12 Most Paid Hockey Player in the World

The 12 Highest-Paid Hockey Players in the World

The NHL is one of the most lucrative sports in the world. Having said that, do you know who the highest-paid hockey player in the world is? The NHL, being the world’s finest professional ice hockey league, attracts a large number of fans and spectators each year.

Furthermore, the sport has always been very popular.

The league is the world’s fifth-richest professional sports league.

As a result, the players earn a lot of money both on and off the rink.

With the 2021 season coming to a finish, we were wondering about the highest-paid hockey players in the globe.

As a result, this list emerged. We have created a list to respond to the query.

So, let us all learn about the highest-paid hockey players and how much they earn.

12 Most Paid Hockey Players in The World

12. Nicklas Backstrom

The 12th highest-paid hockey player in the world is a 34-year-old Swedish professional ice hockey player.

He is the Washington Capitals’ alternate captain.

Backstrom was selected fourth overall by the Capitals in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

He debuted for the J20 SuperElite league at the age of 15 in the 2002-03 season.

He got called up to Sweden’s top professional hockey league after only three seasons.

He signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Capitals after being drafted by them.

Backstrom’s outstanding playmaking ability propelled him fast through the ranks.

He is now the all-time assist leader for Wahington.

As a result, the Capitals signed him to a five-year, $46 million contract extension in 2020.

11. Andrei Vasilevskiy

Andrei Vasilevskiy is a Russian ice hockey player who now plays for Tampa Bay Lighting.

The 28-year-old is nicknamed “Big Cat” and “Vasy” and has total earnings of $10.1 million.

Vasilevskiy was selected 19th overall by the Lighting in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Similarly, Salavat Yulaev Ufa drafted him in the 2011 KHL Junior draft prior to the draft.

In addition to playing in the NHL, he has represented his country in a number of international hockey tournaments.

Vasilevskiy assists Russia to a bronze medal at the 2017 World Ice Hockey Championships.

He has received numerous awards and accolades during his NHL career and while representing Russia.

In 2019, the Lightning signed him to an eight-year contract extension for $76 million.

All-Star Game four times, Vezina Trophy 2019, First All-Star Team twice, Best Goaltender twice, and other honors have been bestowed upon Vasilevskiy.

10. Sergei Bobrovsky

Sergei Bobrovsky is ranked tenth among the highest-paid hockey players.

He is a Russian ice hockey goaltender for the Florida Panthers who are 33 years old.

Bobrovsky is regarded as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.

Despite the fact that the Philadelphia Flyers manager considered picking him in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, he was never picked.

On May 6, 2010, the Flyers signed him to a three-year entry-level contract.

He played for the Flyers until 2012 when he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Bobrovsky signed a seven-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers in 2019.

Forbes estimates his total earnings to be $10.1 million.

Bobrovsky holds the record for the most straight victories in a single NHL regular season and has twice won the Vezina Trophy, which is given to the NHL goaltender who is “considered to be the greatest at this position.”

9. Nikita Kucherov

Russian ice hockey player Nikita Kucherov is our ninth highest-paid hockey player, earning a total of $10.3 million.

Kucherov, 29, is regarded as one of the top players in the world.

He was a member of the Russian Junior Hockey League as well as the Continental Hockey League.

The Tampa Bay Lightning then selected him 58th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft.

Then, in 2012, Kucherov signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Lightning.

The next year, he made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers.

In 2014-15, he enjoyed his breakout season.

As a result, the Lightning extended his contract by three years and signed him to a $14.3 million contract.

Kurcherov holds NHL records for the most assists by a wing in a single season and the most points by a Russian-born player in a single season.

Similarly, he received the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player in the NHL.

Similarly, Kucherov has won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, as well as the Ted Lindsay Award as the greatest player as voted on by his peers.

8. Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby, nicknamed “Sid the Kid,” is a 35-year-old Canadian ice hockey player.

The sum of his profits is projected to be $10.5 million.

Crosby is widely regarded as one of the best ice hockey players of all time.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected him first overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, and he currently serves as the Penguins’ captain.

His hockey career began in the minor leagues before being picked first overall in the 2003 Midget draft.

Crosby dominated the junior league during this time and received numerous awards.

Prior to entering the NHL draft, he won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the best prospect in the QMJHL.

Crosby made an immediate impact on the NHL. As a result, the media dubbed him “Sid the Kid.”

As an ice hockey player, he has one of the most extensive lists of accomplishments and trophies.

He was the first rookie to record 100 points and 100 penalty minutes in a season, the youngest player to record 100 points in a season, and so on.

7. Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin is a Canadian ice hockey player who serves as the Dallas Stars’ alternate captain.

In the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected second overall by the Boston Bruins. In his inaugural season, the 30-year-old player won the Stanley Cup.

Seguin began his hockey career in the minor leagues. Before entering the NHL draft, he also played in an amateur league.

During the draft, he was regarded as one of the top two available players.

The Bruins signed Seguin to a three-year, $3.75 million entry-level contract.

During the 2012-13 NHL lockout, he signed a European hockey deal.

