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NHL · 2008-09 SEASON

2008-09 NHL salaries

$235,064,400 paid to 133 players, Alex Ovechkin the biggest at $9,000,000.

Every man the league paid that season, ranked by what the contract paid him for it. Ten of them took 33.0% of the total.

PAID OUT $235.1m
BIGGEST SALARY $9.0m
PLAYERS PAID 133
AVERAGE $1.8m
OVER $1M 42

The 2008-09 season at a glance

What the league paid, and how it split

2008-09

Paid out
$235,064,400
Players paid
133
Average
$1,767,402
Basic salary
95.0%
Signing bonus
2.6%
Top ten hold
33.0%

2007-08 paid $136,865,700 to 104 players, so 2008-09 is up 71.7% on the season before it.

The fifteen biggest 2008-09 salaries

One season, not a career

Top ten hold 33.0%

Alex Ovechkin $9.0m Sidney Crosby $9.0m Jason Spezza $8.0m Brad Richards $7.8m Henrik Lundqvist $7.7m Marian Gaborik $7.5m Zdeno Chara $7.5m Marian Hossa $7.5m Joe Thornton $7.2m Patrick Marleau $6.3m Mike Green $6.0m Eric Staal $5.0m Patrice Bergeron $5.0m Corey Perry $4.5m Jeff Carter $4.5m

