The expansion of the salary cap and the emergence of offer sheets have caused the top of the NHL’s salary rankings to skew toward younger players. For instance, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli secured a six-year, $82.5 million deal (averaging $13.75 million annually), placing him among the highest-paid players this season—along with the top two draft picks of 2023. Traditionally, teams could restrict salaries for entry-level players due to the lack of arbitration rights, but this changed when the Philadelphia Flyers made a five-year, $90 million offer sheet (with an $18 million cap hit) to Leo Carlsson. Both Detroit’s Connor Bedard ($15 million) and Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier ($13.5 million) benefited from this new environment. Furthermore, promising prospects like Macklin Celebrini, projected to start earning over $18.8 million annually starting in 2027-28, are set to surpass even established stars like Carlsson. Veteran superstar Cale Makar extended his contract, becoming the first player in NHL history to earn an $20 million average annual salary with an eight-year deal. Ryan Leonard of Washington received an eight-year, $92 million extension after just a season with 45 points. Leonard humorously mentioned giving Carlsson a tap on the shins this year, noting the rising market values and how the NHL is increasingly catching up to sports leagues in salary investments.
The current list of the NHL’s highest-paid players by cap hit highlights Leo Carlsson leading at $20.8 million for the 2026-27 season, followed by Kirill Kaprizov at $19 million and Jack Eichel at $17.7 million, among others. When considering salary, the top figure is again Carlsson with over $20.8 million, while cap hit rankings show Makar’s $20 million being the highest, starting in 2027-28. Defensemen like Bowen Byram are also projected to earn substantial figures, with average cap hits reaching around $12.5 million in the future. The list underscores that in 2026-27, the premier NHL salaries and cap hits are heavily concentrated among young stars and rising talents, signaling significant shifts in how teams allocate their payrolls and invest in younger talent.
Fan Take: This surge in young player salaries indicates a clear shift in NHL team strategies, emphasizing the value and potential of youth movement. For fans, it’s exciting because it suggests a new era where emerging stars command the spotlight—and the paycheck—potentially transforming the competitive landscape and fueling the sport’s growth.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
