The NHL offseason is in full swing, but don’t expect any big deals this summer. The salary cap in the league has risen at a slow pace in recent years, many clubs’ paychecks are full and few risk signing long-term and “big” contracts, even for the best free agents. That’s why short deals become the trend in the offseason, and even Vladimir Tarasenko now seems to have to agree to that format with someone.
But, without waiting for new big signings, we can talk about those NHL players who will be the most treated with salaries next season. So, the best, most expensive hockey players of our time.
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Timo Meier (New Jersey)
Statistics last season: San Jose/New Jersey, 78 games, 66 (40+26) points and 11 games, 4 (2+2) points in the playoffs
Salary next season: $12 million
The 26-year-old Swiss is probably at the peak of his career. Last season, as a result of the trade, he moved from San Jose to New Jersey, where he was unable to take the Stanley Cup with him in the move, but established himself as the Devils’ leader for many years. At the end of June, Mayer signed an eight-year, $70.4 million contract with the Devils, and Timo will have the highest salary under this contract in the next championship.
Alexander Barkov (Florida)
Statistics last season: 68 games, 78 (23+55) points and 21 games, 16 (5+11) points in the playoffs
Salary next season: $12 million
The captain, the undisputed leader of Florida, one of the best two-way centers in the entire NHL, is Alexander Barkov. Finn, with Russian roots, has been successfully playing for the Panthers since the 2013 draft, and two years ago, Barkov signed a fancy eight-year deal with the club for $80 million. The striker will receive the maximum salary for two more seasons. .
Alexander Barkov
Photo: www.nhl.com
Zach Verensky (Columbus)
Statistics last season: 13 games, 8 (3+5) points
Salary next season: $12 million
Columbus signed a key defenseman to a massive contract in the summer of 2021, after a season in which Verensky played only 35 games. The player’s injury did not bother the coaches, and in the last championship, Zach managed to play only 13 meetings before suffering a serious shoulder injury and flying out before the end of the season.
It is not known whether Verensky will be ready for the next tournament, but in the meantime, this year the “uniforms” will have to pay Zach the maximum salary stipulated in the contract.
Adam Fox (Ranger)
Statistics last season: 82 games, 72 (12+60) points and 7 games, 8 (0+8) points in the playoffs
Salary next season: $12 million
Fox’s contract is comparable to Verensky’s in terms of amount and length, and even ended around the same time, but the Rangers are obviously much happier with the results of the deal. Fox is the Blueshirts’ main defensive force, scoring loads of points, breaking records and never making the club regret the millions they spent on him.
Alex Pietrangelo (Las Vegas)
Statistics last season: 73 games, 54 (11+43) points and 21 games, 10 (1+9) points in the playoffs
Salary next season: $12.3 million
One of the NHL’s most charismatic and respected hockey players joined Las Vegas in 2020, immediately signing a $61.6 million, seven-year contract with an interesting salary spread. In the first two seasons, Alex was paid “only” $5 million a year, but now, as you can see, he’s hitting record-breaking salary figures, breaking into the NHL’s top rich at 33 years old. But can anyone say that Pietrangelo does not deserve this money? An experienced defenseman with the highest level of work ethic, bowling character, and skill, who recently became a two-time NHL champion.
Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota)
Statistics last season: 67 games, 75 (40+35) points and 6 games, 1 (1+0) point in the playoffs
Salary next season: $12.5 million
Everything has been said and written about Kaprizov for a long time – this is the main person in modern Minnesota, despite the disastrous last tiebreaker. Kirill has the third season under a five-year contract on his nose, and in it the Russian expects the highest salary.
Kirill Kaprizov
Photo: www.nhl.com
Seth Jones (Chicago)
Statistics last season: 72 games, 37 (12+25) points
Salary next season: $12.5 million
Seth Jones committed to an eight-year deal with Chicago two years ago, when the Blackhawks weren’t thinking of undertaking such a massive rebuild. It is not known if the American defender regrets this decision, but he now leads the club’s roster by a margin, and next season he will receive the maximum salary under his contract. Perhaps understanding these factors will smooth out Chicago’s lack of cup prospects for years to come.
Alexander Ovechkin (Washington)
Statistics last season: 73 games, 75 (42+33) points
Salary next season: $12.5 million
At the age of 38, Ovechkin played to his career-high salary. Well, we expect Alexander and maximum results next season!
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Dougie Hamilton (New Jersey)
Statistics last season: 82 games, 74 (22+52) points and 12 games, 4 (1+3) points in the playoffs
Salary next season: $12.6 million
Three of the main riches of the upcoming NHL season opens the defender from “New Jersey” Hamilton. Two years ago, Dougie signed a long-term contract with the Devils and is now entering seasons at maximum salary. Whether or not Hamilton deserves that kind of money is debatable, but he is New Jersey’s top defender and the team’s top offensive option among defensive players.
David Pastrnak (Boston)
Statistics last season: 82 games, 113 (61+52) points and 7 games, 5 (5+0) points in the playoffs
Salary next season: $13 million
The Czech leader of Boston and super sharpshooter of the entire NHL, Pastrnak, had an outstanding last season and at the end of the regular season he received an excellent contract from the Bruins, for 8 years and $ 90 million. The contract is designed in such a way that Pastrnak will receive the maximum salary in the first two years, and next season the Czech on this indicator will give up only one hockey player.
david pastrnak
Photo: www.nhl.com
Nathan McKinnon (Colorado)
Statistics last season: 71 games, 111 (42+69) points and 7 games, 7 (3+4) points in the playoffs
Salary next season: $16.5 million
Compete with the leader of the “Colorado” McKinnon in the financial sense is impossible. In the fall of 2022, after the Avalanches’ long-awaited championship, the club awarded Nathan a powerful 8-year, $100.8 million contract, which will take effect only starting next season. McKinnon is the all-time leader in the NHL not only in terms of salary per year, but also in terms of salary cap, which is $12.6 million, ahead of McDavid’s figures.
