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NHL · 2009-10 SEASON

2009-10 NHL salaries

$317,210,200 paid to 166 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 25.3% of the total.

PAID OUT $317.2m
BIGGEST SALARY $9.0m
PLAYERS PAID 166
AVERAGE $1.9m
OVER $1M 59

The 2009-10 season at a glance

What the league paid, and how it split

2009-10

Paid out
$317,210,200
Players paid
166
Average
$1,910,905
Basic salary
96.5%
Signing bonus
2.6%
Top ten hold
25.3%

2008-09 paid $235,064,400 to 133 players, so 2009-10 is up 34.9% on the season before it.

The fifteen biggest 2009-10 salaries

One season, not a career

Top ten hold 25.3%

Alex Ovechkin $9.0m Evgeni Malkin $9.0m Sidney Crosby $9.0m Jason Spezza $8.0m Marian Hossa $7.9m Brad Richards $7.8m Marian Gaborik $7.5m Zdeno Chara $7.5m Henrik Zetterberg $7.4m Joe Thornton $7.2m Henrik Lundqvist $6.9m Paul Stastny $6.6m Corey Perry $6.5m Patrick Marleau $6.3m Ryan Miller $6.3m

Every NHL salary in 2009-10

Ranked by what the season paid

166 players

# Player Franchise Position Share Career 2009-10 salary
01 Alex Ovechkin Washington Capitals Left Wing 2.8% $170.7m $9,000,000$9.0m
02 Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins Center 2.8% $151.7m $9,000,000$9.0m
03 Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins Center 2.8% $155.9m $9,000,000$9.0m
04 Jason Spezza Toronto Maple Leafs Center 2.5% $89.5m $8,000,000$8.0m
05 Marian Hossa Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 2.5% $93.0m $7,900,000$7.9m
06 Brad Richards Detroit Red Wings Center 2.5% $107.4m $7,800,000$7.8m
07 Marian Gaborik Tampa Bay Lightning Right Wing 2.4% $103.0m $7,500,000$7.5m
08 Zdeno Chara New York Islanders Defenseman 2.4% $89.9m $7,500,000$7.5m
09 Henrik Zetterberg Detroit Red Wings Left Wing 2.3% $82.9m $7,400,000$7.4m
10 Joe Thornton Florida Panthers Center 2.3% $111.5m $7,200,000$7.2m
11 Henrik Lundqvist Washington Capitals Goaltender 2.2% $104.9m $6,875,000$6.9m
12 Paul Stastny Carolina Hurricanes Center 2.1% $84.9m $6,600,000$6.6m
13 Corey Perry Tampa Bay Lightning Right Wing 2.0% $92.8m $6,500,000$6.5m
14 Patrick Marleau San Jose Sharks Left Wing 2.0% $97.0m $6,300,000$6.3m
15 Ryan Miller Anaheim Ducks Goaltender 2.0% $63.6m $6,250,000$6.3m
16 Anze Kopitar Los Angeles Kings Center 1.9% $129.2m $6,000,000$6.0m
17 Eric Staal Montreal Canadiens Center 1.9% $86.9m $6,000,000$6.0m
18 Johan Franzen Detroit Red Wings Left Wing 1.7% $44.7m $5,500,000$5.5m
19 Ryan Getzlaf Anaheim Ducks Center 1.6% $95.5m $5,125,000$5.1m
20 Alexander Semin Montreal Canadiens Right Wing 1.6% $56.6m $5,000,000$5.0m
21 Jeff Carter Pittsburgh Penguins Center 1.6% $79.5m $5,000,000$5.0m
22 Mike Green Detroit Red Wings Defenseman 1.6% $68.0m $5,000,000$5.0m
23 Patrice Bergeron Boston Bruins Center 1.6% $95.3m $5,000,000$5.0m
24 Philip Kessel Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 1.4% $91.5m $4,500,000$4.5m
25 Shea Weber Montreal Canadiens Defenseman 1.4% $132.8m $4,500,000$4.5m
26 Steven Stamkos Tampa Bay Lightning Center 1.2% $116.7m $3,725,000$3.7m
27 Brent Seabrook Tampa Bay Lightning Defenseman 1.1% $97.3m $3,500,000$3.5m
28 David Krejci Boston Bruins Center 1.1% $71.6m $3,500,000$3.5m
29 Jordan Staal Carolina Hurricanes Center 1.1% $76.7m $3,500,000$3.5m
30 Marc-Andre Fleury Minnesota Wild Goaltender 1.1% $81.5m $3,500,000$3.5m
