The NHL’s pay scale is getting a serious makeover, and the 2027-28 season is where the new order really shows up.
A wave of monster contracts has pushed a new generation to the front of the line, with Macklin Celebrini, Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard all landing major deals as they move beyond their entry-level years. The result is a list that looks a lot different than it would have even a few months ago.
Here’s how the 15 highest-paid players in the league stack up for 2027-28.
Macklin Celebrini sits at the top after signing a five-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. The deal is worth $94 million through the 2031-32 season, and it kicks in at the start of 2027-28. His cap hit lands at $18.8 million, and his 2025-26 line was 45 goals, 70 assists and 115 points in 82 games.
Leo Carlsson is right behind him at $18 million. The Anaheim Ducks matched the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet earlier this month, turning a messy situation into a massive payday for the 21-year-old. He posted 29 goals, 38 assists and 67 points in 70 games in 2025-26.
Kirill Kaprizov briefly held the title of the NHL’s highest-paid player after the Minnesota Wild locked him up last year, before the younger stars moved past him. Connor Bedard also checks in near the top after signing a five-year deal to remain with the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this summer.
Leon Draisaitl comes in at $14 million. The Edmonton Oilers star was once the league’s highest-paid player when he signed his eight-year contract in 2024, and that deal has him set up as an Oiler for life. In 2025-26, he had 35 goals, 65 assists and 97 points in 65 games.
Jack Eichel follows at $13.5 million after getting his payday from the Vegas Golden Knights in 2025. He was a key piece in Vegas’ Stanley Cup run in 2024 and nearly helped them get another one this past season. His 2025-26 totals were 27 goals, 63 assists and 90 points in 74 games.
Auston Matthews is next at $13.25 million. It was a down year for Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the money stays the same. The 28-year-old nearly scored 70 goals two years ago and remains one of the league’s most dangerous finishers, even after a 2025-26 season that brought 27 goals, 26 assists and 53 points in 60 games.
Nathan MacKinnon lands at $12.604 million. His contract was a record-setter when he signed it in 2022, though the rising salary cap has pushed him down the rankings. He still turned in a huge 2025-26 season with 53 goals, 74 assists and 127 points in 80 games, and there’s still a case to be made that he’s the best player in the NHL.
Connor McDavid is just behind him at $12.5 million. He could have gone much higher, but chose to keep the cap hit down on a two-year extension to help the Oilers win. The league’s most gifted player since Sidney Crosby put up 48 goals, 90 assists and 138 points in 82 games in 2025-26.
Bowen Byram also checks in at $12.5 million, making him the highest-paid defenceman on this list. The Chicago Blackhawks are betting big on the 25-year-old, even though he has yet to fully meet the expectations that came with him. He had 11 goals, 31 assists and 42 points in 82 games last season.
Kyle Connor is at $12 million after the Winnipeg Jets locked him up. He remains one of the NHL’s most underrated stars, a steady 30-goal scorer who has hovered near the 100-point mark in recent seasons. In 2025-26, he finished with 39 goals, 53 assists and 92 points.
Mikko Rantanen also sits at $12 million as the Dallas Stars count on him to drive the offense. He had a quieter year by his standards, posting 22 goals, 55 assists and 77 points in 64 games, but he still brings plenty of value.
Mitch Marner is another $12 million player, and his first regular season with the Vegas Golden Knights was solid if not spectacular. He finished with 24 goals, 56 assists and 80 points in 81 games, then caught fire in the playoffs with 29 points in 22 games.
Nico Hischier rounds out the group at $11.7 million. His numbers may not jump off the page, but he remains central to the New Jersey Devils as their captain and their leading goal scorer last season with 28. He added 38 assists and 66 points in 82 games.
Elias Pettersson closes the list, and his spot reflects how far things have fallen for both him and the Vancouver Canucks. Once viewed as one of the league’s brightest young stars when he signed his deal, his production has dropped sharply in the years since.
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