He signed a contract with the EHC Biel hockey club.

The Bruins then dealt Seguin to the Dallas Stars in 2013.

In addition to the NHL, he competed in the 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Seguin has won the NHL All-Star Game six times in addition to the Stanley Cup.

His total earnings were estimated by Forbes to be $11 million.

He also has endorsements from Adidas, Bauer Hockey, BioSteel Sports Supplements, and Dunkin Donuts.

6. Artemi Panarin

Artemi Panarin, a 30-year-old Russian player, is known as “Breadman.” He serves as an alternative captain for the New York Rangers.

Panarin, who went undrafted in the NHL at first, made his NHL debut in 2015.

He played in the Kontinental Hockey League despite being undrafted in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed him in 2015.

Panarin signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie shortly after his debut in 2015-16.

In addition, he concluded the 2015-16 season ranked tenth among forwards in scoring.

As a result, Panarin was able to receive a $2.55 million contract bonus.

He signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Blackhawks in 2016.

The next year, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Panarin signed a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with the New York Rangers in 2019.

He has also represented Russia on many international venues as a member of the Russian national team.

5. Mitchell Marner

Mitchell Marner, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ alternate captain, is ranked fifth on our list of the highest-paid hockey players.

In the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Leafs selected a 25-year-old Canadian player fourth overall.

Marner began his career in the minor leagues.

Later, he declined a scholarship offer from the University of Michigan in order to play with a big junior league team. He instead joined the London Knights.

Marner was usually regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

He has made and won numerous records since his debut.

Marner signed a six-year, $65.358 million contract with the Leafs and was named an alternate captain.

Aside from playing in the NHL, he has also represented his country in international competitions.

Marner’s accomplishments include being named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2017, the NHL All-Star Game in 2020, and the NHL First All-Star Team in 2021.

His profits were estimated by Forbes to be $11.6 million.

4. Carey Price

Casey Price is a Canadian ice hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens.

He is regarded as one of the top goaltenders in the world. Price, 35, is also regarded as one of the finest goaltenders in Montreal Canadiens history.

He began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Price was selected fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

In 2007, he made his NHL debut.

He was named to the NHL All-Rookie team during his rookie season.

He then continued to rise up the league ranks.

Price signed an eight-year contract extension for $84 million in 2017.

Similarly, in addition to playing in the NHL, he was a member of the Canadian national team.

Price’s most notable career wins and achievements to date include the NHL All-Rookie Team, Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Hart Memorial Trophy, and others.

His total earnings were estimated by Forbes to be $11.8 million.

3. Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson ranks third on our list of the highest-paid hockey players, earning a total of $12.1 million.

He is a Swedish ice hockey player with the San Jose Sharks who are 32 years old.

The Ottawa Senators selected him 15th overall in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Karlsson is a defenseman and the team’s alternate captain.

He began his professional career with Frolunda HC, a Swedish professional ice hockey team.

Karlsson was ranked fourth among European skaters by the NHL’s Central Scouting Service when he entered the draft.

He played nine seasons for the Senators until being moved to the San Jose Sharks in 2018.

The Sharks signed Karlsson to an eight-year, $92 million contract the following year.

The contract made him the highest-paid defenseman in NHL history, as well as the league’s third highest-paid player at the time.

Similarly, he has represented his country’s national squad.

Karlsson has been named an NHL All-Star six times, NHL First All-Star Team four times, Viking Award three times, James Norris Memorial Trophy twice, and NHL All-Decade Second Team twice in his career.

2. Auston Matthews

Auston Matthews, an American ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs, is our number two highest-paid hockey player, earning a total of $12.2 million.

Matthews, 25, was selected first overall by the Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

He has been playing hockey since he was a toddler. Matthews began his hockey career in 2012 with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips.

He also participated in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

He then played for the Swiss National League’s franchise team ZSC Lions after missing the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Matthews scored four goals in his NHL debut shortly after making his debut.

He was the first player to accomplish this accomplishment.

He signed a five-year extension contract worth $58.17 million in 2019.

He played for the national team at the U-18 level, junior championships, and senior squad in addition to the NHL.

1. Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, is the highest-paid hockey player in the world.

With cumulative earnings of $16.4 million, the 25-year-old athlete is the highest-paid hockey player.

McDavid is widely regarded as one of the best players in the NHL. In the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Oilers selected him first overall.

He has been playing hockey since he was a toddler. He played in the minor and junior leagues before making his NHL debut.

McDavid has previously won multiple awards before entering the NHL draft.

In addition, after being picked by the Oilers, he received a three-year entry-level contract worth $11.3 million.

Then, in 2017, McDavid agreed to an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with the Oilers.

He appeared for the Canadian national team in addition to playing in the NHL.

McDavid is the NHL’s youngest captain, has the most points on consecutive goals to start an NHL season, and has received the most individual honors of any OHL player.

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Conclusion

This brings us to the end of our list of the highest-paid hockey players in the world.

It’s no wonder that the players make so much money in one of the richest leagues in sports.