Kaprizov 5th on Forbes' 2026 NHL earnings list

Forbes has published its list of the NHL's highest-paid players for 2026, combining salary and signing bonuses with off-ice earnings from endorsements, licensing and business holdings.

Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks tops the ranking on $21.2m, of which $20.8m comes from his on-ice contract and $400,000 from outside deals. Connor McDavid is second on $20.8m, with Cutter Gauthier third on $19.7m and Connor Bedard fourth on $19.5m.

Kirill Kaprizov sits fifth on $19.4m, of which $19.1m is contract money and $300,000 comes from off-ice income. The Minnesota forward is the top-earning Russian in the league. Minnesota, founded in 1997 and playing out of the Xcel Energy Center, are fifth in the NHL table with four matches played.

Igor Shesterkin shares ninth-tenth place with Mitch Marner on $16m. The Rangers goaltender takes $15.9m of that from his contract, with $100,000 from outside earnings. New York Rangers, founded in 1926 and based at Madison Square Garden, are 16th after one match.

Leon Draisaitl (sixth, $19m), Jack Eichel (seventh, $18.4m) and Adam Fantilli (eighth, $16.3m) complete the top eight. Both Draisaitl and McDavid earn their places for Edmonton, whose off-ice figures - $2.5m and $6.5m respectively - are among the largest outside-the-rink incomes on the list.

The rankings arrive weeks after Cale Makar's new deal with Colorado made him the highest-paid player in NHL history: eight years worth $163.2m in total, an average of $20.4m a season, with $127.6m in signing bonuses. That contract does not begin until next season, which is why Makar does not yet appear on Forbes' 2026 list. Colorado, fourth in the table after four games, sit at Ball Arena.

Forbes counted 35 players now on contracts worth $10m or more a season, up from 20 a year ago, a rise that has been pushing this list higher across the board as the salary cap climbs.