Every NHL salary in 2008-09

Ranked by what the season paid

133 players

# Player Franchise Position Share Career 2008-09 salary
01 Alex Ovechkin Washington Capitals Left Wing 3.8% $170.7m $9,000,000$9.0m
02 Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins Center 3.8% $155.9m $9,000,000$9.0m
03 Jason Spezza Toronto Maple Leafs Center 3.4% $89.5m $8,000,000$8.0m
04 Brad Richards Detroit Red Wings Center 3.3% $107.4m $7,800,000$7.8m
05 Henrik Lundqvist Washington Capitals Goaltender 3.3% $104.9m $7,750,000$7.7m
06 Marian Gaborik Tampa Bay Lightning Right Wing 3.2% $103.0m $7,500,000$7.5m
07 Zdeno Chara New York Islanders Defenseman 3.2% $89.9m $7,500,000$7.5m
08 Marian Hossa Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 3.2% $93.0m $7,450,000$7.5m
09 Joe Thornton Florida Panthers Center 3.1% $111.5m $7,200,000$7.2m
10 Patrick Marleau San Jose Sharks Left Wing 2.7% $97.0m $6,300,000$6.3m
11 Mike Green Detroit Red Wings Defenseman 2.6% $68.0m $6,000,000$6.0m
12 Eric Staal Montreal Canadiens Center 2.1% $86.9m $5,000,000$5.0m
13 Patrice Bergeron Boston Bruins Center 2.1% $95.3m $5,000,000$5.0m
14 Corey Perry Tampa Bay Lightning Right Wing 1.9% $92.8m $4,500,000$4.5m
15 Jeff Carter Pittsburgh Penguins Center 1.9% $79.5m $4,500,000$4.5m
16 Ryan Getzlaf Anaheim Ducks Center 1.9% $95.5m $4,500,000$4.5m
17 Shea Weber Montreal Canadiens Defenseman 1.9% $132.8m $4,500,000$4.5m
18 Alexander Semin Montreal Canadiens Right Wing 1.8% $56.6m $4,200,000$4.2m
19 Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins Center 1.6% $151.7m $3,834,200$3.8m
20 Steven Stamkos Tampa Bay Lightning Center 1.6% $116.7m $3,725,000$3.7m
21 Brent Seabrook Tampa Bay Lightning Defenseman 1.5% $97.3m $3,500,000$3.5m
22 Marc-Andre Fleury Minnesota Wild Goaltender 1.5% $81.5m $3,500,000$3.5m
23 Nathan Horton Columbus Blue Jackets Right Wing 1.5% $58.4m $3,500,000$3.5m
24 Ryan Miller Anaheim Ducks Goaltender 1.5% $63.6m $3,500,000$3.5m
25 Ryan Suter Dallas Stars Defenseman 1.5% $126.1m $3,500,000$3.5m
26 Mikko Koivu Minnesota Wild Center 1.4% $66.1m $3,300,000$3.3m
27 Henrik Zetterberg Detroit Red Wings Left Wing 1.2% $82.9m $2,900,000$2.9m
28 Christian Ehrhoff Chicago Blackhawks Defenseman 1.2% $52.8m $2,750,000$2.8m
29 Dustin Brown Los Angeles Kings Right Wing 1.1% $66.9m $2,600,000$2.6m
30 David Backes Anaheim Ducks Center 1.1% $60.0m $2,500,000$2.5m
31 Zach Parise New York Islanders Left Wing 1.1% $115.2m $2,500,000$2.5m
32 Valtteri Filppula Detroit Red Wings Center 0.9% $49.5m $2,000,000$2.0m
33 Ryan Kesler Anaheim Ducks Center 0.7% $77.9m $1,750,000$1.8m
34 Alexander Steen St Louis Blues Left Wing 0.7% $58.1m $1,700,000$1.7m
35 Duncan Keith Edmonton Oilers Defenseman 0.7% $77.9m $1,600,000$1.6m
36 Joe Pavelski Dallas Stars Center 0.7% $75.7m $1,550,000$1.6m
37 Jack Johnson Colorado Avalanche Defenseman 0.7% $54.3m $1,530,000$1.5m
38 Loui Eriksson Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 0.6% $64.7m $1,500,000$1.5m
39 Andrew Ladd Arizona Coyotes Left Wing 0.6% $70.1m $1,450,000$1.4m
40 Braydon Coburn New York Islanders Defenseman 0.5% $42.9m $1,200,000
41 Johan Franzen Detroit Red Wings Left Wing 0.5% $44.7m $1,150,000
42 Mikkel Boedker San Jose Sharks Left Wing 0.5% $29.4m $1,137,500
43 Cory Schneider New York Islanders Goaltender 0.4% $54.5m $984,200
44 Travis Zajac New York Islanders Center 0.4% $62.5m $984,200
45 Mike Smith Edmonton Oilers Goaltender 0.4% $51.4m $950,000
46 Alex Goligoski Minnesota Wild Defenseman 0.4% $60.2m $895,300
47 Nathan Gerbe Columbus Blue Jackets Left Wing 0.4% $11.2m $885,000
48 Blake Wheeler Winnipeg Jets Right Wing 0.4% $82.8m $875,000
49 Brandon Sutter Vancouver Canucks Center 0.4% $37.6m $875,000
50 David Perron Detroit Red Wings Left Wing 0.4% $44.0m $875,000
51 Drew Doughty Los Angeles Kings Defenseman 0.4% $143.9m $875,000
52 Jakub Voracek Columbus Blue Jackets Right Wing 0.4% $86.1m $875,000
53 Josh Bailey New York Islanders Left Wing 0.4% $51.2m $875,000
54 Kyle Turris Edmonton Oilers Center 0.4% $52.7m $875,000
55 Luca Sbisa Nashville Predators Defenseman 0.4% $24.3m $875,000
56 Luke Schenn Vancouver Canucks Defenseman 0.4% $26.4m $875,000
57 Max Pacioretty Carolina Hurricanes Left Wing 0.4% $60.1m $875,000
58 Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks Right Wing 0.4% $115.6m $875,000
59 Sam Gagner Detroit Red Wings Center 0.4% $35.2m $875,000
60 Zach Bogosian Tampa Bay Lightning Defenseman 0.4% $47.4m $875,000
61 Philip Kessel Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 0.4% $91.5m $872,500
62 Andrew Cogliano Colorado Avalanche Left Wing 0.4% $33.7m $850,000
63 Artem Anisimov Ottawa Senators Center 0.4% $38.1m $850,000
