Sure, we know about cap hits and Average Annual Values (AAV) but what about what Bryan Trottier earned? Gordie Howe, Vaclav Nedomansky, Peter Stastny? HockeyZonePlus tracks over $47.7 billions of hockey/NHL salaries for 6,000+ players, going back to 1904! The HockeyZonePlus salary history / net worth / earnings database provides information -- including yearly salaries, rankings, career earnings, and values in today's dollars -- for players, coaches and general managers. While NHL salaries started to be disclosed in 1989, HockeyZonePlus has a constantly growing number of prehistoric (pre-1989) salaries with updates and new players added weekly based on continuous research. To find a player, coach or GM, type his last name in the HZP search box at the top.
Evolution of Hockey Career Earnings
Interesting animated bar chart race showing that 39 players and 1 commissioner appeared, from 1989 to 2022, in the yearly Top Ten NHL/hockey career earnings with Jaromir Jagr standing as #1 in total hockey earnings since 2002-03. How is your 401k/RSSP doing?
Top 25 NHL Fortunes
Gary Bettman is #1 in the Top 25 NHL/hockey fortunes accumulated since 1989, for the second year in a row, while Jaromir Jagr remains #1 when accounting for today's dollar value.
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Evolution of Hockey Career Earnings - Toronto Maple Leafs
The animated bar chart above illustrates how the Top Ten ranking of hockey career earnings evolved, since 1989, among NHLers that played at least one game for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their career. Mats Sundin led for 12 years until Joe Thornton, who didn't play a whole season with the team, took over in 2017
Evolution of Hockey Career Earnings - Boston Bruins
The animated bar chart above illustrates how the Top Ten ranking of hockey career earnings evolved, since 1989, among NHLers that played at least one game for the Boston Bruins in their career. Bobby Orr led until Raymond Bourque took over in 1992-93 but Jaromir Jagr ran away with the #1 spot starting in 1999-2000.
Prehistoric Salaries
The HockeyZonePlus salary history database has information for some players who played before 1989, when NHL salaries became public. This list is growing so come back often or follow-us on social media for announcements of additions.
Gary Bettman Ranks #1 in NHL Fortunes Accumulated
Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner since 1993, has accumulated the largest NHL fortune with over $US 166 million, ahead of Crosby, Jagr and Ovechkin! On the other hand, Jaromir Jagr remains ranked #1 in today's dollar value which reflects the equivalent, in today's purchasing power, of accumulated past salaries. As points of comparison, John Ziegler earned $225,000/year in the late 70s; Red Dutton $13,505 in 1943; and Frank Calder $1,080 in 1922.
Coaches, GMs & Referees
Salary information for some coaches, General Managers and hockey operations staff.
NHL Draft First Rounders Career Earnings
Compare the career earnings of players picked in the first round of each NHL entry draft between 1989-2011.
2022-2023 - Top 25 Salaries
Tyler Seguin is now the best-paid NHLer, after being second in 2021-22 and 26th in 2020-21!
HockeyZonePlus iOS/Android App
Add HockeyZonePlus to your mobile phone's home screen for easy and quick access to hockey salary info!
The Hockey Lockout of 2004-05
In this article published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the author analyzes the NHL’s 2004-05 lockout and concludes that it resulted in a settlement that was solidly in the owners’ favor.
50% of Jacques Demers’ Hockey Fortune Earned While Not Coaching
Jacques Demers earned around $US 7.6M throughout his career as coach, assistant-coach and general manager for 21 seasons. Interestingly enough, nearly half of it, $US 3.7M, was paid while he was actually not coaching, after being fired, thanks to guaranteed contracts.
Henri Richard's Rookie Contract on Calendar Page
Henri Richard's rookie contract with the Canadiens, for the 1955-56 and 1956-57 seasons, was handwritten on a nearly 2-year old calendar page and signed by both Richard and General Manager Frank Selke.
1977-1978 - Top 25 Salaries
Montreal won the Stanley Cup while Guy Lafleur had the most goals and points with Bryan Trottier following in total points and Mike Bossy as the second goal-scorer with 53. Bobby Orr missed the whole season with an injury.