The New Economic Reality of the NHL
When Kirill Kaprizov signed an eight‑year, $136 million contract in 2023, the hockey world took notice as the largest deal in league history.
The ripple effect is evident as stars such as Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Kyle Connor have each inked agreements with average annual values hovering around $13.5 million and $12 million, establishing a new baseline for elite talent.
Leo Carlsson’s five‑year, $90 million offer sheet, which carries an $18 million AAV, illustrates how quickly the market is escalating, while Alex Tuch’s $10.5 million per‑year contract places him among the top‑ten highest‑paid wingers.
Pavel Dorofeyev’s recent seven‑year, $77 million agreement with the New York Rangers elevates him to the seventh‑highest‑paid winger, and the Seattle Kraken’s reported $15 million AAV offer to Jason Robertson underscores the breadth of the surge.
Veterans such as Alex Ovechkin, Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov remain central figures as the league evaluates how experience intersects with rising cap figures.
Players like Mark Stone and Jake Guentzel have also seen their market value reflected in recent negotiations, further diversifying the pool of high‑earning athletes.
Young forwards such as Connor Bedard are poised to command maximum rookie contracts, and defensemen Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are projected to reach $18‑20 million AAVs in the 2027 offseason, a forecast echoed by analyst Elliotte Friedman, who expects Quinn Hughes’ next deal to be three years at $18 million.
Meanwhile, Bowen Byram has become the highest‑paid defenseman at $12.5 million AAV, and Mikko Rantanen’s emerging market position adds further depth to the conversation about player valuation.