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This week, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers agreed to terms on an eight-year extension worth a total of $112 million, with an average annual value of $14 million per year. While he still has one year left on his current deal, the eight-year extension will kick in from the 2025-26 season, making Draisaitl the highest-paid player in the NHL.
Currently, Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, who was recently named captain of the Maple Leafs this summer, is the highest-paid player in the league. With a cap hit of $13.25 million, and an average annual value of $13.25 million, Matthews sits as the highest-paid player in the league.
When it comes to the largest contract value in NHL history, that title still belongs to Alex Ovechkin, who signed a 13-year $124 million deal with the Washington Capitals back in 2008. Leon Draisaitl's current contract is the second-largest in NHL history with a valuation of $112 million, but the key difference is the length.
While Ovechkin signed a 13-year deal for the largest contract in NHL history, Draisaitl's eight-year deal has a far higher yearly valuation attached to it.
When looking at the four highest contracts in NHL history, which belong to Ovechkin, Leon Draisaitl, Shea Weber, and Sidney Crosby, Draisaitl's is the only one for less than 10 years.
Leon Draisaitl set to become the highest-paid NHL player
The eight-year contract extension signed by Leon Draisaitl will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL starting with the 2025-26 season.
As previously mentioned, for the season ahead, Auston Matthews remains the highest-paid player in the league through the 2024-25 season with a cap hit and an AAV of $13.25 million.
Sitting just behind him on the ladder of highest-paid players we have Nathan MacKinnon with a cap hit and an AAV of $12.6 million, followed by Connor McDavid, who has a cap hit and an AAV of $12.5 million.
When looking at total contract value, the largest active contract in the NHL belongs to Shea Weber, who is on a 14-year deal worth a total of $110 million that runs through the 2025-26 season. Sitting just behind him with a total contract value of $104.4 million is Sidney Crosby, who is on a 12-year $104.4 million deal.
We then see Nathan MacKinnon in third with an eight-year $100.8 million contract, followed by Connor McDavid, who is signed to an eight-year $100 million deal.
While the aforementioned contracts are nothing to scoff at, Leon Draisaitl's eight-year $112 million contract is redefining what NHL fans consider a massive deal. With several other NHL stars poised to sign massive contracts in the years to come, it will be interesting to see how long he remains the highest-paid player.
