Connor McDavid makes an average of $12.5 million a year on his current contract. On top of this, he will also make money off the ice in the form of endorsements. He is paid so well because of his unbelievable talent and production on the ice.
Professional athletes like Connor McDavid bring in a lot of revenue for their teams and owners, so it should come as no surprise that they are paid well. But just how much does McDavid make a year for being one of the best players in the NHL?
This article is going to take a look at not only how much McDavid makes, but also why he is paid so well and how his yearly earnings stack up to those in other sports.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Connor McDavid makes an average of $12.5 million a year on his current contract, and this is made up of both a base salary and a signing bonus. He will also make additional amounts off the ice with endorsements.
- He is paid so well because he is currently the best player in the NHL. He scores more points than anyone else, is incredibly quick, and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
- While McDavid makes a lot compared to many other NHL players, his earnings are much less than superstars in other leagues like the MLB, NFL, and NBA.
How Much Money Does Connor McDavid Make?
Back in 2017, a 20-year old McDavid agreed to a new 8-year, $100 million contract. This contract pays him an average of $12.5 million per year throughout the lifetime of the deal.
The total is made up of both a salary and signing bonus, and the exact amount varies slightly throughout the lifetime of the contract, but his cap hit for his team remains $12.5 million each season.
For example, in 2019-20 his contract paid him $15 million that season, but his yearly cash in 2023-24 will only be $11 million.
However, this is only the money McDavid makes to play hockey. He also makes money with his endorsements. Some companies he has worked with include CCM, Adidas, BioSteel, and Canadian Tire. He makes millions more each year off the ice thanks to these partnerships.
Why Does McDavid Make So Much?
The reason McDavid is paid so handsomely is because he is one of the best NHL players on the planet. He scores at a clip we haven’t seen in decades, is a fast skater, and has a great mind for the game.
It is impossible to ignore his individual performance, even if the team’s success hasn’t been quite what the team has hoped for. If his team didn’t pay him this much, someone else likely would as he is very valuable to an NHL franchise.
Players are normally given contracts based on how much their team and/or the league believes they’re worth. Because of this, the best athletes in sports tend to make more money than their counterparts who may not be quite as good.
How McDavid Stacks up to Other Sports Stars
While McDavid is one of the highest paid hockey players on the planet, how does his yearly earnings measure up to the stars of other sports? Well, if you look at some of the highest-paid and best players in other sports, you will see that McDavid and the rest of the NHL fall short.
While McDavid signed an 8-year, $100 million contract, that pales in comparison to the 4-year, $215 million contract that NBA star Steph Curry signed. In the MLB, the largest contract belongs to Aaron Judge who recently signed a 9-year, $360 million deal.
The NFL’s largest contract belongs to QB Patrick Mahomes who signed a 10-year contract worth $450 million. So as you can see, while McDavid is far from broke, the contracts in the NHL do lag behind other major sports.
FAQs
Here are a few common questions about NHL salaries in general, as well as their answers.
Which NHL player makes the most money?
While most people would say that McDavid is currently the best player in the NHL, he isn’t the highest paid. That distinction goes to Nathan MacKinnon, who makes $12.6 million a year.
Why are top level NHL salaries lower than other major sports?
The main reason is because NHL teams bring in less revenue than teams in other leagues. Because teams make less, they have less available to pay players and simply cannot offer salaries at the same level as other major sports. The salary cap is also comparatively lower.
Final Thoughts
Connor McDavid is paid an average of $12.5 million each year (plus endorsements) and most believe he is well worth the money as he is one of the best players of his generation and could go down as one of the greatest of all time.
Do you think McDavid should make more or less than he does currently? Let me know in a comment.
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