List of team payrolls in the NHL Here are several tables of National Hockey League team payrolls for each team in the NHL . For simplicity , players traded mid - season are considered to be on the payroll of the team acquiring that player . League . After the 2004 – 05 season was cancelled , a new collective bargaining agreement ( CBA ) was agreed upon between the NHL and the NHL Players ' Association . This CBA included a salary cap for team salaries ( formally defined in the CBA as the " Upper Limit " ) , which would potentially increase from one season to the next depending on league revenues , and a cap for player salaries , set at 20 percent of the team salary cap . The teams also have a minimum payroll requirement ( formally defined as the " Lower Limit " ) , which was $ 21 . 5 million in 2005 – 06 , but fixed from 2006 – 07 onward at $ 16 million below the salary cap . From the 2003 – 04 season to the 2005 – 06 season , the implementation of the salary cap caused a marked normalization of team payrolls , and a decrease in the payroll disparity from team to team . Ten teams ( of thirty ) decreased their payrolls by more than $ 15 million , with four decreasing their payrolls by more than $ 30 million ; only seven teams increased their payrolls , with four increasing their payrolls by more than $ 5 million . The standard deviation of the payrolls decreased from $ 15 , 898 , 399 to $ 6 , 371 , 263 after the salary cap was introduced . Between the 1998 – 99 and 2007 – 08 seasons , the total players ' payroll was $ 9 , 990 , 698 , 194 , which is an average of $ 37 , 700 , 748 per team per season . The division with the highest total payroll over this nine year period is the Atlantic Division , paying out $ 1 , 912 , 252 , 452 ( $ 42 , 494 , 499 per team per season ) . The division with the lowest total payroll over this period is the Southeast Division — considered perhaps the weakest hockey market in the league — with total payrolls of $ 1 , 180 , 291 , 667 ( $ 32 , 377 , 083 per team per season ) . The team that spent the most on players ' salaries over these nine seasons are the New York Rangers , who spent a total of $ 517 , 076 , 928 for players , averaging $ 57 , 452 , 992 per season . The Detroit Red Wings have the second highest total payroll over this period , with $ 483 , 801 , 165 , for an average of $ 53 , 755 , 685 per season . The Nashville Predators have the lowest payroll per season over the same period , totalling $ 218 , 136 , 880 ( $ 24 , 237 , 431 per season ) , followed by the Atlanta Thrashers with a total of $ 212 , 616 , 075 ( $ 26 , 577 , 009 per season ) . The absolute lowest payroll belongs to the Minnesota Wild , who joined the league in 2000 – 01 . In the seven seasons since the Wild joined the league , they have the lowest total payroll , at $ 187 , 278 , 126 ( $ 26 , 754 , 018 per season ) . Nashville ' s payroll over this period was slightly higher , at $ 187 , 936 , 880 ( $ 26 , 848 , 126 per season ) . The Calgary Flames hold the unique distinction of being the only team to have increased their payroll every year between the 1998 – 99 season and the 2007 – 08 season . Sergei Fedorov , Paul Kariya and Jaromir Jagr have each had the highest salary on three different teams between 2000 – 01 and 2007 – 08 : Eastern Conference . Atlantic Division . The Atlantic Division had the highest total player payrolls of any division between 1998 – 99 and 2007 – 08 , paying out $ 1 , 912 , 252 , 452 to its players ( $ 42 , 494 , 499 per team per season ) . The New York Rangers are the highest paying team in the Atlantic Division ( and in the entire league ) over this period , with a player payroll of $ 517 , 076 , 928 ( $ 57 , 452 , 992 per season ) , while the Pittsburgh Penguins are the lowest paying team in the division over these nine seasons , with total payrolls of $ 260 , 515 , 726 ( $ 28 , 946 , 192 per season ) . New Jersey Devils . These are the salaries for the New Jersey Devils . New York Islanders . These are the salaries for the New York Islanders . New York Rangers . These