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Here are several tables of National Hockey League team payrolls for each team in the NHL. For simplicity, players traded mid-season are considered to be on the payroll of the team acquiring that player.
After the 2004–05 season was cancelled, a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was agreed upon between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association. This CBA included a salary cap for team salaries (formally defined in the CBA as the "Upper Limit"), which would potentially increase from one season to the next depending on league revenues, [1] and a cap for player salaries, set at 20 percent of the team salary cap. [2] The teams also have a minimum payroll requirement (formally defined as the "Lower Limit"), which was $21.5 million in 2005–06, [3] but fixed from 2006–07 onward at $16 million below the salary cap.
From the 2003–04 season to the 2005–06 season, the implementation of the salary cap caused a marked normalization of team payrolls, and a decrease in the payroll disparity from team to team. Ten teams (of thirty) decreased their payrolls by more than $15 million, with four decreasing their payrolls by more than $30 million; only seven teams increased their payrolls, with four increasing their payrolls by more than $5 million. The standard deviation of the payrolls decreased from $15,898,399 to $6,371,263 after the salary cap was introduced.
| Year | Average team payroll | % change | Standard deviation | Team cap | Player cap | Number of teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $29,730,833 | – | $7,375,757 | No cap | 27 | |
| 1999–2000 | $31,564,167 | 6.17% | $9,963,577 | 28 | ||
| 2000–01 | $33,375,943 | 5.74% | $11,657,873 | 30 | ||
| 2001–02 | $38,011,852 | 13.89% | $14,162,670 | |||
| 2002–03 | $41,939,715 | 10.33% | $16,876,630 | |||
| 2003–04 | $44,400,490 | 5.87% | $15,898,399 | |||
| 2004–05 | Season canceled due to lockout | |||||
| 2005–06 | $34,309,972 | -22.73% | $6,371,263 | $39,000,000 | $7,800,000 | |
| 2006–07 | $40,292,446 | 17.44% | $4,720,484 | $44,000,000 | $8,800,000 | |
| 2007–08 | $44,369,521 | 10.12% | $7,573,225 | $50,300,000 | $10,060,000 | |
| 2008–09 | $51,387,176 | 15.82% | $7,968,239 | $56,700,000 | $11,340,000 | |
| 2009–10 | $52,772,060 | 2.69% | $5,541,890 | $56,800,000 | $11,360,000 | |
| 2010–11 | $54,229,043 | 2.76% | $6,758,459 | $59,400,000 | $11,880,000 | |
| 2011–12 | $58,862,833 | 8.54% | $5,563,110 | $64,300,000 | $12,860,000 | |
| 2012–13 1 | $35,004,146 [4] | -40.53% | $60,000,000 | $12,000,000 | ||
| 2013–14 | $56,975,964 [5] | 62.77% | $64,300,000 | $12,860,000 | ||
| 2014–15 | $60,863,476 [6] | 6.82% | $69,000,000 | $13,800,000 | ||
| 2015–16 | $59,173,968 [7] | -2.78% | $71,400,000 | $14,280,000 | ||
| 2016–17 | $64,132,129 [8] | 8.38% | $73,000,000 | $14,600,000 | ||
| 2017–18 | $63,315,723 [9] | -1.27% | $75,000,000 | $15,000,000 | 31 | |
| 2018–19 | $66,636,112 [10] | 5.24% | $79,500,000 | $15,900,000 | ||
| 2019–20 | $81,500,000 | $16,300,000 | ||||
| 2020–21 | ||||||
| 2021–22 | 32 | |||||
| 2022–23 | $82,500,000 | $16,500,000 | ||||
| 2023–24 | $83,500,000 | $16,700,000 | ||||
| 2024–25 | ~$87,700,000 | ~$17,540,000 | ||||
1Season shortened by the 2012–13 NHL lockout; teams could spend up to $70.2 million, pro-rated for the season's length.
Between the 1998–99 and 2007–08 seasons, the total players' payroll was $9,990,698,194, which is an average of $37,700,748 per team per season. The division with the highest total payroll over this nine-year period is the Atlantic Division, paying out $1,912,252,452 ($42,494,499 per team per season). The division with the lowest total payroll over this period was the Southeast Division; it was considered the weakest hockey market in the league, as one of its teams (the Atlanta Thrashers) relocated prior to the 2011–12 season. [11]
Teams in the Southeast Division have had a home attendance above the league average for a given year only six times:
Prior to the dissolution of the Southeast Division after the 2012–13 season, teams in that division frequently had average attendance numbers in the bottom ten in the league for a given year:
The team that spent the most on players' salaries over these nine seasons are the New York Rangers, who spent a total of $517,076,928 for players, averaging $57,452,992 per season. [12] [13] The Detroit Red Wings have the second highest total payroll over this period, with $483,801,165, for an average of $53,755,685 per season. [13] [14]
The Nashville Predators had the lowest payroll per season over the same period, totalling $218,136,880 ($24,237,431 per season), [13] [15] followed by the Atlanta Thrashers with a total of $212,616,075 ($26,577,009 per season). [13] [16] The absolute lowest payroll belongs to the Minnesota Wild, who joined the league in 2000–01. In the seven seasons since the Wild joined the league, they have the lowest total payroll, at $187,278,126 ($26,754,018 per season). [17] Nashville's payroll over this period was slightly higher, at $187,936,880 ($26,848,126 per season). [15]
The Calgary Flames held the unique distinction of being the only team to have increased their payroll every year between the 1998–99 season and the 2007–08 season.
