In a league where forwards make $17 million a year and defensemen command $13 million without blinking, NHL goaltenders have always been the underpaid backbone of their franchises. They face 30-plus shots a night. They carry teams to the Stanley Cup. And yet, for decades, the goalie market has lagged behind every other position in professional hockey.
That is finally starting to change.
The New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin — the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner — is now the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history, earning $11.5 million per year on an eight-year, $92 million contract. It is a market-resetting deal that has sent ripples across the entire league, forcing every team to reassess just how much their last line of defense is truly worth.
Here is the complete breakdown of every top-paid goalie in the NHL right now — contract details, career achievements, and what their massive deals actually mean for their teams.
The Highest-Paid NHL Goalies in 2025-26 — Full Rankings
| Rank | Goalie | Team | AAV | Contract | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Igor Shesterkin | NY Rangers | $11.5M | 8 years / $92M | 2033 |
| #2 | Sergei Bobrovsky | Florida Panthers | $10M | 7 years / $70M | 2026 |
| #3 | Andrei Vasilevskiy | Tampa Bay Lightning | $9.5M | 8 years / $76M | 2028 |
| #4 | Connor Hellebuyck | Winnipeg Jets | $8.5M | 7 years / $59.5M | 2030 |
| #4 | Thatcher Demko | Vancouver Canucks | $8.5M | 3 years / $25.5M | 2027 |
| #6 | Ilya Sorokin | NY Islanders | $8.25M | 8 years / $66M | 2031 |
| #6 | Jeremy Swayman | Boston Bruins | $8.25M | 8 years / $66M | 2032 |
| #6 | Jake Oettinger | Dallas Stars | $8.25M | 8 years / $66M | 2032 |
| #9 | Juuse Saros | Nashville Predators | $7.74M | 8 years / $61.9M | 2032 |
#1 — Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers — $11.5 Million Per Year
The New York Rangers made Igor Shesterkin the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history when they signed him to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension in December of 2024. He holds the record for the highest average annual value (AAV) for a goaltender at $11.5 million, with the contract running through the 2032-33 season.
The journey to this deal was anything but smooth. Shesterkin had declined an eight-year, $88 million offer at the start of the 2024-25 season — a deal that would have already made him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history — before ultimately signing for even more money weeks later.
The Rangers paid every penny willingly. Five team executives across the league unanimously called Shesterkin the best goaltender in the NHL. Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde summed it up perfectly after watching Shesterkin stop 31 shots in a win: “He’s special. I can see why he turned down the 88 million dollars.”
Career Highlights: 2022 Vezina Trophy winner. Consistent .920+ save percentages. The undisputed face of Rangers goaltending in the post-Lundqvist era.
#2 — Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers — $10 Million Per Year
Sergei Bobrovsky signed a massive free-agent deal with the Florida Panthers in July of 2019 — a seven-year contract with an AAV of $10 million. At the time, it was one of the most scrutinized contracts in NHL history, with many analysts questioning whether any goalie was worth that kind of money.
Bobrovsky proved them all wrong. He won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2024, cementing his place as one of the top goalies of his generation. His contract expires after the 2025-26 season, making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year — and one of the most significant free agency stories of the 2026 NHL offseason.
Career Highlights: Two-time Vezina Trophy winner with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stanley Cup champion. One of the most decorated European goalies in NHL history.
#3 — Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning — $9.5 Million Per Year
Andrei Vasilevskiy is signed to an eight-year contract with an AAV of $9.5 million that expires after the 2027-28 season. For a long stretch of his career, he was the consensus best goalie on the planet — and arguably the best argument for paying a goaltender elite money.
Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy in 2018-19 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021 as playoff MVP, helping lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. He has led Tampa Bay to the playoffs every season of his career except one.
Career Highlights: Vezina Trophy. Two Stanley Cups. Conn Smythe MVP. The definition of a franchise goaltender in his prime.
#4 — Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets — $8.5 Million Per Year
Connor Hellebuyck signed a seven-year, $59.5 million extension with the Winnipeg Jets in 2023, carrying an AAV of $8.5 million through the 2029-30 season. The deal raised eyebrows at the time — many felt Hellebuyck could have commanded more on the open market — but the two-time Vezina winner chose loyalty over maximum dollars.
Hellebuyck has reached the 60-games-played plateau five times, including in each of the past three seasons. He set an NHL career-high with 67 games played in 2017-18. In 2023-24, his consistent .921 save percentage and 2.10 GAA were pivotal as Winnipeg secured a playoff berth and he won his second Vezina Trophy.
Hellebuyck could have reset the entire goalie market in 2024 but instead took less money to stay in Winnipeg — a city where he felt comfortable and believed the team could compete. That quiet decision cost him millions. It also said everything about his character.
