Highest Paid NHL Forwards: Auston Matthews Tops The List

Forwards are the ones to typically put the puck in the net. They get paid more than any other position in the NHL.

Each of the top 10 forwards gets paid over $11 million, which is more than the highest paid goalie will make during the 2024-25 NHL season.

One surprising note, the best forward in the game, Connor McDavid, does not crack the top 10 highest paid forwards in the league. However, he does rank third in cap hit ($12,500,000).

Two Toronto Maple Leafs forwards rank in the top five among highest paid forwards in the 2024-25 NHL season.

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning each have two forwards who rank in the top 10 among highest paid forwards in the 2024-25 NHL season.

We take a look at the top 10 highest paid NHL forwards in the NHL for the 2024-25 NHL season.

Top 10 Highest Paid Forwards In The NHL For The 2024-25 NHL Season

Forwards get paid higher than any other position in the NHL. The highest-paid goalie would rank 25th compared to the amount forwards get paid.

Below are the top 10 highest paid forwards for the 2024-25 NHL season, based on total cash and using cap hit as a tiebreaker.

1. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs ($16,700,000)

Auston Matthews is the highest paid NHL forward and ranks first in cap hit ($13,250,000).

Matthews led the league in goals (69) last season. He has also led the league in goals in three of the last four years.

Matthews became the first player in modern NHL history to score four goals in his NHL debut.

He set records for most goals scored in a single season by an American-born player and a Maple Leaf, reached the 60-goal mark for the first time, and won the Rocket Richard Trophy for the second consecutive season. Matthews also was awarded the Ted Lindsay Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player.

The Toronto forward is getting paid more than any other player in the NHL.

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche ($16,500,000)

Nathan MacKinnon is the second highest paid NHL forward and ranks second in cap hit ($12,600,000).

He was selected first overall by the Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. MacKinnon won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022. He has also won the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award as the league’s MVP in the 2023-24 season.

MacKinnon is widely regarded as one of the best ice hockey players of his generation.

3. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks ($14,500,000)

Elias Pettersson is the third highest paid NHL forward and ranks fifth in cap hit ($11,600,000).

Pettersson made the Canucks opening night roster for the 2018-19 season. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s best rookie in 2019, becoming the second Canuck to win the award after Pavel Bure in 1992.

Pettersson is becoming a top player in the league.

4. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs ($13,500,000)

William Nylander is the fourth highest paid NHL forward and ranks sixth in cap hit ($11,500,000).

Nylander ranked 10th in points last season, scoring 40 goals and recording 58 assists.

This will be his 10th year in the league and he has spent his entire career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nylander is a consistent source of goals and assists for the Maple Leafs.

5. Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning ($13,263,157)

Jake Guentzel is the fifth highest paid NHL forward but only ranks 24th in cap hit ($9,000,000).

Guentzel spent most of his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2017.

He signed a big contract in the offseason with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Guentzel has been consistent with the Penguins and he adds a boost to Tampa Bay’s offense.

6. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins ($13,000,000)

David Pastrnak is the sixth highest paid NHL forward and ranks seventh in cap hit ($11,250,000).

Pastrnak ranked fifth in points, seventh in goals, and tied for 10th in assists last year. He has posted 110 points or more in two straight seasons.

He has spent his entire 11-year career with the Boston Bruins.

Pastrnak is considered one of the top players in the NHL.

7. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers ($12,000,000)

Aleksander Barkov is the seventh highest paid NHL forward and ranks 11th in cap hit ($10,000,000).

Barkov and the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup last year.

He is regarded as an elite two-way center and one of the best defensive forwards in hockey.

Barkov has spent his entire 12-year career with the Florida Panthers.

8. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning ($12,000,000)

Brayden Point is the eighth highest paid NHL forward and ranks 15th in cap hit ($9,500,000).

Point is coming off back-to-back impressive seasons with the Lightning, recording 90 or more points in each of the last two seasons.

He has scored over 45 goals in each of the last two years and has recorded 44 assists in each of the last two seasons.

Point is 28 years old and has spent his entire nine-year career with the Lightning.

9. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes ($12,000,000)

Sebastian Aho is the ninth highest paid NHL forward and ranks 14th in cap hit ($9,750,000).

Aho is 27 years old and has spent his entire nine-year career with Carolina.

He will continue to get better and is a cornerstone for the Hurricanes.

10. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers ($11,250,000)

Matthew Tkachuk is the 10th highest paid NHL forward and ranks 15th in cap hit ($9,500,000).

Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup last year.

This is his third year with the Panthers, previously spending his first six years with the Calgary Flames.

Tkachuk plays on Florida’s second line and Barkov on the first line. This gives the Panthers two dangerous lines that teams need to account for.