Similar to forwards, compensation among NHL defensemen is very balanced with less than $4 million separating the first and 25th highest-paid defensemen. In 2024, no defenseman makes more than $12 million in annual salary.
Penguins enforcer Erik Karlsson is the highest-paid defenseman making $11.5 million annually. Karlsson signed an eight-year, $92 million contract with the Sharks in 2019 before being traded to the Penguins in August of 2023.
Sharing the second spot are Rasmus Dahlin and Drew Doughty, who both earn $11 million yearly. In the fourth position is Blue Jackets stopper Zachary Werenski at $9.58 million. Werenski signed a six-year, $57.5 million contract extension in 2021.
Charles Mcavoy, Seth Jones, and Adam Fox round out the top five with each making $9.5 million annually. Fox is set to become a free agent in 2029 while Mcavoy and Jones won’t hit the market until 2030.
Rounding out the top 25 is Minnesota’s Jared Spurgeon. He will soon be joined on the list by teammate Brock Faber, whose eight-year, $68 million contract extension kicks in during the 2025-26 season.
Ranking The Highest-Paid NHL Defensemen
Here is the full list of the 25 highest-paid NHL defensemen by average annual salary. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
- Updated: October 24th, 2024
| Rank | Player | Team | Yearly Compensation |
| 1 | Erik Karlsson | Pittsburgh Penguins | $11.5 million |
| T-2 | Rasmus Dahlin | Buffalo Sabres | $11 million |
| T-2 | Drew Doughty | Los Angeles Kings | $11 million |
| 4 | Zachary Werenski | Columbus Blue Jackets | $9.58 million |
| T-5 | Charles Mcavoy | Boston Bruins | $9.5 million |
| T-5 | Seth Jones | Chicago Blackhawks | $9.5 million |
| T-5 | Adam Fox | New York Rangers | $9.5 million |
| 8 | Darnell Nurse | Edmonton Oilers | $9.25 million |
| 9 | Roman Josi | Nashville Predators | $9.06 million |
| T-10 | Cale Makar | Colorado Avalanche | $9 million |
| T-10 | Dougie Hamilton | New Jersey Devils | $9 million |
| 12 | Alex Pietrangelo | Vegas Golden Knights | $8.8 million |
| 13 | Moritz Seider | Detroit Red Wings | $8.55 million |
| 14 | Mikhail Sergachev | Utah Hockey Club | $8.5 million |
| 15 | Miro Heiskanen | Dallas Stars | $8.45 million |
| 16 | Owen Power | Buffalo Sabres | $8.35 million |
| T-17 | Brent Burns | Carolina Hurricanes | $8 million |
| T-17 | Jacob Trouba | New York Rangers | $8 million |
| T-17 | Jake Sanderson | Ottawa Senators | $8 million |
| T-17 | Thomas Chabot | Ottawa Senators | $8 million |
| T-17 | John Carlson | Washington Capitals | $8 million |
| 22 | Victor Hedman | Tampa Bay Lightning | $7.88 million |
| 23 | Shea Weber | Utah Hockey Club | $7.86 million |
| 24 | Quinn Hughes | Vancouver Canucks | $7.85 million |
| 25 | Dmitry Orlov | Carolina Hurricanes | $7.75 million |
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