31 Nathan Horton Columbus Blue Jackets Right Wing 1.1% $58.4m $3,500,000$3.5m
32 Ryan Suter Dallas Stars Defenseman 1.1% $126.1m $3,500,000$3.5m
33 Brent Burns Carolina Hurricanes Defenseman 1.1% $103.7m $3,400,000$3.4m
34 Mikko Koivu Minnesota Wild Center 1.0% $66.1m $3,300,000$3.3m
35 Alexander Edler Los Angeles Kings Defenseman 1.0% $59.6m $3,250,000$3.3m
36 Christian Ehrhoff Chicago Blackhawks Defenseman 1.0% $52.8m $3,150,000$3.1m
37 Zach Parise New York Islanders Left Wing 0.9% $115.2m $3,000,000$3.0m
38 Travis Zajac New York Islanders Center 0.9% $62.5m $2,750,000$2.8m
39 David Backes Anaheim Ducks Center 0.8% $60.0m $2,500,000$2.5m
40 Valtteri Filppula Detroit Red Wings Center 0.8% $49.5m $2,500,000$2.5m
41 Dustin Brown Los Angeles Kings Right Wing 0.8% $66.9m $2,450,000$2.4m
42 Marc-Edouard Vlasic San Jose Sharks Defenseman 0.8% $90.3m $2,400,000$2.4m
43 Ryan Callahan Tampa Bay Lightning Right Wing 0.7% $57.3m $2,200,000$2.2m
44 Mike Smith Edmonton Oilers Goaltender 0.6% $51.4m $2,000,000$2.0m
45 Duncan Keith Edmonton Oilers Defenseman 0.6% $77.9m $1,900,000$1.9m
46 Ryan Kesler Anaheim Ducks Center 0.6% $77.9m $1,750,000$1.8m
47 Joe Pavelski Dallas Stars Center 0.5% $75.7m $1,725,000$1.7m
48 Alexander Steen St Louis Blues Left Wing 0.5% $58.1m $1,700,000$1.7m
49 Brandon Dubinsky Columbus Blue Jackets Center 0.5% $57.5m $1,700,000$1.7m
50 Loui Eriksson Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 0.5% $64.7m $1,700,000$1.7m
51 Andrew Ladd Arizona Coyotes Left Wing 0.5% $70.1m $1,650,000$1.6m
52 Craig Anderson Buffalo Sabres Goaltender 0.5% $41.2m $1,500,000$1.5m
53 Braydon Coburn New York Islanders Defenseman 0.4% $42.9m $1,400,000$1.4m
54 Clarke MacArthur Ottawa Senators Left Wing 0.4% $38.5m $1,400,000$1.4m
55 Alex Goligoski Minnesota Wild Defenseman 0.4% $60.2m $1,250,000
56 Jack Johnson Colorado Avalanche Defenseman 0.4% $54.3m $1,200,000
57 Keith Yandle Philadelphia Flyers Defenseman 0.3% $64.8m $1,100,000
58 Tyler Ennis Ottawa Senators Center 0.3% $32.4m $1,062,500
59 Mark Giordano Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman 0.3% $64.9m $1,000,000
60 Cory Schneider New York Islanders Goaltender 0.3% $54.5m $984,200
61 Dmitry Kulikov Anaheim Ducks Defenseman 0.3% $38.6m $900,000
62 Evander Kane Edmonton Oilers Left Wing 0.3% $76.6m $900,000
63 John Tavares Toronto Maple Leafs Center 0.3% $111.0m $900,000
64 Matt Duchene Nashville Predators Center 0.3% $94.4m $900,000
65 Nate Prosser Philadelphia Flyers Defenseman 0.3% $7.3m $900,000
66 Victor Hedman Tampa Bay Lightning Defenseman 0.3% $85.7m $900,000
67 Nathan Gerbe Columbus Blue Jackets Left Wing 0.3% $11.2m $885,000
68 Blake Wheeler Winnipeg Jets Right Wing 0.3% $82.8m $875,000
69 Brandon Sutter Vancouver Canucks Center 0.3% $37.6m $875,000
70 David Clarkson Toronto Maple Leafs Right Wing 0.3% $45.2m $875,000
71 David Perron Detroit Red Wings Left Wing 0.3% $44.0m $875,000
72 Drew Doughty Los Angeles Kings Defenseman 0.3% $143.9m $875,000
73 Erik Karlsson San Jose Sharks Defenseman 0.3% $138.9m $875,000
74 Jakub Voracek Columbus Blue Jackets Right Wing 0.3% $86.1m $875,000
75 James Van Riemsdyk Philadelphia Flyers Left Wing 0.3% $62.1m $875,000
76 John Carlson Washington Capitals Defenseman 0.3% $88.9m $875,000
77 Josh Bailey New York Islanders Left Wing 0.3% $51.2m $875,000
