FILE - Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson celebrates his empty net goal during the third period of Game 6 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Edmonton Oilers, April 30, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)The financial landscape of the NHL has changed dramatically over the last few seasons, with rising salary cap projections leading to franchises investing big money in elite talent. Extensions that run deep into the future, combined with hard-nosed contract negotiations, have led to some of the richest deals in league history, with several superstars settling for annual cap hits that would have seemed unfathomable just a few years ago.NHL teams don’t simply evaluate contracts based on total value, but on Average Annual Value, or AAV, the figure that dictates how much of a player’s salary will be counted against the team’s salary cap in any given season. With the start of the 2026-27 campaign approaching, Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson is atop the NHL’s salary list after agreeing to a $18 million AAV deal, followed by Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov, Chicago Blackhawks franchise cornerstone Connor Bedard, Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl and Vegas Golden Knights captain Jack Eichel.Highest-paid NHL players entering the 2026-27 seasonThe NHL salary cap keeps going up, giving teams more flexibility to lock up franchise players with long-term, big-money contracts. The value of elite forwards who can produce on a consistent basis and lead teams to victory has increased, and organisations have allocated a large portion of their payroll toward cornerstone talent.Average Annual Value (AAV) continues to be the league’s standard for assessing financial value. AAV is a player’s cap hit for the year, no matter how the salary is structured or if a signing bonus is involved. The following rankings are based on 2026-27 AAV.RankPlayerTeamContract LengthTotal ValueAverage Annual Value1Leo CarlssonAnaheim Ducks5 Years$90 Million$18 Million2Kirill KaprizovMinnesota Wild8 Years$136 Million$17 Million3Connor BedardChicago Blackhawks5 Years$75 Million$15 Million4Leon DraisaitlEdmonton Oilers8 Years$112 Million$14 Million5Jack EichelVegas Golden Knights8 Years$108 Million$13.5 MillionLeo Carlsson becomes Anaheim Ducks' highest-paid franchise playerLeo Carlsson will be the NHL's highest-paid player by average annual value heading into the 2026-27 season having signed a five-year, $90 million contract paying him $18 million per season. The deal was one of the biggest stories of the off-season after the Philadelphia Flyers signed the young Swedish centre to a massive offer sheet, forcing the Anaheim Ducks to decide whether to match the deal.CategoryDetailsTeamAnaheim DucksPositionCenterContract LengthFive YearsTotal Contract Value$90 MillionAverage Annual Value$18 MillionContract StatusMatched Offer SheetNHL Salary RankingFirstDraft PositionSecond Overall (2023)Kirill Kaprizov signs historic Minnesota Wild contract extensionKirill Kaprizov is still one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL after signing an eight-year, $136 million extension that carries an average annual value of $17 million. The deal makes him the second-highest-paid player in the league heading into the 2026-27 season and underscores his value to the Minnesota Wild.CategoryDetailsTeamMinnesota WildPositionLeft WingContract LengthEight YearsTotal Contract Value$136 MillionAverage Annual Value$17 MillionNHL Salary RankingSecondContract DurationThrough 2033-34 SeasonConnor Bedard signs franchise-defining Chicago Blackhawks extensionConnor Bedard secured himself a spot with the top-paid players in the NHL when he signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. The extension has an average annual value of $15 million, which puts Bedard third among the highest-paid players in the league in 2026-27. The deal also features a full no-movement clause in the final year, which reflects Chicago’s commitment to building its future around the former No. 1 overall pick.CategoryDetailsTeamChicago BlackhawksPositionCenterContract LengthFive YearsTotal Contract Value$75 MillionAverage Annual Value$15 MillionContract ClauseFull No-Movement Clause (Final Year)NHL Salary RankingThirdDraft PositionFirst Overall (2023)Leon Draisaitl continues Edmonton Oilers' record-setting salary eraLeon Draisaitl’s eight-year, $112 million extension comes with an average annual value of $14 million, maintaining him among hockey’s highest-paid players. At the time of signing, it was the largest salary cap hit in NHL history, before being surpassed by newer contracts starting in the 2025-26 season.CategoryDetailsTeamEdmonton OilersPositionCenterContract LengthEight YearsTotal Contract Value$112 MillionAverage Annual Value$14 MillionContract Begins2025-26 SeasonContract Expires2032-33 SeasonNHL Salary RankingFourthJack Eichel remains Vegas Golden Knights' highest-paid playerJack Eichel completes the NHL’s top five highest-paid players after inking an eight-year, $108 million extension with the Vegas Golden Knights. The contract is valued at an average of $13.5 million per year, which is the most in franchise history for a player.CategoryDetailsTeamVegas Golden KnightsPositionCenterContract LengthEight YearsTotal Contract Value$108 MillionAverage Annual Value$13.5 MillionFranchise Salary RankingHighest in Team HistoryNHL Salary RankingFifthHighest-paid NHL players compared entering the 2026-27 seasonThe NHL salary cap has risen quickly, and this has had a major impact on the value of contracts throughout the league. Younger franchise players like Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard have quickly climbed the salary scale thanks to long-term extensions, but established stars such as Leon Draisaitl and Jack Eichel remain among the highest-paid players. Teams are more aggressive in pursuing top talent early, trying to lock down cornerstone players before salaries get even higher.RankPlayerTeamContract ValueAAVContract Length1Leo CarlssonAnaheim Ducks$90 Million$18 Million5 Years2Kirill KaprizovMinnesota Wild$136 Million$17 Million8 Years3Connor BedardChicago Blackhawks$75 Million$15 Million5 Years4Leon DraisaitlEdmonton Oilers$112 Million$14 Million8 Years5Jack EichelVegas Golden Knights$108 Million$13.5 Million8 YearsPlayerPositionTeamNHL Draft YearCurrent NHL Salary RankLeo CarlssonCenterAnaheim Ducks20231Kirill KaprizovLeft WingMinnesota WildUndrafted (NHL rights acquired)2Connor BedardCenterChicago Blackhawks20233Leon DraisaitlCenterEdmonton Oilers20144Jack EichelCenterVegas Golden Knights20155The 2026-27 season is another big step in the NHL’s financial development, as the league’s salary cap keeps rising and franchise players will be earning salaries never before seen. Leo Carlsson’s record-setting $18 million AAV now tops the NHL, with Kirill Kaprizov, Connor Bedard, Leon Draisaitl and Jack Eichel rounding out an elite group of superstars rewarded for their production and long-term value. When future stars become eligible for extensions, these deals could set the market once again and create even higher salary benchmarks across the league.