The highest-paid player in the NHL in the 2025 season is Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers. He leads the league in yearly salary and remains one of hockey’s most skilled and powerful forwards. His strong performance, goal-scoring ability, and consistency make him one of the most valuable players in modern NHL.
About Highest Paid NHL Player Leon Draisaitl
Leon Draisaitl is a German-born centre who has become one of the most important stars in the NHL. He is known for his speed, sharp scoring, and playmaking skills. He has won major awards in his career and continues to be the backbone of the Edmonton Oilers offense.
Draisaitl signed a massive contract extension in 2024, which made him the highest-paid player beginning the 2025–26 season. His top-tier performance, leadership, and popularity made this record deal possible.
Leon Draisaitl Net Worth
Because of his huge contract and endorsement deals, Leon Draisaitl’s estimated net worth is believed to be above USD 70 million. His income comes from three main sources:
- NHL salary from his long-term contract.
- Bonuses and performance earnings based on his game results.
- Endorsements and brand partnerships, which add extra millions every year.
His financial success places him among the richest active hockey players in the world.
Highest-Paid NHL Player (Confirmed Salary)
Draisaitl earns an average annual value (AAV) of USD 14 million, which is the highest salary cap hit in the NHL for the 2025 season.
Highest Paid Player From Every NHL Team (2025 Season)
Below is the team-wise list of the highest-paid players in the NHL along with their salary or cap hit.
(This list is based on official contract figures for the 2025 season.)
| NHL Team | Highest-Paid Player | Salary / Cap Hit |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Ducks | Troy Terry | USD 7 million |
| Arizona Coyotes | Clayton Keller | USD 7.15 million |
| Boston Bruins | David Pastrnak | USD 11.25 million |
| Buffalo Sabres | Rasmus Dahlin | USD 11 million |
| Calgary Flames | Nazem Kadri | USD 7 million |
| Carolina Hurricanes | Sebastian Aho | USD 9.75 million |
| Chicago Blackhawks | Connor Bedard | USD 4.45 million |
| Colorado Avalanche | Nathan MacKinnon | USD 12.6 million |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Johnny Gaudreau | USD 9.75 million |
| Dallas Stars | Mikko Rantanen | USD 12 million |
| Detroit Red Wings | Dylan Larkin | USD 8.7 million |
| Edmonton Oilers | Leon Draisaitl | USD 14 million |
| Florida Panthers | Aleksander Barkov | USD 10 million |
| Los Angeles Kings | Drew Doughty | USD 11 million |
| Minnesota Wild | Kirill Kaprizov | USD 9 million |
| Montreal Canadiens | Nick Suzuki | USD 7.875 million |
| Nashville Predators | Roman Josi | USD 9.059 million |
| New Jersey Devils | Jack Hughes | USD 8 million |
| New York Islanders | Mathew Barzal | USD 9.15 million |
| New York Rangers | Artemi Panarin | USD 11.642 million |
| Ottawa Senators | Tim Stützle | USD 8.35 million |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Travis Sanheim | USD 6.25 million |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Sidney Crosby | USD 8.7 million |
| San Jose Sharks | Logan Couture | USD 8 million |
| Seattle Kraken | Philipp Grubauer | USD 5.9 million |
| St. Louis Blues | Jordan Kyrou | USD 8.125 million |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Brayden Point | USD 9.5 million |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Auston Matthews | USD 13.25 million |
| Vancouver Canucks | Elias Pettersson | USD 11.6 million |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Mitch Marner | USD 12 million |
| Washington Capitals | Alex Ovechkin | USD 9.5 million |
| Winnipeg Jets | Kyle Connor | USD 7.14 million |
FAQs
Q1. Who is the highest paid player in the NHL right now?
The highest-paid player is Leon Draisaitl, earning USD 14 million per year.
Q2. Why is Leon Draisaitl the highest-paid?
Because he signed a record extension in 2024, and he is one of the league’s best scorers and most valuable players.
Q3. Who is the second highest-paid player?
The second highest is Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs, earning USD 13.25 million.
Q4. Is Leon Draisaitl the richest NHL player?
He is one of the richest active players, but overall wealth also depends on career earnings and endorsements.
Q5. Will someone earn more than Draisaitl soon?
Yes. Kirill Kaprizov has a new contract starting 2026–27 with an AAV of USD 17 million, which will make him the highest-paid at that time.