78 Karl Alzner Montreal Canadiens Defenseman 0.3% $39.0m $875,000
79 Lars Eller Washington Capitals Center 0.3% $36.3m $875,000
80 Logan Couture San Jose Sharks Center 0.3% $101.2m $875,000
81 Luca Sbisa Nashville Predators Defenseman 0.3% $24.3m $875,000
82 Luke Schenn Vancouver Canucks Defenseman 0.3% $26.4m $875,000
83 Max Pacioretty Carolina Hurricanes Left Wing 0.3% $60.1m $875,000
84 Michael Del Zotto Anaheim Ducks Defenseman 0.3% $28.0m $875,000
85 Mikael Backlund Calgary Flames Center 0.3% $49.0m $875,000
86 Mikkel Boedker San Jose Sharks Left Wing 0.3% $29.4m $875,000
87 Nick Bonino San Jose Sharks Center 0.3% $29.6m $875,000
88 Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks Right Wing 0.3% $115.6m $875,000
89 Sam Gagner Detroit Red Wings Center 0.3% $35.2m $875,000
90 Thomas Hickey New York Islanders Defenseman 0.3% $20.6m $875,000
91 Tyler Bozak St Louis Blues Center 0.3% $41.0m $875,000
92 Tyler Myers Vancouver Canucks Defenseman 0.3% $71.6m $875,000
93 Zach Bogosian Tampa Bay Lightning Defenseman 0.3% $47.4m $875,000
94 Andrew Cogliano Colorado Avalanche Left Wing 0.3% $33.7m $850,000
95 Artem Anisimov Ottawa Senators Center 0.3% $38.1m $850,000
96 Brian Elliott Tampa Bay Lightning Goaltender 0.3% $23.5m $850,000
97 Bryan Little Arizona Coyotes Center 0.3% $63.7m $850,000
98 Carey Price Montreal Canadiens Goaltender 0.3% $131.0m $850,000
99 Claude Giroux Ottawa Senators Center 0.3% $98.0m $850,000
100 Erik Johnson Colorado Avalanche Defenseman 0.3% $63.4m $850,000
101 Jonathan Toews Chicago Blackhawks Center 0.3% $109.1m $850,000
102 Martin Hanzal Dallas Stars Center 0.3% $34.9m $850,000
103 Michael Frolik Montreal Canadiens Right Wing 0.3% $34.8m $850,000
104 Nicklas Backstrom Washington Capitals Center 0.3% $115.5m $850,000
105 Semyon Varlamov New York Islanders Goaltender 0.3% $59.4m $850,000
106 T.J. Oshie Washington Capitals Right Wing 0.3% $70.8m $850,000
107 Tuukka Rask Boston Bruins Goaltender 0.3% $63.1m $850,000
108 Kyle Okposo Buffalo Sabres Right Wing 0.3% $57.7m $847,500
109 Ryan O'Reilly St Louis Blues Center 0.3% $77.1m $840,000
110 Matt Niskanen Washington Capitals Defenseman 0.3% $49.0m $805,000
111 Jaroslav Halak New York Rangers Goaltender 0.3% $46.5m $800,000
112 Bobby Ryan Detroit Red Wings Right Wing 0.2% $69.7m $765,000
113 Derick Brassard Philadelphia Flyers Center 0.2% $39.7m $765,000
114 Marc Staal Florida Panthers Defenseman 0.2% $56.9m $765,000
115 Michael Grabner Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 0.2% $30.0m $765,000
116 Trevor Lewis Calgary Flames Center 0.2% $19.3m $765,000
117 Andrej Sekera Dallas Stars Defenseman 0.2% $50.4m $750,000
118 Corey Crawford Chicago Blackhawks Goaltender 0.2% $44.7m $750,000
119 Andy Greene New York Islanders Defenseman 0.2% $41.7m $725,000
120 Pekka Rinne Nashville Predators Goaltender 0.2% $65.2m $725,000
121 James Neal St Louis Blues Left Wing 0.2% $61.3m $720,000
122 Alex Stalock Chicago Blackhawks Goaltender 0.2% $10.6m $715,000
123 Justin Abdelkader Detroit Red Wings Left Wing 0.2% $40.4m $710,000
124 Devan Dubnyk Colorado Avalanche Goaltender 0.2% $34.6m $700,000
125 Jay Beagle Arizona Coyotes Right Wing 0.2% $22.0m $687,500
126 Milan Lucic Calgary Flames Left Wing 0.2% $71.8m $685,000
127 Mathieu Perreault Montreal Canadiens Center 0.2% $30.7m $675,000
128 Niklas Hjalmarsson Arizona Coyotes Defenseman 0.2% $45.2m $666,000