Sergei Fedorov, Paul Kariya and Jaromir Jagr have each had the highest salary on three different teams between 2000–01 and 2007–08:
| This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Data needs to be updated through 2019–20 season.(December 2019) |
The Metropolitan Division currently has the highest total player payrolls of any division in the league as of the end of the 2018–19 season. Its predecessor division (which was known as the Atlantic Division between 1993 and 2013) had the highest total player payrolls of any division between 1998–99 and 2007–08, paying out $1,912,252,452 to its players ($42,494,499 per team per season). The New York Rangers were the highest paying team in the Atlantic Division (and in the entire league) over this period, with a player payroll of $517,076,928 ($57,452,992 per season), [12] [13] while the Pittsburgh Penguins are the lowest paying team in the division over these nine seasons, with total payrolls of $260,515,726 ($28,946,192 per season). [13] [18]
These are the salaries for the Carolina Hurricanes.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $28,600,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $27,100,000 | -5.24% | |||
| 2000–01 | $32,473,250 | 19.83% | $612,500 | Ron Francis | $5,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $31,994,900 | -1.47% | $859,750 | Ron Francis | $5,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $33,131,287 | 3.55% | $700,000 | Ron Francis | $5,936,287 |
| 2003–04 | $35,908,738 | 8.38% | $750,000 | Rod Brind'Amour | $5,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $35,308,700 | -1.67% | $1,000,000 | Doug Weight | $5,700,000 |
| 2006–07 | $38,970,800 | 10.37% | $1,250,000 | Rod Brind'Amour Erik Cole Eric Staal | $4,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $49,948,600 | 28.17% | $2,200,000 | Eric Staal | $4,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team played its first season in 2000–01 and was in the Western Conference between the 2000–01 season and the 2012–13 season.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | $18,287,400 | $650,000 | Lyle Odelein | $2,300,000 | |
| 2001–02 | $20,013,500 | 9.44% | $710,500 | Ron Tugnutt | $2,400,000 |
| 2002–03 | $26,740,040 | 33.61% | $650,000 | Luke Richardson | $2,750,000 |
| 2003–04 | $34,000,000 | 27.15% | $1,050,000 | Darryl Sydor | $3,500,000 |
| 2005–06 | $30,093,235 | -11.49% | $604,000 | Sergei Fedorov | $6,080,000 |
| 2006–07 | $36,910,000 | 22.65% | $775,000 | Sergei Fedorov | $6,080,000 |
| 2007–08 | $28,010,000 [19] | -24.11% | $1,000,000 | Rick Nash | $5,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the New Jersey Devils.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $27,700,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $31,300,000 | 13.00% | |||
| 2000–01 | $39,151,118 | 25.08% | $800,000 | Alexander Mogilny | $5,200,000 |
| 2001–02 | $43,118,026 | 10.13% | $1,050,000 | Joe Nieuwendyk | $5,500,000 |
| 2002–03 | $56,072,626 | 30.04% | $1,350,000 | Martin Brodeur Scott Stevens | $6,891,103 |
| 2003–04 | $48,931,658 | -12.74% | $1,425,000 | Scott Stevens | $6,916,747 |
| 2005–06 | $44,895,949 [20] | -8.25% | $1,000,000 | Martin Brodeur | $5,237,238 |
| 2006–07 | $49,608,766 [20] | 10.50% | $984,200 | Patrik Elias | $7,500,000 |
| 2007–08 | $47,622,511 | -4.00% | $1,400,000 | Patrik Elias | $7,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the New York Islanders.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $21,300,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $18,100,000 | -15.02% | |||
| 2000–01 | $23,354,760 | 29.03% | $875,000 | Roman Hamrlik | $2,800,000 |
| 2001–02 | $33,658,204 | 44.12% | $962,500 | Alexei Yashin | $6,549,944 |
| 2002–03 | $37,010,935 | 9.96% | $1,037,500 | Alexei Yashin | $7,400,000 |
| 2003–04 | $40,865,500 | 10.41% | $900,000 | Alexei Yashin | $8,400,000 |
| 2005–06 | $31,447,520 | -23.05% | $830,860 | Alexei Yashin | $7,600,000 |
| 2006–07 | $37,759,720 | 20.07% | $865,000 | Alexei Yashin | $7,600,000 |
| 2007–08 | $39,007,720 | 3.31% | $816,360 | Rick DiPietro Bill Guerin Miroslav Satan | $4,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the New York Rangers.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $39,800,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $59,400,000 [20] | 49.25% | |||
| 2000–01 | $56,887,037 [20] | -4.23% | $1,325,000 | Brian Leetch | $7,680,000 |
| 2001–02 | $64,793,530 | 13.90% | $1,800,000 | Pavel Bure | $10,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $76,477,085 [20] | 18.03% | $2,650,000 | Pavel Bure | $10,000,000 |
| 2003–04 | $76,488,716 | 0.02% | $2,800,000 | Pavel Bure | $10,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $41,474,800 | -45.78% | $760,000 | Jaromir Jagr | $8,360,000 |
