Who are the NHL's highest-paid players for 2026-27? Young players cash in
A rising salary cap and an offer sheet have meant bigger salaries for younger players. Here's a full breakdown on the top-paid NHL players.
Yahoo Sports · September 25, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli's signing on Thursday, Sept. 24, to a six-year, $82.5 million contract ($13.75 million average) means that three of the top five cap hits this season belong to the top three draft picks of 2023.
In the past, teams could keep down the salaries of players coming out of their entry-level deals because they lacked arbitration rights. But the Philadelphia Flyers changed that with a five-year, $90 million offer sheet ($18 million cap hit) to Leo Carlsson .
The Ducks matched , and Chicago's Connor Bedard ($15 million average), Fantilli and Anaheim's Cutter Gauthier ($13.5 million) benefitted.
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