129 Anton Stralman Boston Bruins Defenseman 0.2% $48.1m $665,000
130 Alec Martinez Vegas Golden Knights Defenseman 0.2% $45.0m $637,500
131 Carl Gunnarsson St Louis Blues Defenseman 0.2% $25.4m $630,000
132 Kris Letang Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman 0.2% $105.5m $625,000
133 Cal Clutterbuck New York Islanders Right Wing 0.2% $37.2m $622,500
134 Patric Hornqvist Florida Panthers Right Wing 0.2% $57.4m $620,000
135 Yannick Weber Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman 0.2% $9.4m $612,500
136 Anton Khudobin Dallas Stars Goaltender 0.2% $25.7m $600,000
137 Brad Richardson Calgary Flames Right Wing 0.2% $16.7m $600,000
138 Curtis McElhinney Tampa Bay Lightning Goaltender 0.2% $8.9m $600,000
139 Jacob Muzzin Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman 0.2% $45.7m $590,000
140 Brad Marchand Boston Bruins Left Wing 0.2% $72.4m $585,000
141 Jamie Benn Dallas Stars Left Wing 0.2% $102.2m $585,000
142 Wayne Simmonds Toronto Maple Leafs Right Wing 0.2% $36.5m $585,000
143 Jonathan Quick Los Angeles Kings Goaltender 0.2% $64.4m $570,000
144 Patrick Maroon Tampa Bay Lightning Left Wing 0.2% $17.1m $555,000
145 Frans Nielsen Detroit Red Wings Center 0.2% $43.8m $550,000
146 Nate Thompson Philadelphia Flyers Center 0.2% $17.0m $550,000
147 Thomas Greiss St Louis Blues Goaltender 0.2% $25.2m $550,000
148 Jason Demers Arizona Coyotes Defenseman 0.2% $33.3m $535,000
149 Robert Bortuzzo St Louis Blues Defenseman 0.2% $13.8m $530,000
150 Kris Russell Edmonton Oilers Defenseman 0.2% $32.1m $525,000
151 Blake Comeau Dallas Stars Left Wing 0.2% $23.7m $500,000
152 Darren Helm Colorado Avalanche Center 0.2% $33.6m $500,000
153 Johnny Boychuk Buffalo Sabres Defenseman 0.2% $55.0m $500,000
154 Jake Allen Montreal Canadiens Goaltender 0.0% $28.9m $152,500
155 John Moore Anaheim Ducks Defenseman 0.0% $22.0m $90,000
156 Kyle Clifford Toronto Maple Leafs Center 0.0% $15.6m $90,000
157 Ryan Ellis Philadelphia Flyers Defenseman 0.0% $64.9m $90,000
158 Adam Henrique Anaheim Ducks Center 0.0% $60.8m $87,500
159 Cody Hodgson Nashville Predators Center 0.0% $16.4m $87,500
160 Jordan Eberle Seattle Kraken Right Wing 0.0% $66.1m $87,500
161 Michael Stone Calgary Flames Defenseman 0.0% $21.0m $87,500
162 P.K. Subban New Jersey Devils Defenseman 0.0% $73.8m $87,500
163 T.J. Brodie Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman 0.0% $49.3m $75,000
164 Braden Holtby Dallas Stars Goaltender 0.0% $44.6m $70,000
165 Cody Eakin Buffalo Sabres Center 0.0% $17.5m $70,000
166 Zac Rinaldo Columbus Blue Jackets Left Wing 0.0% $4.9m $55,000

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.

2009-10 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 2009-10?

Alex Ovechkin, $9,000,000 at the Washington Capitals. That is 2.8% of everything the league paid that season.

How much did NHL players earn in total in 2009-10?

$317,210,200 across 166 players, an average of $1,910,905 each.

How many NHL players earned $1 million in 2009-10?

59 of the 166 paid that season.

How does 2009-10 compare with 2008-09?

2008-09 paid $235,064,400 across 133 players. 2009-10 is up 34.9% 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 · 2008-09 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 · 2017-18 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