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If you are an aspiring NHL player, you must be obsessed with it as the sport is highly engaging.
Most people play sports as it’s their passion, but money matters as well. So, you might be wondering how much would you be able to earn if you become a professional ice hockey player.
The salary and other payment-related information are well crafted in the player’s contract, and the NHL has set strict rules and regulations regarding the maximum salary.
Here are some details about the average NHL salary and other such information that you might be inclined to know.
What is the salary of an NHL player?
The salary of an NHL player depends on factors like their experience, age, and team. Depending upon their role in the team and the quality of work they put in, their salary can increase.
On average, an NHL player takes home up to 3 million dollars a year. But, the actual salary of a player depends on the aforementioned factors.
Even if the players are from the same team, they are often not paid the same amount. On the other hand, the NHL has set rules regarding the lowest NHL salary by setting the floor price of $ 700,000. This floor price was introduced to prevent any exploitation of new team members, and in most cases, only the floor price is paid to the new players.
Whereas, if a big player is joining the team, the team official might offer the player a signing bonus and other perks.
Also, if the team is solely riding on one player’s performance, they are likely to be paid more than their fellow teammates.
Talking about the salaries, a player’s reputation and ability to bring in sponsors also play a major role in deciding their salary. If the player brings the team more goodwill, they will be compensated rightly.
Top 5 highest-paid players in the last season
Here are the top 5 highest-paid NHL players for the 2021 season. These earning figures are rough estimates only based on the findings on the internet, and the actual figures may vary.
#5. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
The player has proved his capabilities time and again. In 2018, he signed an eight-year contract for $76 million with the team. Out of the overall budget for the Lighting team, half of it goes to Kucherov. For the last season alone, the player took home $9.5 million.
#4. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers
The franchise will depend a lot on Bobrovsky in the coming season owing to inadequate performance from the team in the previous seasons. The player currently draws a salary of $12 million for a season.
#3. Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
In 2019, the player signed a seven-year deal with the New York Rangers for a whopping $81.5, which translates to almost $13 million a year. He has an average of 1.38 points per game, which directly indicates his exemplary performance.
#2. Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks
In 2019, Karlsson re-signed an eight-year contract with the Sharks, reportedly for $92 million and an astounding signing bonus of $53 million.
#1. Connor McDavid
This 24-year-old hockey sensation is the captain of the Edmonton Oilers. The Canadian superstar earned $15 million in the last season as per his eight-year contract of $100 million, and he is set to rake in close to $17 million for the upcoming season.
So, these are some of the details regarding the average NHL salary, and now you also know about the top five highest-paid players. Keep in mind that the salary figures depend upon the skill of the player and what they bring to the table.