Breaking NEWS: NHL List The Most Paying Teams

While hockey might only be America’s eighth most popular sport, it still has a rabid and passionate fanbase. However, as one of the top four major professional league sports, the NHL ranks well salary-wise over other popular leagues, such as Major League Soccer and Women’s Basketball. While hockey salaries might not quite hit men’s basketball levels, it remains the best opportunity for hockey players to make a strong living.

The reality is that while NBA teams pay hundreds of millions in salary, no NHL team surpasses a $100 million payroll. Only two teams are even above $90 million, but none of this takes away from the idea that hockey is a fast-paced sport that’s fun to watch and attend. With that in mind, let’s look at the NHL teams paying their players the most in descending order according to data gathered by Sportrac.

Even though hockey and the NHL might not have NFL salaries and marketing strength, they’re still big business. Every bar and restaurant in America that had television watched the Stanley Cup this year as the Florida Panthers fought to win the NHL’s top prize. Hockey also brings millions of marketing dollars from brands we regularly cover, like Discover, Enterprise, and Adidas.

1. Washington Capitals

• Total payroll: $95,679, 166

Even after a 2023 season in which the Washington Capitals went 40-31-11 and finished 8th in the Eastern Conference, they remain the NHL’s highest-paid team. Led by names like Alexander Ovechkin, John Carlson, and Dylan Strome, the team has a strong group of talent. Unfortunately, being swept out of the playoffs by the New York Rangers wasn’t how the team saw its season ending.

2. Vegas Golden Knights

• Total payroll: $90,864,984

Fresh off winning the Stanley Cup in 2023, the Vegas Golden Knights are among the most successful teams in the NHL over the last few years. Founded in 2017 as an expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights have more than earned their second-highest payroll as part of the NHL. After finishing 1st in the Western Conference and losing in the Conference Finals, expect to see Vegas back with a vengeance in 2024.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

• Total payroll: $88,794,666

One of the oldest teams in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs 2023 season was the 107th in the franchise’s history. Clinching a playoff spot for the 8th consecutive time is no easy task. Unfortunately, after finishing 5th in the Eastern Conference, the Maple Leafs lost to the Boston Bruins. However, the team has strong stars, with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Illya Samsonov to return in 2024.

4. New York Islanders

• Total payroll: $86,937,500

As the team with the fourth-highest payroll in hockey, the New York Islanders certainly hoped for something other than a first-round playoff loss as part of the 2023-2024 season. Thankfully, the team has plenty of talent, with Brock Nelson, Noah Dobson, and Mathew Barzal as the core. After replacing their head coach mid-season, the team hopes they have what it takes to return to the Stanley Cup promised land next year.

5. Vancouver Canucks

• Total payroll: $86,937,500

As the Pacific Division champions in the 2023-2024 season, the Vancouver Canucks showed exactly why they deserve the 5th highest payroll in the NHL. Unfortunately, the Canucks faced the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the playoffs and lost in seven games. However, the play of Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, and J.T. Miller showed off why the Canucks deserve the high salaries they all earn.