The Washington Capitals captain, Alexander Ovechkin, has finished the last year covered by his contract. The Russian forward has yet to make a definitive choice about his future intentions. Previously, he did not rule out a return to Dynamo Moscow. Later statements indicated his decision about continuing his NHL career would depend on his physical well-being.
Ovechkin has completed his 21st season in the NHL. For the preceding two years, he has held the status of the highest-paid player across the entire history of the NHL in terms of career earnings.
Over 21 seasons, Ovechkin has accumulated $170.7 million. Following him closely is the Canadian forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby, with $165.7 million. Third on the list is fellow Russian forward for Pittsburgh, Evgeni Malkin ($151.7 million), who is set to earn $5.6 million for the 2024/25 season.
In 2025, Ovechkin did not rank among the Forbes top-10 highest-paid NHL players. This contrasts with the previous year when he held the fourth position on that list. However, Ovechkin remains among the leaders for off-ice earnings, bringing in $5 million from that source, not even counting his endorsement deals in Russia, which cumulatively surpass his earnings within the US.
How Ovechkin secured the largest contract in NHL history
The Washington Capitals captain has held the record for the largest contract in NHL history since 2008. That year, he inked a 13-year agreement worth $124 million with the club. While this figure seemed outrageous at the time, the investment proved worthwhile. Washington secured its first-ever Stanley Cup, while also retaining the NHL’s most popular hockey player for many years.
Who might surpass Ovechkin in the NHL’s highest-paid rankings
Ovechkin’s wife, Anastasia Shubskaya, mentioned a year ago that the hockey player planned to play one more season with the Capitals before relocating back to Russia. Ovechkin himself has also spoken about intentions to return to Dynamo Moscow.
Ethan Miller / Getty Images📷Sidney Crosby
Should Ovechkin depart the NHL, Sidney Crosby stands as the primary contender to claim the top spot in the earnings rankings. The 37-year-old Canadian extended his contract with the team he has played for throughout his entire NHL career by two more seasons in September 2024, maintaining an average annual salary of $8.7 million.
During the 2026/27 season, Crosby is projected to earn roughly $7.62 million, which would position him to become the skater with the highest lifetime earnings. In total, his career earnings will reach $173.3 million.
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