Leo Carlsson leads NHL salary list for 2026-27 season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 28, 2026, 11:07 PM
Last updated Aug 28, 2026
Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson is the highest-paid player for the 2026-27 NHL season, with an average cap hit of $18 million. Minnesota Wild's Kirill Kaprizov follows at $17 million, as salaries continue to rise significantly. Cale Makar's recent eight-year extension with the Colorado Avalanche is a notable factor, making him the first player to exceed a $20 million cap hit starting in the following season. This trend reflects the impact of increasing salary cap limits post-COVID restrictions. The next season will see further salary adjustments with new contracts kicking in.
- •Leo Carlsson earns $18 million average cap hit in 2026-27
- •Kirill Kaprizov follows with $17 million
- •Cale Makar's deal averages $20.4 million starting in 2027-28
- •Salary cap growth contributes to rising player contracts
- •NHL salary cap spikes since the pandemic restrictions
- 11:07 PMYahoo Sports — Who are the NHL's highest-paid players in 2026-27? See full breakdown
"Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson is the highest-paid player in 2026-27, but Macklin Celebrini and Cale Makar will pass him next season.
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