Who are highest-paid NHL players for 2026-27 season? See top 50 list

NHL salaries are rising so quickly that Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby has dropped out of the top 50 and Minnesota Wild standout Kirill Kaprizov didn't get a chance to earn a paycheck with the title of top-paid player.Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $136 million extension in 2025 that gave him the top cap hit at $17 million heading into the season. But he was surpassed when the Philadelphia Flyers signed Leo Carlsson to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet ($18 million), which the Anaheim Ducks matched.Carlsson's status was also surpassed when the San Jose Sharks announced on Tuesday, July 29, that Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year extension with an $18.8 million average. His deal won't kick in until the 2027-28 season.Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard signed a five-year deal with a $15 million cap hit that makes him No. 3 overall in 2026-27 behind Carlsson and Kaprizov. Anaheim's Cutter Gauthier and Columbus' Adam Fantilli, restricted free agents without arbitration rights, have yet to sign for the upcoming season.The NHL salary cap, which was stagnant after the pandemic, rose to $95.5 million last season and $104 million this season.Crosby, whose $8.7 million cap hit is derived from his 87 jersey number, is now ranked 52nd in average annual value.Here are the top 50 players in the league in cap hits, plus the top salaries and the top defensemen and goaltenders (money figures are from puckpedia.com):1 / 28NHL players who changed teams in the offseasonForward Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he will join brother Matthews. (James Guillory, Imagn Images)Highest-paid NHL players by cap hitNote: Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will average $18.8 million, starting in 2027-28Top 50 plus tiesC Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $18,000,000LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $17,000,000C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $15,000,000C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,600,000RW Mark Stone, Golden Knights, $9,500,000D Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000Top 30, plus tiesC Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $20,800,000LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $19,100,000C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $17,700,000C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $17,000,000C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $16,500,000RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $15,700,000LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $15,000,000C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $14,250,000C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $14,000,000RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $14,000,000LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $14,000,000C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $13,000,000D Thomas Harley, Stars, $13,000,000C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $12,500,000C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,150,000D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $12,000,000D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $12,000,000C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $12,000,000LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $12,000,000D Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $12,000,000RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $11,250,000C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $11,080,000D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,000,000LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames, $10,500,000C Trevor Zegras, Flyers, $10,500,000Highest-paid defenseman by cap hitNote: Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram will have a $12.5 million cap hit, starting in 2027-28.Top 30 plus tiesErik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $8,850,000Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $8,500,000Rasmus Andersson, Golden Knights, $8,500,000Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $8,250,000Highest-paid goaltenders by cap hitTop 30Thatcher Demko, Canucks, $8,500,000Adin Hill, Golden Knights, $6,250,000Kevin Lankinen, Canucks, $4,500,000What is the NHL salary cap for 2026-27 and beyond?2026-27Upper limit: $104 millionLower limit: $76.9 million2027-28Upper limit: $113.5 millionLower limit: $83.9 millionThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are highest-paid NHL players for 2026-27 season? See top 50 list