| 2006–07 | $45,050,760 | 8.62% | $950,000 | Jaromir Jagr | $8,360,000 |
| 2007–08 | $56,705,000 | 25.87% | $1,312,500 | Scott Gomez | $10,000,000 |
These are the salaries for the Philadelphia Flyers.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $39,400,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $50,300,000 | 27.66% | |||
| 2000–01 | $40,932,500 | -18.62% | $1,037,500 | John LeClair | $7,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $56,435,000 | 37.87% | $1,600,000 | John LeClair | $9,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $65,222,633 | 15.57% | $2,200,000 | John LeClair | $9,000,000 |
| 2003–04 | $68,175,247 | 4.53% | $2,425,000 | John LeClair | $9,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $42,566,760 | -37.56% | $1,254,000 | Peter Forsberg | $5,750,000 |
| 2006–07 | $43,749,445 | 2.78% | $1,200,000 | Simon Gagne | $5,250,000 |
| 2007–08 | $56,973,200 | 30.23% | $1,225,000 | Daniel Briere | $10,000,000 |
These are the salaries for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $23,800,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $30,300,000 | 27.31% | |||
| 2000–01 | $33,677,333 | 11.15% | $785,000 | Jaromir Jagr | $9,842,708 |
| 2001–02 | $34,130,770 | 1.35% | $719,250 | Mario Lemieux | $5,250,000 |
| 2002–03 | $24,407,500 | -28.49% | $650,000 | Mario Lemieux | $5,250,000 |
| 2003–04 | $23,400,000 | -4.13% | $625,000 | Mario Lemieux | $5,250,000 |
| 2005–06 | $23,122,650 | -1.19% | $608,000 | Sergei Gonchar Zigmund Palffy | $3,500,000 |
| 2006–07 | $26,293,273 [19] | 13.71% | $850,000 | Sergei Gonchar | $4,500,000 |
| 2007–08 | $41,384,200 | 57.39% | $1,029,600 | Marian Hossa | $7,000,000 |
These are the salaries for the Washington Capitals.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $31,000,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $28,300,000 | -8.71% | |||
| 2000–01 | $41,275,000 | 45.85% | $1,400,000 | Peter Bondra | $4,525,000 |
| 2001–02 | $47,392,250 | 14.82% | $1,400,000 | Jaromir Jagr | $11,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $51,398,058 | 8.45% | $1,400,000 | Jaromir Jagr | $11,483,333 |
| 2003–04 | $50,895,750 | -0.98% | $917,500 | Jaromir Jagr | $11,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $18,932,830 [19] | -62.80% | $605,000 | Olaf Kolzig | $4,940,000 |
| 2006–07 | $29,728,412 | 57.02% | $825,000 | Olaf Kolzig | $5,450,000 |
| 2007–08 | $44,309,200 | 49.05% | $942,100 | Sergei Fedorov | $6,080,000 |
The current incarnation of the Atlantic Division was created prior to the 2013–14 season as a merger between the Southeast Division and the Northeast Division. Between 1998–99 and 2007–08, the Northeast Division had total player payrolls of $1,694,667,213 ($37,659,271 per team per season). The Toronto Maple Leafs paid their players the most in the Northeast Division over these nine seasons, with total payrolls of $414,581,865 ($46,064,652 per season), [13] [21] while the Buffalo Sabres paid the least in the division over the same time, with total payrolls of $300,251,418 ($33,361,269 per season). [13] [22]
The other predecessor to the Atlantic Division, the Southeast Division, had the lowest player payroll of any division between 1998–99 and 2007–08, totalling $1,424,591,667 during this time ($32,377,083 per team per season). This market was considered one of the weakest in the league. [11] The Washington Capitals were the highest paying team in the Southeast Division, with total payrolls of $343,231,500 ($38,136,833 per season); [13] [23] the Atlanta Thrashers, who joined the league in 1999–2000 and relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, were the lowest paying team in the division (and in the Eastern Conference), with total payrolls of $212,616,075 ($26,577,009 per season). [13] [16]
These are the salaries for the Boston Bruins.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $22,800,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $24,500,000 | 7.46% | |||
| 2000–01 | $31,875,576 | 30.10% | $912,500 | Jason Allison | $3,500,000 |
| 2001–02 | $41,862,500 | 31.33% | $1,627,500 | Martin Lapointe | $5,250,000 |
| 2002–03 | $44,050,000 | 5.23% | $1,350,000 | Martin Lapointe | $5,250,000 |
| 2003–04 | $46,569,000 | 5.72% | $1,300,000 | Martin Lapointe Joe Thornton | $5,500,000 |
| 2005–06 | $36,662,100 | -21.27% | $858,800 | Glen Murray | $4,150,000 |
| 2006–07 | $43,735,700 | 19.29% | $925,000 | Zdeno Chara | $7,500,000 |
| 2007–08 | $49,501,600 | 13.18% | $992,100 | Zdeno Chara | $7,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the Buffalo Sabres.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $26,100,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $30,900,000 | 18.39% | |||
| 2000–01 | $38,690,416 | 25.21% | $1,045,000 | Dominik Hasek | $7,500,000 |
