The NHL Salary Structure

In 1996/97 Mario Lemieux became the highest paid player in league history.  He was paid $11.35 million that season.  That season was 16 years ago.  The highest paid player next season barring future signings will be a four way tie between Brad Richards, Tyler Myers, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.  Each of whom is to be paid $12 million next season.  Since the NHL deals with average salaries as salary cap hits, each of these players will see reductions in salary in the future to keep their salary cap hits down.  In terms of salary cap hit no player has an average salary greater than Alexander Ovechkin who has a slightly greater than $9.5 million.

The highest paid players in the NHL have not seen any raise in their pay in sixteen years.  The highest paid players next season are not the best players in the league.  Thus superstar talent players are underpriced in the NHL market.  As an example we can look at the contract Sidney Crosby recently signed.

Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/the_nhl_salary_structure/

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