NHL players are making more money every season. It’s not uncommon for them to bring home several million dollars each year. While the Vancouver Canucks don’t have the league’s wealthiest athletes, even the lowest-paid player makes a hefty salary.
The Canucks, who are rebuilding their franchise, range towards the bottom of the league’s payroll list, coming in at number 26, reports the Daily Hive. They point out that pay isn’t always linked to success on the rink.
The highest-paid player in Vancouver is Loui Eriksson ($7 million). When he signed a six-year, $36 million contract while still with Boston he had a 63-point season. In 2016-17 he scored 24 points, and the following season he scored just 23 points.
Meanwhile, the third highest-paid player on the team is Erik Gudbranson ($5 million), who averaged the fifth-most minutes among Canucks blueliners in 2018 and 2017, according to Daily Hive.
The publication noted that two of the team’s best players, Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson, are underpaid (they are both currently making $925,000). The two each have rookie contracts, and while they have “low” base salaries they can increase their pay through performance bonuses.
Meanwhile, the 10-highest-paid players in the NHL (led by Toronto Maple Leafs star John Tavares with $15.9 million) will earn $126.9 million cumulatively in 2018-19.
Vancouver Canucks 2018-19 cap hit and salaries:
Loui Eriksson: $6 million cap hit, $7 million salary
Bo Horvat: $5.5 million cap hit, $7 million salary
Chris Taney: $4.45 million cap hit, $5 million salary
Erik Gudbranson: $4 million cap hit, $5 million salary
Alex Edler: $5 million cap hit, $4.5 million salary
Jay Beagle: $3 million cap hit, $4.4 million salary
Brandon Sutter: $4.38 million cap hit, $4.38 million salary
Sven Baertschi: $3.37 million cap hit, $4 million salary
Antoine Roussel: $3 million cap hit, $3.8 million salary
Jacob Markstrom: $3.67 million cap hit, $3.6 million salary
Michael Del Zotto: $3 million cap hit, $3 million salary
Ben Hutton: $2.8 million cap hit, $2.8 million salary
Troy Stecher: $2.33 million cap hit, $2.33 million salary
Anders Nilsson: $2.5 million cap hit, $2 million salary
Tim Schaller: $1.9 million cap hit, $1.9 million salary
Markus Granlund: $1.48 million cap hit, $1.48 million salary
Derrick Pouliot: $1.1 million cap hit, $1.1 million salary
Jake Virtanen: $1.25 million cap hit, $1 million salary
Alex Biega: $825,000 cap hit, $950,000 salary
Tyler Motte: $925,000 cap hit, $925,000 salary
Elias Pettersson: $925,000 cap hit, $925,000 salary
Brock Boeser: $925,000 cap hit, $925,000 salary
Nicolay Goldobin: $863,000 cap hit, $832,500 salary
Brendan Leipsic: $650,000 cap hit, $650,000 salary