| 2001–02 | $28,891,666 | -25.33% | $1,012,500 | Miroslav Satan Alexei Zhitnik | $3,250,000 |
| 2002–03 | $28,254,166 | -2.21% | $1,087,500 | Miroslav Satan Alexei Zhitnik | $3,550,000 |
| 2003–04 | $32,954,250 | 16.64% | $1,000,000 | Miroslav Satan | $4,750,000 |
| 2005–06 | $28,515,120 | -13.47% | $989,720 | Chris Drury | $2,926,000 |
| 2006–07 | $39,991,400 | 40.25% | $1,875,000 | Daniel Briere | $5,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $45,954,400 | 14.91% | $1,617,100 | Thomas Vanek | $10,000,000 |
These are the salaries for the Detroit Red Wings.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $48,300,000 [20] | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $43,400,000 | -10.14% | |||
| 2000–01 | $55,107,500 | 26.98% | $1,600,000 | Steve Yzerman | $8,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $66,643,750 [20] | 20.93% | $1,300,000 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $8,500,000 |
| 2002–03 | $68,410,506 | 2.65% | $1,400,000 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $10,500,000 |
| 2003–04 | $77,856,109 [20] | 13.81% | $1,500,000 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $10,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $39,578,300 | -49.16% | $900,000 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $7,600,000 |
| 2006–07 | $39,872,000 | 0.74% | $1,170,000 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $7,600,000 |
| 2007–08 | $44,633,000 | 11.94% | $975,000 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $7,600,000 |
These are the salaries for the Florida Panthers.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $31,800,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $33,300,000 | 4.72% | |||
| 2000–01 | $32,450,000 | -2.55% | $912,500 | Pavel Bure | $9,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $29,919,400 | -7.80% | $925,000 | Sandis Ozolinsh | $5,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $21,473,000 | -28.23% | $925,000 | Viktor Kozlov | $2,100,000 |
| 2003–04 | $26,127,500 | 21.68% | $902,500 | Valeri Bure | $3,100,000 |
| 2005–06 | $26,500,510 | 1.43% | $830,000 | Roberto Luongo | $3,200,000 |
| 2006–07 | $37,606,280 | 41.91% | $1,042,100 | Todd Bertuzzi | $5,269,080 |
| 2007–08 | $39,749,200 | 5.70% | $984,200 | Tomas Vokoun | $5,300,000 |
These are the salaries for the Montreal Canadiens.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $33,500,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $33,800,000 | 0.90% | |||
| 2000–01 | $26,529,200 | -21.51% | $725,000 | Jeff Hackett Saku Koivu | $3,300,000 |
| 2001–02 | $41,277,373 | 55.59% | $1,012,435 | Jeff Hackett | $3,400,000 |
| 2002–03 | $41,972,360 | 1.68% | $1,600,000 | Jose Theodore | $5,000,000 |
| 2003–04 | $38,857,000 | -7.42% | $1,350,000 | Jose Theodore | $5,500,000 |
| 2005–06 | $32,994,940 | -15.09% | $988,000 | Alexei Kovalev | $4,500,000 |
| 2006–07 | $43,559,307 | 32.02% | $1,887,500 | Saku Koivu | $4,750,000 |
| 2007–08 | $42,313,500 | -2.86% | $1,225,000 | Andrei Markov | $5,750,000 |
These are the salaries for the Ottawa Senators.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $21,000,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $21,700,000 | 3.33% | |||
| 2000–01 | $29,086,250 | 34.04% | $862,500 | Alexei Yashin | $3,600,000 |
| 2001–02 | $27,220,750 | -6.41% | $800,000 | Daniel Alfredsson | $3,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $34,340,000 | 26.15% | $1,000,000 | Daniel Alfredsson | $4,550,000 |
| 2003–04 | $39,590,000 | 15.29% | $1,075,000 | Daniel Alfredsson | $5,050,000 |
| 2005–06 | $36,909,094 | -6.77% | $1,100,000 | Daniel Alfredsson | $4,662,894 |
| 2006–07 | $43,630,310 | 18.21% | $1,500,000 | Wade Redden | $6,500,000 |
| 2007–08 | $49,997,370 | 14.59% | $1,300,000 | Wade Redden | $6,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $28,500,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $19,000,000 | -33.33% | |||
| 2000–01 | $17,989,000 | -5.32% | $775,000 | Petr Svoboda | $2,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $27,345,896 | 52.01% | $950,000 | Nikolai Khabibulin | $3,316,298 |
| 2002–03 | $29,483,439 | 7.82% | $975,000 | Nikolai Khabibulin | $3,873,439 |
| 2003–04 | $34,065,379 | 15.54% | $1,115,000 | Nikolai Khabibulin | $4,434,579 |
| 2005–06 | $39,157,379 | 14.95% | $981,400 | Martin St. Louis | $6,500,000 |
| 2006–07 | $41,886,667 | 6.97% | $625,000 | Brad Richards | $7,800,000 |
| 2007–08 | $38,954,167 | -7.00% | $950,000 | Vincent Lecavalier | $7,166,667 |
These are the salaries for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $34,000,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $34,000,000 | 0.00% | |||
| 2000–01 | $41,003,187 | 20.60% | $1,000,000 | Mats Sundin | $7,500,000 |
| 2001–02 | $51,565,958 | 25.76% | $1,400,000 | Mats Sundin | $7,500,000 |