64 Bobby Ryan Detroit Red Wings Right Wing 0.4% $69.7m $850,000
65 Bryan Little Arizona Coyotes Center 0.4% $63.7m $850,000
66 Carey Price Montreal Canadiens Goaltender 0.4% $131.0m $850,000
67 Claude Giroux Ottawa Senators Center 0.4% $98.0m $850,000
68 Derick Brassard Philadelphia Flyers Center 0.4% $39.7m $850,000
69 Erik Johnson Colorado Avalanche Defenseman 0.4% $63.4m $850,000
70 Jonathan Toews Chicago Blackhawks Center 0.4% $109.1m $850,000
71 Jordan Staal Carolina Hurricanes Center 0.4% $76.7m $850,000
72 Martin Hanzal Dallas Stars Center 0.4% $34.9m $850,000
73 Michael Frolik Montreal Canadiens Right Wing 0.4% $34.8m $850,000
74 Michael Grabner Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 0.4% $30.0m $850,000
75 Nicklas Backstrom Washington Capitals Center 0.4% $115.5m $850,000
76 Semyon Varlamov New York Islanders Goaltender 0.4% $59.4m $850,000
77 T.J. Oshie Washington Capitals Right Wing 0.4% $70.8m $850,000
78 Trevor Lewis Calgary Flames Center 0.4% $19.3m $850,000
79 Tuukka Rask Boston Bruins Goaltender 0.4% $63.1m $850,000
80 Kyle Okposo Buffalo Sabres Right Wing 0.4% $57.7m $847,500
81 David Krejci Boston Bruins Center 0.4% $71.6m $825,000
82 David Clarkson Toronto Maple Leafs Right Wing 0.3% $45.2m $800,000
83 Anze Kopitar Los Angeles Kings Center 0.3% $129.2m $765,000
84 Marc Staal Florida Panthers Defenseman 0.3% $56.9m $765,000
85 Jaroslav Halak New York Rangers Goaltender 0.3% $46.5m $750,000
86 Blake Comeau Dallas Stars Left Wing 0.3% $23.7m $735,000
87 Marc-Edouard Vlasic San Jose Sharks Defenseman 0.3% $90.3m $735,000
88 Paul Stastny Carolina Hurricanes Center 0.3% $84.9m $710,000
89 Jay Beagle Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 0.3% $22.0m $687,500
90 Kris Letang Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman 0.3% $105.5m $685,000
91 Mathieu Perreault Montreal Canadiens Center 0.3% $30.7m $675,000
92 Justin Abdelkader Detroit Red Wings Left Wing 0.3% $40.4m $660,000
93 Nick Foligno Boston Bruins Left Wing 0.3% $52.6m $660,000
94 Niklas Hjalmarsson Arizona Coyotes Defenseman 0.3% $45.2m $644,000
95 Brandon Dubinsky Columbus Blue Jackets Center 0.3% $57.5m $635,000
96 James Neal St Louis Blues Left Wing 0.3% $61.3m $635,000
97 Keith Yandle Philadelphia Flyers Defenseman 0.3% $64.8m $635,000
98 Matt Niskanen Washington Capitals Defenseman 0.3% $49.0m $635,000
99 Darren Helm Colorado Avalanche Center 0.3% $33.6m $630,000
100 Anton Stralman Boston Bruins Defenseman 0.3% $48.1m $615,000
101 Alec Martinez Vegas Golden Knights Defenseman 0.3% $45.0m $612,500
102 Andy Greene New York Islanders Defenseman 0.3% $41.7m $600,000
103 Anton Khudobin Dallas Stars Goaltender 0.3% $25.7m $600,000
104 Mark Giordano Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman 0.3% $64.9m $600,000
105 Ryan Callahan Tampa Bay Lightning Right Wing 0.3% $57.3m $600,000
106 Patric Hornqvist Florida Panthers Right Wing 0.3% $57.4m $595,000
107 Yannick Weber Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman 0.2% $9.4m $587,500
108 Brad Marchand Boston Bruins Left Wing 0.2% $72.4m $585,000
109 Milan Lucic Calgary Flames Left Wing 0.2% $71.8m $585,000
110 Brad Richardson Calgary Flames Right Wing 0.2% $16.7m $575,000
111 Craig Anderson Buffalo Sabres Goaltender 0.2% $41.2m $575,000
112 Kris Russell Edmonton Oilers Defenseman 0.2% $32.1m $575,000
113 Pekka Rinne Nashville Predators Goaltender 0.2% $65.2m $575,000
114 Wayne Simmonds Toronto Maple Leafs Right Wing 0.2% $36.5m $560,000
115 Cal Clutterbuck New York Islanders Right Wing 0.2% $37.2m $557,500
116 Alexander Edler Los Angeles Kings Defenseman 0.2% $59.6m $550,000
117 Jonathan Quick Los Angeles Kings Goaltender 0.2% $64.4m $550,000
118 Patrick Maroon Tampa Bay Lightning Left Wing 0.2% $17.1m $530,000
119 Frans Nielsen Detroit Red Wings Center 0.2% $43.8m $525,000
120 Clarke MacArthur Ottawa Senators Left Wing 0.2% $38.5m $522,500
121 Jason Demers Arizona Coyotes Defenseman 0.2% $33.3m $515,000
122 Johnny Boychuk Buffalo Sabres Defenseman 0.2% $55.0m $500,000
123 Nate Thompson Philadelphia Flyers Center 0.2% $17.0m $500,000
124 Andrej Sekera Dallas Stars Defenseman 0.2% $50.4m $475,000
125 Cody Hodgson Nashville Predators Center 0.0% $16.4m $87,500
126 Jake Allen Montreal Canadiens Goaltender 0.0% $28.9m $87,500
127 John Carlson Washington Capitals Defenseman 0.0% $88.9m $87,500
128 Lars Eller Washington Capitals Center 0.0% $36.3m $87,500
129 Logan Couture San Jose Sharks Center 0.0% $101.2m $87,500
130 Mikael Backlund Calgary Flames Center 0.0% $49.0m $87,500
131 Thomas Hickey New York Islanders Defenseman 0.0% $20.6m $87,500
132 Jamie Benn Dallas Stars Left Wing 0.0% $102.2m $85,000
133 Braden Holtby Dallas Stars Goaltender 0.0% $44.6m $65,000

