Each Canadian Team's Highest Paid Player ft. Patrik Laine

The Montreal Canadiens play in the NHL's largest arena, the Bell Centre, which seats 21,105. Rarely is there an empty seat. Despite not winning a championship in over 30 years, the team's fanbase is among the league's most passionate.

Yet, management doesn't spend crazy on its players. No homegrown talents make over $8 million, with captain Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield making the most at $7.8 million. 

Since taking over as general manager, Kent Hughes has emphasized building a core of young, talented players who don't represent more than eight or nine percent of salary cap space.

Of course, the Canadiens salary cap figures are a little skewed, as Carey Price is still on the team's books until the conclusion of the 2025-26 season but is unlikely to play again. 

His contract is listed on long-term injured reserve, and he may stay there until it expires, at which point Price's sweater will go to the rafters.

Although Hughes has spent to the cap limit of $88 million, the player with the highest salary is also the most recent acquisition, Patrik Laine, who will be paid $8.7 million for the next two seasons.

Compared to the other six Canadian-based franchises, Hughes has been wise with his money, not backing Montreal into a corner regarding contracts that begin with eight figures. 

Naturally, every team in the NHL has bad contracts, and the Canadiens are no exception. However, there is not one contract that is crippling the team and preventing them from making moves. 

Of course, there is always room for improvement. Still, Hughes has proven that building a contender from the ground up with prospects and younger players is possible without paying generational salaries in one of the most passionate markets in professional hockey.

Here's a breakdown of the highest-paid player on each Canadian team based on cap hits and the percentage of a team's cap space. 

Ottawa Senators - Tim Stützle ($8.3 million) 9.5%

Former Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion signed Tim Stützle to an eight-year extension in September 2022 worth $66.8 million. He is among four players making over $8 million annually, including Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, and Thomas Chabot.

Winnipeg Jets - Mark Scheifele & Connor Hellebuyck ($8.5 million) 9.7%

Until October 2023, no one on the Winnipeg Jets made over $8 million annually until Kevin Cheveldayoff signed stars Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele to identical seven-year $59.5 million contracts. Collectively, the duo account for 19.4% of the team's cap space. Only one other player in the lineup makes over $6 million, Kyle Connor. 

Montreal Canadiens - Patrik Laine ($8.7 million) 9.9%

As mentioned, before Laine joined the Canadiens in August 2024, no player (outside Price) made over $8 million. Regarding the team's financial layout, only four forwards make over $5 million: Laine, Caufield, Suzuki, and Brendan Gallagher. 

Meanwhile, no defenders have salaries over $4.8 million, and Montreal's top goalie, Sam Montembeault, only makes $3.1 million. In the summer of 2025, some contracts are coming off the books, giving Hughes some room to give the kids a salary raise or adjust to fill holes.

Calgary Flames - Jonathan Huberdeau ($10.5 million) 11.9% 

The Calgary Flames are in a rebuild but will pay Jonathan Huberdeau $10.5 million annually until the end of the 2030-31 season. Besides this monstrous contract, no one else in the lineup makes more than $7 million, which hampers the team's ability to rebuild with 11.9% of their cap going to one of the league's most underperforming players. 

Vancouver Canucks - Elias Pettersson ($11.6 million) 13.2%

The Vancouver Canucks finally joined the elite teams in the NHL by signing Elias Pettersson to an eight-year extension worth $92.8 million. He's the first player in franchise history to make $11 million annually, with J.T. Miller the next closet salary of $8 million. Only two other skaters on the roster make over $7 million.

Edmonton Oilers - Connor McDavid ($12.5 million) 14.2%

As the ink dries on this post, the information is already outdated. In 2024-25, Connor McDavid will carry the Edmonton Oilers' most expensive contract until next year when Leon Draisaitl's extension kicks in at $14 million. 

The Oilers have three players (including Darnell Nurse) who account for 34.4% of their cap, which will only grow in the coming seasons, especially with Evan Bouchard due for a raise next summer. 

Toronto Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews ($13.2 million) 15.1% 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a financial mess, with four players cashing in checks over $10 million, accounting for 53.1% of the team's payroll. It is no wonder that the franchise is approaching 70 seasons without a championship, thanks to a continuous string of questionable roster decisions. 

Thankfully, Montreal may never have this problem, even if every homegrown star turns into an MVP and 60-goal scorer. 

Unlike other sports, where ownerships can build championship rosters without being hamstrung, there is only so much you can do with a budget in a salary cap structure. That's why every player on this list doesn't have a ring, and only one has been to the Stanley Cup Final. 

It takes an entire team to win and not an individual player, no matter how talented they are.