{"id":114335,"date":"2025-08-03T00:51:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T00:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/114335\/"},"modified":"2025-08-03T00:51:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T00:51:08","slug":"alex-ovechkin-has-earned-the-most-money-in-nhl-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/114335\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Ovechkin has earned the most money in NHL history"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alex Ovechkin<\/strong> is the greatest goal scorer in NHL history, a Stanley Cup champion and the holder of many other league records. Though, one in particular will have some wide-eyed.<\/p>\n

The Washington Capitals captain has earned the most career salary ever by an NHL player, according to Spotrac<\/a> and via DraftKings Sportsboo<\/a>k.<\/p>\n

As of the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, which was Ovi\u2019s 20th in the NHL, the Russian superstar has earned just over $161.72 million in salary. That\u2019s nearly $6 million more than the Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 Sidney Crosby ($155.89 million), the next closest earner who has put in the same number of service years.<\/p>\n

Crosby\u2019s Penguins teammate and Ovechkin\u2019s fellow Russian, Evgeni Malkin, rounds out the top three with a mind-boggling $146.87 million, followed by long-time Los Angeles Kings centerman Anze Kopitar ($136.25 million), and the Hockey Hall of Fame-bound Jaromir Jagr ($135.38 million).<\/p>\n

Ovechkin\u2019s five-year, $47.5 million extension he signed in 2020<\/a> mathematically allowed him to pass Jagr and his total is expected to rise to $171.22 million after completing the 2025-26 season, which at the moment could be his last in the NHL. In recent interviews, however, the 39-year-old has not ruled out playing longer<\/a> by another year or so.<\/p>\n

If Ovechkin were to hang up his skates after the upcoming campaign, his long-time rival in Crosby is poised to overtake him due to the two-year, $17.4 million extension he signed last September<\/a>. He would earn just over $173.29 million after 22 seasons in the league.<\/p>\n

While this all sounds like a lot of money, don\u2019t think that\u2019s how much Ovechkin has in his actual bank account. According to him, it\u2019s nowhere even close.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even know [how much money and assets I have],\u201d Ovechkin said a year ago per a transcription by sports.ru<\/a> and a translation by Google Translate. <\/p>\n

When asked if he had over $100 million, Ovechkin replied, \u201cOf course not. How? There are taxes. If I had 100 million, I would be relaxing and drinking beer right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

While this all seems like a lot of money to us mere mortals, Ovi\u2019s career earnings to date are chump change compared to those in the other big three North American sports leagues. Ovi would have the 28th highest total all-time in the NFL<\/a>, 84th in the NBA<\/a>\u00a0and 67th in the MLB<\/a>. For context, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic\u2019s recent three-year, $165 million max extension will rake him more money than Ovechkin has in his career so far.<\/p>\n

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Aaron Rodgers ($380.65 million), LeBron James ($538.69 million) and Alex Rodriguez ($455.15 million) are the top all-time earners in their respective leagues.<\/p>\n

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