The career column is everything the same man's contracts are worth across every season he has been paid, which is the ranking the all-time list is built on.

2008-09 against every other season

What the league paid out, year by year

20 seasons

Frequently asked questions

Who was the highest paid NHL player in 2008-09?

Alex Ovechkin, $9,000,000 at the Washington Capitals. That is 3.8% of everything the league paid that season.

How much did NHL players earn in total in 2008-09?

$235,064,400 across 133 players, an average of $1,767,402 each.

How many NHL players earned $1 million in 2008-09?

42 of the 133 paid that season.

How does 2008-09 compare with 2007-08?

2007-08 paid $136,865,700 across 104 players. 2008-09 is up 71.7% on it.

What is in a NHL salary figure?

Everything the contract pays in that season: basic salary, the share of a signing bonus the deal books to the year, incentives and a trade bonus where one applies. It is not a cap hit and it is not a net figure after tax or escrow.

The seasons either side

The same table, 16 other years

2007-08 NHL salaries · 2009-10 NHL salaries · 2010-11 NHL salaries · 2011-12 NHL salaries · 2012-13 NHL salaries · 2013-14 NHL salaries · 2014-15 NHL salaries · 2015-16 NHL salaries · 2016-17 NHL salaries · 2020-21 NHL salaries · 2021-22 NHL salaries · 2022-23 NHL salaries · 2023-24 NHL salaries · 2024-25 NHL salaries · 2025-26 NHL salaries · 2026-27 NHL salaries · NHL career earnings

Where to next

The seasons, the franchises and the rest of the league

Every season

Every franchise

Every position

The money lists