| 2002–03 | $65,054,900 | 26.16% | $2,112,500 | Mats Sundin | $9,000,000 |
| 2003–04 | $62,458,140 | -3.99% | $1,500,000 | Mats Sundin | $9,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $36,796,580 | -41.09% | $1,007,000 | Mats Sundin | $6,840,000 |
| 2006–07 | $43,257,920 | 17.56% | $901,740 | Mats Sundin | $7,600,000 |
| 2007–08 | $46,445,180 | 7.37% | $1,375,000 | Bryan McCabe | $7,150,000 |
| This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Data through 2019–20 season needed.(December 2019) |
The Central Division had player payrolls of $1,604,944,295 between 1998–99 and 2007–08 ($37,324,286 per team per season). The highest paying team in the Central Division (and in the Western Conference) during that period was the Detroit Red Wings (who transferred to the Atlantic Division in 2013), with total payrolls of $483,801,165 ($53,755,685 per season), [13] [14] while the lowest paying team in the division (and the entire league) was the Nashville Predators, with total payrolls of $218,136,880 ($24,237,431 per season). [13] [15]
These are the salaries for the Chicago Blackhawks.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $35,800,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $32,400,000 | -9.50% | |||
| 2000–01 | $29,700,000 | -8.33% | $1,050,000 | Boris Mironov | $3,200,000 |
| 2001–02 | $41,462,500 | 39.60% | $1,525,000 | Alexei Zhamnov | $4,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $35,290,000 | -14.89% | $1,025,000 | Theo Fleury Alexei Zhamnov | $4,000,000 |
| 2003–04 | $30,867,502 | -12.53% | $701,251 | Alexei Zhamnov | $4,500,000 |
| 2005–06 | $30,141,200 | -2.35% | $817,000 | Nikolai Khabibulin | $6,750,000 |
| 2006–07 | $38,499,600 | 27.73% | $963,300 | Nikolai Khabibulin | $6,750,000 |
| 2007–08 | $34,800,540 | -9.61% | $921,200 | Nikolai Khabibulin | $6,750,000 |
These are the salaries for the Colorado Avalanche.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $30,800,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $41,500,000 | 34.74% | |||
| 2000–01 | $51,692,500 | 24.56% | $900,000 | Peter Forsberg | $10,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $59,523,921 | 15.15% | $975,000 | Peter Forsberg | $11,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $62,860,926 | 5.61% | $950,000 | Joe Sakic | $9,856,018 |
| 2003–04 | $63,382,458 | 0.83% | $750,000 | Peter Forsberg | $11,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $41,044,829 | -35.24% | $759,100 | Joe Sakic | $6,664,797 |
| 2006–07 | $37,999,700 | -7.42% | $984,200 | Joe Sakic | $5,750,000 |
| 2007–08 | $61,290,750 [20] | 61.29% | $1,200,000 | Ryan Smyth | $7,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the Dallas Stars.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $39,800,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $42,300,000 | 6.28% | |||
| 2000–01 | $50,050,000 | 18.32% | $955,000 | Brett Hull Mike Modano | $7,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $48,710,352 | -2.68% | $1,600,000 | Mike Modano | $8,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $69,570,169 | 42.82% | $2,525,000 | Bill Guerin | $8,732,891 |
| 2003–04 | $68,578,885 | -1.42% | $2,600,000 | Mike Modano | $9,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $40,651,480 | -40.72% | $700,000 | Bill Guerin | $6,738,498 |
| 2006–07 | $43,877,000 | 7.93% | $1,045,000 | Marty Turco | $6,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $49,420,000 | 12.63% | $950,000 | Brad Richards | $7,800,000 |
These are the salaries for the Minnesota Wild. The team's first season was 2000–01.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | $11,737,500 [19] | $500,000 | Marian Gaborik | $1,075,000 | |
| 2001–02 | $16,783,576 | 42.99% | $650,000 | Manny Fernandez | $1,450,000 |
| 2002–03 | $20,743,750 [19] | 23.60% | $775,000 | Cliff Ronning | $1,850,000 |
| 2003–04 | $27,200,500 | 31.13% | $850,000 | Marian Gaborik | $2,900,000 |
| 2005–06 | $25,158,800 | -7.51% | $798,000 | Marian Gaborik | $2,679,000 |
| 2006–07 | $39,471,000 | 56.89% | $1,187,500 | Marian Gaborik | $5,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $46,183,000 | 17.00% | $1,200,000 | Marian Gaborik | $6,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the Nashville Predators.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $13,600,000 [19] | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $16,600,000 [19] | 22.06% | |||
| 2000–01 | $18,437,500 | 11.07% | $725,000 | Cliff Ronning | $1,750,000 |
| 2001–02 | $18,700,000 | 1.42% | $800,000 | Mike Dunham | $2,600,000 |
| 2002–03 | $23,932,500 | 27.98% | $837,500 | Jason York | $2,000,000 |
| 2003–04 | $21,932,500 [19] | -8.36% | $700,000 | Kimmo Timonen Jason York | $2,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $31,649,440 | 44.30% | $922,070 | Paul Kariya | $4,500,000 |
