With record revenue coming in for the NHL right now — via new media rights deals, new jersey sponsorships, and record attendance last season — the league salary cap is about to adjust.Â
For this upcoming season, the NHL salary cap is set at $104 million, and the maximum individual player salary is set at $20.8 million.Â
Since last season, many players have jumped over the previous leader, Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov. Now Kaprizov ranks fourth.Â
Here’s a look at who jumped him and the other players making up the 10 highest-paid players in the league, as of August 30.
Ranking Highest-Paid NHL PlayersÂ
| Rank | Player | Team | AAV |
| 1 | Cale Makar | Colorado Avalanche | $20.4 million |
| 2 | Macklin Celebrini | San Jose Sharks | $18 million |
| 3 | Leo Carlsson | Anaheim Ducks | $18 million |
| 4 | Kirill Kaprizov | Minnesota Wild | $17 million |
| 5 | Connor Bedard | Chicago Blackhawks | $15 million |
| 6 | Leon Draisaitl | Edmonton Oilers | $14 million |
| 7 | Jack Eichel | Vegas Golden Knights | $13.5 million |
| 8 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | $13.25 million |
| 9 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | $12.6 million |
| 10 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | $12.5 million |
Who’s The Highest Paid Player in the NHL?
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar became the highest-paid player in league history on August 29 when he signed an 8-year, $163.2 million extension.Â
Makar is the first player in league history to make more than $20 million in AAV, he’ll make $20.4 million a season.Â
Since being drafted by Colorado in 2017, Makar already has a stacked trophy case that includes a Conn Smythe Trophy, won during the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup win; two Norris trophies, and a Calder Trophy.Â
Makar, who will turn 28 this season, is a major piece of the Colorado team that hopes to follow up their Presidents’ Trophy win last season with a playoff run that hopefully gets them farther than the Western Conference Finals.Â
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