Career Highlights: Two-time Vezina Trophy winner (2020, 2024). One of the most durable starting goalies in the modern NHL.
#4 — Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks — $8.5 Million Per Year
Thatcher Demko signed a three-year extension that pays him $8.5 million per year with the Vancouver Canucks. Tied with Hellebuyck for the fourth-highest AAV among active goalies, Demko has established himself as one of the premier young goaltenders in the Western Conference.
His deal is notably shorter than the eight-year commitments signed by several peers — a reflection of the Canucks managing risk while still paying market value for elite goaltending.
#6 — The $8.25 Million Club: Sorokin, Swayman & Oettinger
Three goalies share the exact same contract structure — and together they represent the new baseline for elite NHL goaltending.
Ilya Sorokin signed an eight-year deal at $8.25 million AAV with the New York Islanders on July 1, 2023 — the first to set this benchmark. Sorokin quickly built his reputation with a career-high .925 save percentage in 2021-22 and a Vezina Trophy finalist nod the following season.
Jeremy Swayman ended a lengthy standoff with the Boston Bruins when he signed an eight-year, $66 million contract ($8.25 million AAV) ahead of the 2024-25 season opener. Shortly after, the Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger signed an identical deal — back-to-back market confirmations that $8.25 million is the floor for legitimate No. 1 starters in today’s NHL.
Why Are Goalie Contracts So Complicated in Today’s NHL?
Here is the uncomfortable truth the league is wrestling with: paying goalies big money is one of the riskiest investments in professional sports.
From 2010 to 2019, the league averaged 20.4 goalies per season who started at least 50 games. Over the past three seasons, that number has dropped to just 14.3 — a sign that goaltending by committee is replacing the traditional workhorse starter model.
Starting next season, eight goalies will make at least $7 million. By contrast, 107 skaters will be at or above that mark — with 11 making at least $11 million. The positional pay gap remains enormous.
One executive explained the hesitation plainly: even if your goaltender is your best player, he is still not playing in roughly a third of your games. Every GM is trying to keep numbers down where they can, and if you need to invest in a backup to play 25-35 games, that money has to come from somewhere.
The cautionary tales are everywhere. Carey Price signed an eight-year deal at $10.5 million AAV in 2017 — once the highest goalie contract in history — and played only two full seasons on it before injuries derailed his entire career. His deal became one of the most painful cap situations in NHL history.
The Big Picture: Where Is the Goalie Market Headed?
The NHL salary cap is projected to explode from $88 million in 2024-25 toward $113.5 million by 2027-28. As the cap rises, goalie salaries will follow — and Shesterkin’s $11.5 million deal may not hold the record for long.
The next domino to watch: Sergei Bobrovsky becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. At 37, a significant long-term deal seems unlikely — but his Stanley Cup-winning resume guarantees he will not be cheap. Whatever he signs for will tell us a great deal about how the market values elite goaltending in the back half of a career.
One thing is certain: the days of franchises treating their goaltenders as afterthoughts at contract time are over. Shesterkin proved you can say no to $88 million and still get more. And that changes everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the highest-paid goalie in the NHL?
Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers is the highest-paid goalie in NHL history, earning $11.5 million per year on an eight-year, $92 million contract through the 2032-33 season.
What is the most expensive goalie contract in NHL history by total value?
Igor Shesterkin’s 8-year, $92 million deal with the New York Rangers is the largest goalie contract in NHL history by total value.
Who are the top 5 highest-paid NHL goalies right now?
In 2025-26: (1) Igor Shesterkin — $11.5M, (2) Sergei Bobrovsky — $10M, (3) Andrei Vasilevskiy — $9.5M, (4) Connor Hellebuyck / Thatcher Demko — $8.5M each, (6) Ilya Sorokin / Jeremy Swayman / Jake Oettinger — $8.25M each.
Why do goalies get paid less than forwards and defensemen?
Goalies play fewer games than skaters (typically 50-60 out of 82), which limits their perceived per-game value. Teams also need to invest in a capable backup, splitting their goaltending budget across two players. The high injury and inconsistency risk at the position makes GMs cautious about long-term, massive commitments.
Is Sergei Bobrovsky a free agent?
Yes. Bobrovsky’s seven-year, $70 million deal with the Florida Panthers expires after the 2025-26 season, making him one of the most significant free agent goalies of the 2026 offseason.
What is Connor Hellebuyck’s contract?
Hellebuyck signed a seven-year, $59.5 million extension ($8.5M AAV) with the Winnipeg Jets in 2023, keeping him in Winnipeg through the 2029-30 season.