| 2006–07 | $43,011,600 | 35.90% | $1,525,000 | Peter Forsberg | $5,750,000 |
| 2007–08 | $30,273,340 | -29.62% | $800,000 | Jason Arnott | $4,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the St. Louis Blues.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $31,300,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $32,600,000 | 4.15% | |||
| 2000–01 | $47,092,500 | 44.46% | $1,025,000 | Keith Tkachuk | $8,300,000 |
| 2001–02 | $57,405,000 | 21.90% | $1,037,500 | Chris Pronger | $9,500,000 |
| 2002–03 | $68,710,000 | 19.69% | $1,077,500 | Keith Tkachuk | $11,000,000 |
| 2003–04 | $61,675,000 | -10.24% | $837,500 | Keith Tkachuk | $10,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $28,480,800 | -53.82% | $596,600 | Keith Tkachuk | $7,600,000 |
| 2006–07 | $33,679,600 | 18.25% | $1,000,000 | Jay McKee | $4,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $39,047,833 | 15.94% | $1,200,000 | Paul Kariya | $6,000,000 |
These are the salaries for the Winnipeg Jets. The team played its first season as the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999–2000, and moved to Winnipeg in 2011; they remained in the Southeast Division until the end of the 2012–13 season, when they were moved into the Central Division.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | $16,700,000 | ||||
| 2000–01 | $17,818,175 | 6.70% | $525,000 | Damian Rhodes | $2,250,000 |
| 2001–02 | $15,220,000 [19] | -14.58% | $600,000 | Damian Rhodes | $2,550,000 |
| 2002–03 | $22,972,500 | 50.94% | $725,000 | Shawn McEachern | $3,350,000 |
| 2003–04 | $28,547,500 | 24.27% | $787,500 | Byron Dafoe Vyacheslav Kozlov | $3,500,000 |
| 2005–06 | $37,170,200 | 30.20% | $900,600 | Ilya Kovalchuk | $6,500,000 |
| 2006–07 | $37,607,700 | 1.18% | $875,300 | Marian Hossa | $6,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $36,580,000 | -2.73% | $1,100,000 | Ilya Kovalchuk | $5,500,000 |
The current iteration of the Pacific Division was created for the 2013–14 season; this division featured four teams from the old Pacific Division (three teams from California and one from Arizona) and the three Canadian teams that were present in the Northwest Division.
The Northwest Division paid out $1,544,681,647 to its players between 1998–99 and 2007–08 ($35,922,829 per team per season). The Colorado Avalanche had the highest player payrolls in the Northwest Division in this time, totalling $450,095,084 ($50,010,565 per season); [13] [24] the Minnesota Wild were the lowest paying team in the division (and in the league, for the seven years since they have been a part of it), with total payrolls of $187,278,126 ($26,754,018 per season). [17]
The Pacific Division had payrolls of $1,809,560,920 ($40,212,465 per team per season) in the seasons between 1998–99 and 2007–08. The Dallas Stars paid the most in the Pacific Division over these nine seasons, with players receiving $452,957,886 ($50,328,654 per season), [13] [25] and the Phoenix Coyotes paid the least in the division over that time, with total payrolls of $303,728,146 ($33,747,572 per season); that team would file for bankruptcy in 2009 and was owned by the NHL until just before the 2013–14 season. [13] [26]
These are the salaries for the Anaheim Ducks.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $30,400,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $35,100,000 | 15.46% | |||
| 2000–01 | $28,430,000 | -19.00% | $600,000 | Paul Kariya | $10,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $35,009,000 | 23.14% | $962,500 | Paul Kariya | $10,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $45,519,500 | 30.02% | $1,073,750 | Paul Kariya | $10,000,000 |
| 2003–04 | $53,296,750 | 17.09% | $1,267,500 | Sergei Fedorov | $10,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $32,060,233 | -39.85% | $684,000 | Scott Niedermayer | $6,750,000 |
| 2006–07 | $40,461,433 | 26.20% | $684,000 | Scott Niedermayer | $6,750,000 |
| 2007–08 | $50,769,200 | 25.48% | $1,223,500 | Scott Niedermayer | $6,750,000 |
These are the salaries for the Arizona Coyotes.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $28,000,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $31,000,000 | 10.71% | |||
| 2000–01 | $34,626,833 | 11.70% | $687,500 | Jeremy Roenick | $5,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $31,854,433 | -8.01% | $1,046,250 | Teppo Numminen | $4,750,000 |
| 2002–03 | $35,917,435 | 12.75% | $1,000,000 | Teppo Numminen | $4,750,000 |
| 2003–04 | $39,249,750 | 9.28% | $1,075,000 | Sean Burke | $4,500,000 |
| 2005–06 | $30,354,345 | -22.66% | $900,600 | Shane Doan | $3,002,000 |
| 2006–07 | $37,030,600 | 21.99% | $982,300 | Ed Jovanovski | $7,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $35,694,750 | -3.61% | $850,000 | Ed Jovanovski | $7,000,000 |
