10 Highest Paid NHL Goalies For 2019

December 22, 2019

Though the vast majority of NHL teams have a true No. 1 and starting-caliber goalie, there are only so many elite and world-class netminders in the game today.

Thanks to increased NHL revenue, the league has been able to increase its salary cap by wide margins over the years. This has allowed teams to pay up the big bucks in order to retain their All-Star goalies for the long term.

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You should raise your kids to become NHL goalies one day, because the best ones in the world are taking home millions of dollars every year. Let’s take a look at the 10 highest paid at the position for 2019.

*Contract details are courtesy of

Though the vast majority of NHL teams have a true No. 1 and starting-caliber goalie, there are only so many elite and world-class netminders in the game today.

10 Connor Hellebuyck ($6 Million)

The Winnipeg Jets’ All-Star goalie is actually tied with Pekka Rinne, Semyon Varlamov and Cory Schneider for the ninth-highest pay among netminders in 2019-20. But Hellebuyk was included since he owns a bigger contract than Rinne and Varlamov.

After leading Winnipeg to a the Western Conference Final in 2018, Hellebuyck received a six-year, $37 million extension. That was widely viewed as a big underpay, but Hellebuyck was kind enough to take a hometown discount.

And hey, only eight more goalies are taking home more money this season.

9 Cory Schneider ($6 Million)

The New Jersey Devils acquired goalie Cory Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks at the 2013 NHL draft, but the former wasn’t able to do a whole lot in terms of turning the franchise around.

Schneider often struggled on a very porous New Jersey team that has only made the playoffs twice since 2011. In fact, the team recently placed Schneider on waivers before demoting him to the minors.

But the 33-year-old Schneider can’t complain too much about the $6 million pay he’s receiving in 2019-20. Including this season, Schneider has three years remaining on the seven-year, $42 million deal he signed in 2014.

8 John Gibson ($6.4 Million)

If he wasn’t stuck on a mistake-filled and ageing Anaheim Ducks team, John Gibson would surely receive more recognition as one of the NHL’s elite goalies. He tunes in a remarkable effort on a gamely basis, but Gibson just doesn’t have much support in front of im anymore.

Gibson may be the NHL’s eighth-highest paid goalie for the 2019-20 season, but you can argue that he’s strongly underpaid. He signed an eight-year extension worth $51.2 million in the 2018 offseason, and so far, Gibson has more than earned every penny that’s been paid out.

7 Tuukka Rask ($6.5 Million)

After he helped the Boston Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2013, Tuukka Rask was awarded a whopping eight-year extension worth $56 million. He’s remained one of the NHL’s most consistent goalies ever since, having led them back to the Final again in 2019 – where they fell to the St. Louis Blues in seven games.

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Rask will earn $6.5 million from the Bruins here in 2019-20 and in 2020-21 – the final year of his deal. He’ll be 34 years of age by the time it expires, so the Bruins will have to be careful in handling is next deal.

6 Martin Jones ($6.75 Million)

One year after leading the San Jose Sharks to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history (they’d lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games), Martin Jones received a six-year extension worth $34.5 million.

However, Jones’ play has inexplicably regresses in recent years, and the Sharks have been forced to part ways with notable key players in recent seasons. Jones is signed through the 2023-24 season, but he tops out at $6.75 million in pay for 2019-20. It will move down gradually to $6 million for the 2020-21 season.

5 Jonathan Quick ($7 Million)

Jonathan Quick led the Los Angeles Kings to their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history back in 2012. Then-GM Dean Lombardi proceeded to quickly award his star goalie a 10-year extension worth $58 million.

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Quick guided the Kings to a second Stanley Cup in 2014, thus making the $58 million deal look all the more better. However, Quick has seen his play decline rapidly amid a difficult rebuilding stage in Los Angeles.

The 33-year-old Quick still has three more years on his deal after this season. He’ll make $7 million in 2019-20, but the number drops down to $3.5 million next year.

4 Henrik Lundqvist ($7 Million)

‘King Henrik’ has the same 2019-20 payday as Quick, but we’re putting him ahead since his current contract is bigger by the slightest of margins. Though age and injuries have led to a massive decline in performance, Henrik Lundqvist remains the heart and soul of the New York Rangers.

He’s pushing hard for 500 career wins, though he’ll realistically have to play at least two or three more years to get there. The 2012 Vezina Trophy winner is in the sixth of a seven-year deal worth $59.5 million that he signed with New York during the 2013-14 season.

3 Marc-Andre Fleury ($8.5 Million)

The Vegas Golden Knight selected Marc-Andre Fleury with the first pick in the 2017 expansion draft – shortly after he captured a third Stanley Cup championship with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Part of the 400 wins club (500 surely awaits), Fleury has been one of the NHL’s premier goalies of the 21st century. He’s in the first of a three-year, $21 million extension with the Golden Knights that was signed during the 2018 offseason.

Fleury’s cap hit for 2019-20 is $7 million, but he’ll take home a whopping $8.5 million for the year. Only two goalies will net more cash than the future Hall of Famer.

2 Sergei Bobrovksy ($11.5 Million)

After leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to their first playoff series win in franchise history, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner agreed to a whopping seven-year deal worth $70 million with the Florida Panthers.

Sergei Bobrovksy has struggled during his first season in the Sunshine State, but history suggests that he’ll turn it around at some point in the new year. Bobrovsky is the second highest paid goalie this year at $11.5 million, and as a nice bonus, the man plays in a state with no income tax.

1 Carey Price ($15 Million)

Carey Price is widely regarded as the best goalie of this era, and for good reason. The 32-year-old backstopped Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and he won both the Vezina and Hart Trophies in 2015.

After leading the Montreal Canadiens to an Atlantic Division title in 2016-17, Price agreed to a giant eight-year contract extension worth $84 million. Due to his age and inconsistent play in recent seasons, the contract looks like it’ll be a burden down the road.

But the Habs had no choice but to make Price the highest paid goalie. He’s been among the very best at the game’s most important position for a decade and counting. The Hall of Fame awaits Price after he retires.

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