So you’ve been dreaming about playing in the NHL for years, perhaps even since you were a kid. Finally, you’ve got a chance and are making the most of it. You’ve got a contract with a major league team and are spending the whole year training and trying to make the roster. You’ve got your fingers crossed and are hoping for the best, but what happens next? How much do they pay their players in the NHL these days? It’s a fair question and one that I had never really considered until recently. The truth is, you’ve probably never going to know. At least not exactly. It’s not like they’re going to tell you. You’ll have to find the information yourself, if you want to know.
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The Difficulty Of Figuring Out Salary
Let’s face it. It’s not easy figuring out how much someone is worth. Especially when you don’t have a baseline to work off of. In the case of the NHL, you’ve got a minimum salary which varies from team to team and player to player. In the 2017-2018 season, for instance, the Vegas Golden Knights had the fewest players earning less than $600,000 per year. That’s according to a leaked document obtained by USA Today.
So if you’re one of those precious few players who earns a decent amount each season, well, congrats. You’re in for a pleasant surprise when it comes to pay day. But for the rest of us, it’s another story. In the 2015-16 season, the average NHL salary was $2,600,000 per year. That’s according to Forbes. In August of 2018, the New York Post reported the average NHL salary was $3.3 million per year. In other words, you’re better off not even thinking about how much you’re going to make in the NHL, because you’ll surely be disappointed. Just focus on having a good season and who knows, maybe you’ll even end up making a little bit of money after all.
How To Figure Out Your Salary
One way of knowing how much you’re going to make in the NHL is by looking at the pool of available players. Or in other words, the salaries of the incumbents. Let’s say you’re a skilled winger who’s been earning $5,000 per month on your own. You could look at the salaries of the other available players at your position and see if there’s any team that’s paying you a decent amount. If not, it’s time to move on. Remember, you’re not bound to any team once the season starts. You can always ask for more money.
Another way is to look at the contracts signed by the teams. This is particularly useful as it gives you an idea of what’s available at the end of the season. As a newly minted NHL player, you’ll surely be offered a couple of qualifying contracts, which means you’re free to sign with any team you please. You’ll just have to agree on a contract with the team you chose by October 31st. At that point, you’ll become a restricted free agent and can negotiate with the other team. But for now, you’re still a member of the Golden Knights and can look at the deals of the other players.
The Final Say
To be honest, it’s not something you should worry about too much. It’s not like you’re going to be able to keep your million-dollar salary if you have a bad season. Besides, getting paid is all that matters. Even if they don’t pay you as much as you’re worth, you’ll still be better off than you were before the season started. The important thing is to have a good attitude and play your best every game.