These are the salaries for the Calgary Flames. The Calgary Flames held the unique distinction of being the only team to have increased their payroll every year between the 1998–99 season and the 2007–08 season.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $20,700,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $21,600,000 | 4.35% | |||
| 2000–01 | $26,542,500 | 22.88% | $1,025,000 | Mike Vernon | $3,250,000 |
| 2001–02 | $26,915,000 | 1.40% | $800,000 | Roman Turek | $2,800,000 |
| 2002–03 | $32,217,000 | 19.70% | $820,000 | Jarome Iginla | $5,500,000 |
| 2003–04 | $36,402,575 | 12.99% | $950,000 | Jarome Iginla | $7,500,000 |
| 2005–06 | $36,589,140 | 0.51% | $1,140,000 | Jarome Iginla | $7,000,000 |
| 2006–07 | $45,831,400 | 25.26% | $1,475,000 | Jarome Iginla | $7,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $50,934,900 | 11.14% | $1,500,000 | Jarome Iginla | $7,000,000 |
These are the salaries for the Edmonton Oilers.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $21,900,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $24,000,000 | 9.59% | |||
| 2000–01 | $25,050,000 | 4.38% | $925,000 | Doug Weight | $4,300,000 |
| 2001–02 | $24,317,250 | -2.93% | $903,750 | Tommy Salo | $3,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $27,932,500 | 14.87% | $1,000,000 | Tommy Salo | $3,500,000 |
| 2003–04 | $33,375,000 | 19.48% | $1,075,000 | Tommy Salo | $3,900,000 |
| 2005–06 | $38,469,340 | 15.26% | $1,083,000 | Chris Pronger | $6,250,000 |
| 2006–07 | $42,280,000 | 9.91% | $1,026,000 | Dwayne Roloson | $4,500,000 |
| 2007–08 | $46,915,659 | 10.96% | $1,350,000 | Sheldon Souray | $6,250,000 |
These are the salaries for the Los Angeles Kings.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $30,600,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $34,600,000 | 13.07% | |||
| 2000–01 | $34,557,500 | -0.12% | $1,412,500 | Zigmund Palffy | $5,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $39,656,488 | 14.76% | $1,525,000 | Zigmund Palffy | $6,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $37,412,434 | -5.66% | $750,000 | Zigmund Palffy | $7,250,000 |
| 2003–04 | $53,833,800 | 43.89% | $950,000 | Jason Allison | $8,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $37,856,150 | -29.68% | $874,000 | Jeremy Roenick | $4,940,000 |
| 2006–07 | $40,680,000 | 7.46% | $1,195,500 | Rob Blake | $6,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $40,502,000 | -0.44% | $1,400,000 | Rob Blake | $6,000,000 |
These are the salaries for the San Jose Sharks.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $35,600,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $37,600,000 | 5.62% | |||
| 2000–01 | $42,070,000 | 11.89% | $1,050,000 | Teemu Selanne | $8,000,000 |
| 2001–02 | $48,550,000 | 15.40% | $1,300,000 | Teemu Selanne | $9,500,000 |
| 2002–03 | $37,539,200 | -22.68% | $1,300,000 | Teemu Selanne | $6,500,000 |
| 2003–04 | $34,455,000 | -8.22% | $1,200,000 | Vincent Damphousse | $4,000,000 |
| 2005–06 | $31,005,400 | -10.01% | $684,000 | Joe Thornton | $6,600,000 |
| 2006–07 | $43,856,000 | 41.45% | $787,500 | Joe Thornton | $6,670,000 |
| 2007–08 | $41,454,800 | -5.48% | $800,000 | Joe Thornton | $6,670,000 |
These are the salaries for the Vancouver Canucks.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | $28,200,000 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | $34,000,000 | 20.57% | |||
| 2000–01 | $24,703,750 | -27.34% | $887,500 | Andrew Cassels | $3,050,000 |
| 2001–02 | $29,984,579 | 21.38% | $900,000 | Trevor Linden Markus Naslund | $4,000,000 |
| 2002–03 | $34,075,000 | 13.64% | $1,025,000 | Trevor Linden | $4,800,000 |
| 2003–04 | $42,074,500 | 23.48% | $1,113,750 | Todd Bertuzzi | $6,800,000 |
| 2005–06 | $43,711,344 | 3.89% | $941,411 | Markus Naslund | $6,000,000 |
| 2006–07 | $42,877,000 | -1.91% | $900,000 | Roberto Luongo Markus Naslund | $6,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | $45,710,000 | 6.61% | $1,100,000 | Roberto Luongo | $6,500,000 |
These are the salaries for the Vegas Golden Knights, which began operations in the 2017–18 season.
| Year | Team payroll | % change | Median salary | Top paid player(s) | Highest salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | $46,231,034 | ||||
| 2018–19 | $61,747,543 | ||||
| 2019–20 | $92,201,835 |
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 season. They were members of the Southeast Division of the NHL's Eastern Conference, and played their home games at what is now known as State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. The Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs in the 2006–07 season, after winning the Southeast Division, but were swept in the first round by the New York Rangers.
