a bit this summer.

Some of the biggest contracts in league history have been signed this offseason, with the NHL record for highest-paid player being broken twice in the span of a few weeks. The players involved in these record-setting contracts are not the veteran superstars you may expect.

Instead, it’s been somewhat of a youth movement when it comes to these record-setting deals. Players like Macklin Celebrini, Leo Carlsson, and Connor Bedard have officially arrived as they started to negotiate their first post-ELC contracts with their respective teams.

This has resulted in some drastic changes when it comes to the highest-paid players in the NHL, specifically starting in the 2027-28 season, when Celebrini’s contract comes into effect.

So, how does the NHL landscape currently look when that season rolls around? Let’s take a closer look at the 15 highest-paid players when the 2027-28 season rolls around.

1. Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks

Cap hit: $18.8 million  (UFA-2032)
2025-26 stats: 45 G, 70 A, 115 PTS, 82 GP

One of the NHL’s brightest stars is now one of the highest-paid.

Celebrini inked a massive five-year deal with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday that will pay him a total of $94 million through the 2031-32 season. The contract will begin at the onset of the 2027-28 season.

2. Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks

Cap hit: $18 million (UFA-2031)
2025-26 stats: 29 G, 38 A, 67 PTS, 70 GP

An offer-sheet fiasco turned into a big payday for Carlsson.

The Anaheim Ducks matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer earlier this month, and now the expectations for the 21 will be through the roof to deliver.

3. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild

Cap hit: $17 million (UFA-2034)
2025-26 stats: 45 G, 44 A, 89 PTS, 78 GP

The Minnesota Wild were able to lock down their Russian superstar last year.

Kirill Kaprizov briefly held the title as the highest-paid player in the NHL until Carlsson and Celebrini came around.

4. Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks

Cap hit: $15 million (UFA-2031)
2025-26 stats: 30 G, 45 A, 75 PTS, 69 GP

Bedard hasn’t had a lot of success on a lacklustre Chicago Blackhawks club, but he’s willing to see things through.

The former first-overall pick inked a five-year deal to stay in Chicago earlier this summer.

5. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

Cap hit: $14 million (UFA-2033)
2025-26 stats: 35 G, 65 A, 97 PTS, 65 GP

Leon Draisaitl may be on one of the biggest bargain deals in the entire league.

The German superstar was the highest-paid NHL player when he initially signed this massive eight-year deal back in 2024, essentially guaranteeing he’ll be an Edmonton Oiler for life.

6. Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

Cap hit: $13.5 million (UFA-2034)
2025-26 stats: 27 G, 63 A, 90 PTS, 74 GP

Jack Eichel got his payday with the Vegas Golden Knights back in 2025.

The American sniper was pivotal in the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup victory in 2024 and nearly helped them get another this past season. Eichel will now spend the majority of his career in Sin City on this current deal.

7. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Cap hit: $13.25 million (UFA-2028)
2025-26 stats: 27 G, 26 A, 53 PTS, 60 GP

It was a down year for Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he’ll get paid regardless.

The 28-year-old nearly notched 70 goals two years ago, and is certainly one of the most dangerous scorers in the league.

8. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Contract: $12.604 million (UFA-2031)
2025-26 stats: 53 G, 74 A, 127 PTS, 80 GP

There is an argument to be made that Nathan MacKinnon may be the best player in the NHL.

Once again, this was a record-setting mark when it was signed back in 2022, but a rising cap had caused him to slide down the list in recent years.

9. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Cap hit: $12.5 million (UFA-2028)
2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 48 G, 90 A, 138 PTS, 82 GP

Connor McDavid could have easily signed a $20-million deal last year, but he chose to keep the cap hit down.

He’s undeniably the most talented player to enter the league since Sidney Crosby, but he opted to take a pay cut to help the Oilers win. The one snag is that it was only a two-year extension.

10. Bowen Byram, Chicago Blackhawks

Cap hit: $12.5 million (UFA-2033)
2025-26 stats: 11 G, 31 A, 42 PTS, 82 GP

The Blackhawks bet big on Bowen Byram being their defenceman of the future.

At 25 years old, he’s struggled to live up to high expectations, but he will now have the pressure of being the league’s highest-paid defenceman to do so.

11. Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets

Cap hit: $12 million (UFA-2034)
2025-26 stats: 39 G, 53 A, 92 PTS

Kyle Connor may be one of the most underrated superstars in the NHL, and the Winnipeg Jets made sure to lock him up.

He’s a perennial 30-goal scorer and has flirted with 100 points over the past few seasons.

12. Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars

Cap hit: $12 million (UFA- 2033)
2025-26 stats: 22 G, 55 A, 77 PTS, 64 GP

Mikko Rantanen is being paid to be the offensive leader of the Dallas Stars, and so far he’s done an okay job in that department.

He had a bit of a down season this past year, but he still brings a lot of value to this Stars club.

13. Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights

Cap hit: $12 million (UFA-2033)
2025-26 stats: 24 G, 56 A, 80 PTS, 81 GP

The ex-Maple Leafs star seems right at home in Vegas.

He took a slight step back during his first regular season with the Golden Knights, but was a beast in the playoffs with 29 points in 22 games.

14. Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils

Cap hit: $11.7 million (UFA-2032)
2025-26 stats: 28 G, 38 A, 66 PTS, 82 GP

Nico Hischier’s boxcars may not scream superstar, but he’s a massive part of the New Jersey Devils.

The Swiss forward captains the Devils, and recently led the team in goals with 28 last season.

15. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks

Cap hit: $11.6 million (UFA-2032)
2025-26 stats: 15 G, 36 A, 51 PTS, 74 GP

The struggle has been real for the Vancouver Canucks and Elias Pettersson.

Petey was regarded as one of the league’s brightest stars when he inked this deal, but has quickly fallen off a cliff production-wise in the years since.

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