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference and is owned by Ted Leonsis through Monumental Sports & Entertainment. The team initially played its home games at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, before moving to the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., in 1997.
Peter Bondra is a Ukrainian-born Slovak former professional ice hockey player. He was the general manager of the Slovakia national team from 2007 to 2011. A two-time 50-goal scorer, Bondra became the 37th player in National Hockey League (NHL) history to score 500 NHL goals; he is one of five eligible 500-goal players not currently in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He has the fewest points among all players who reached that milestone, with 892, making him one of only two 500-goal scorers not on the list of NHL players with 1,000 points. Bondra scored the most goals in the NHL in two seasons, 1994–95 and 1997–98. He is one of the few players who scored five or more goals in one NHL game. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2016.
The 2003–04 NHL season was the 87th regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup champions were the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the best of seven series four games to three against the Calgary Flames.
The 2000–01 NHL season was the 84th regular season of the National Hockey League. With the addition of the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, 30 teams each played 82 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the Colorado Avalanche, who won the best of seven series 4–3 against the New Jersey Devils. The focus of Colorado's Stanley Cup run was on star defenceman Ray Bourque, who was on a quest to win his first Stanley Cup championship in his illustrious 22-year career.
The 2006–07 NHL season was the 90th season of operation of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs began on April 11, 2007, and concluded on June 6, with the Anaheim Ducks defeating the Ottawa Senators to win their first Stanley Cup, becoming the first team from California to do so. This is the last time that all four of the Tri-State Teams made the playoffs
Mathieu David Schneider is an American former professional ice hockey player. Considered an offensive defenseman, Schneider played 1,289 games in the National Hockey League with ten different teams, scoring 233 goals and totaling 743 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 1993 with the Montreal Canadiens.
The 1993–94 NHL season was the 77th regular season of the National Hockey League. The league expanded to 26 teams with the addition of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Florida Panthers. The New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks in seven games to become the Stanley Cup champions. It was the Rangers' fourth championship overall, and their first in 54 seasons, since 1939–40.
The 2007–08 NHL season was the 91st season of operation of the National Hockey League (NHL). It began on September 29, 2007, and the regular season ended April 6, 2008. The Stanley Cup playoffs ended on June 4, with the Detroit Red Wings taking the championship. The 56th NHL All-Star Game was held in Atlanta, Georgia, as the Atlanta Thrashers hosted the event at Philips Arena on January 27, 2008. The hosting by Atlanta was rescheduled from 2005, when a lockout cancelled the entire 2004–05 season.
Glen David Metropolit is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who most notably played over 400 games in the National Hockey League (NHL)
The 1981–82 NHL season was the 65th season of the National Hockey League. The William M. Jennings Trophy made its debut this year as the trophy for the goaltenders from the team with the fewest goals against, thus replacing the Vezina Trophy in that qualifying criteria. The Vezina Trophy would thereafter be awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position. The New York Islanders won their third straight Stanley Cup by sweeping the Vancouver Canucks in four games.
Scott Edgar Mellanby is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, coach, and executive. He primarily played right wing throughout his NHL career, on occasion shifting over to the left side. He is the son of former Hockey Night in Canada producer Ralph Mellanby.
Todd R. Reirden is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was the associate coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL), but his contract expired at the end of 2023-2024. He previously held head coaching positions for the Washington Capitals in the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). Reirden played in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Atlanta Thrashers, and Edmonton Oilers.
The 1999–2000 Atlanta Thrashers season was the inaugural campaign for the franchise that would play in Atlanta for 11 seasons.
The National Hockey League (NHL) endured a tumultuous period of history between 1992 and 2017. It grew from 22 teams at the start of this period to 30 at the end, as the league expanded across the United States. Repeated labour conflicts interrupted play in 1992, 1994–95, 2004–05 and 2012–13; the second lockout caused the entire 2004–05 NHL season to be canceled, the first time in North American history that a sports league has canceled an entire season in a labour dispute. Nine franchises were added between 1991 and 2000, comprising the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild. In addition to expansion teams, five franchises have relocated during this time: the Minnesota North Stars became the Dallas Stars (1993), the Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche (1995), the Winnipeg Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes (1996), the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes (1997), and the Atlanta Thrashers became the second franchise known as the Winnipeg Jets (2011).
Matthew James Hendricks is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and the Minnesota Wild. He was drafted 131st overall by the Predators in 2000, though he didn't play for the organization until signing as a free agent for the 2013–14 season.
The following is a complete history of organizational changes in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL was founded in 1917 as a successor to the National Hockey Association (NHA), starting out with four teams from the predecessor league, and eventually grew to thirty-two in its current state. The NHL has expanded and contracted numerous times throughout its history, including in 1979 when four teams came over from the World Hockey Association (WHA).
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