are the salaries for the New York Rangers . Philadelphia Flyers . These are the salaries for the Philadelphia Flyers . Pittsburgh Penguins . These are the salaries for the Pittsburgh Penguins . Northeast Division . Between 1998 – 99 and 2007 – 08 , the Northeast Division had total player payrolls of $ 1 , 694 , 667 , 213 ( $ 37 , 659 , 271 per team per season ) . The Toronto Maple Leafs paid their players the most in the Northeast Division over these nine seasons , with total payrolls of $ 414 , 581 , 865 ( $ 46 , 064 , 652 per season ) , while the Buffalo Sabres paid the least in the division over the same time , with total payrolls of $ 300 , 251 , 418 ( $ 33 , 361 , 269 per season ) . Boston Bruins . These are the salaries for the Boston Bruins . Buffalo Sabres . These are the salaries for the Buffalo Sabres . Montreal Canadiens . These are the salaries for the Montreal Canadiens . Ottawa Senators . These are the salaries for the Ottawa Senators . Toronto Maple Leafs . These are the salaries for the Toronto Maple Leafs . Southeast Division . The Southeast Division had the lowest player payroll of any division between 1998 – 99 and 2007 – 08 , totalling $ 1 , 424 , 591 , 667 during this time ( $ 32 , 377 , 083 per team per season ) . This market is considered one of the weakest in the league . The Washington Capitals are the highest paying team in the Southeast Division , with total payrolls of $ 343 , 231 , 500 ( $ 38 , 136 , 833 per season ) ; the Atlanta Thrashers , who joined the league in 1999 – 2000 , are the lowest paying team in the division ( and in the Eastern Conference ) , with total payrolls of $ 212 , 616 , 075 ( $ 26 , 577 , 009 per season ) . Atlanta Thrashers . These are the salaries for the Atlanta Thrashers . The team ' s first season was 1999 – 2000 . Carolina Hurricanes . These are the salaries for the Carolina Hurricanes . Florida Panthers . These are the salaries for the Florida Panthers . Tampa Bay Lightning . These are the salaries for the Tampa Bay Lightning . Washington Capitals . These are the salaries for the Washington Capitals . Western Conference . Central Division . The Central Division had player payrolls of $ 1 , 604 , 944 , 295 between 1998 – 99 and 2007 – 08 ( $ 37 , 324 , 286 per team per season ) . The highest paying team in the Central Division ( and in the Western Conference ) in this time are the Detroit Red Wings , with total payrolls of $ 483 , 801 , 165 ( $ 53 , 755 , 685 per season ) , while the lowest paying team in the division ( and the entire league ) are the Nashville Predators , with total payrolls of $ 218 , 136 , 880 ( $ 24 , 237 , 431 per season ) . Chicago Blackhawks . These are the salaries for the Chicago Blackhawks . Columbus Blue Jackets . These are the salaries for the Columbus Blue Jackets . The team ' s first season was 2000 – 01 . Detroit Red Wings . These are the salaries for the Detroit Red Wings . Nashville Predators . These are the salaries for the Nashville Predators . St . Louis Blues . These are the salaries for the St . Louis Blues . Northwest Division . The Northwest Division has paid out $ 1 , 544 , 681 , 647 to its players between 1998 – 99 and 2007 – 08 ( $ 35 , 922 , 829 per team per season ) . The Colorado Avalanche had the highest player payrolls in the Northwest Division in this time , totalling $ 450 , 095 , 084 ( $ 50 , 010 , 565 per season ) ; the Minnesota Wild are the lowest paying team in the division ( and in the league , for the seven years since they have been a part of it ) , with total payrolls of $ 187 , 278 , 126 ( $ 26 , 754 , 018 per season ) . Calgary Flames . These are the salaries for the Calgary Flames . The Calgary Flames hold the unique distinction of being the only team to have increased their payroll every year between the 1998 – 99 season and the 2007 – 08 season . Colorado Avalanche . These are the salaries for the Colorado Avalanche . Edmonton Oilers . These are the salaries for the Edmonton Oilers . Minnesota Wild . These are the salaries for the Minnesota Wild . The team ' s first season was 2000 – 01 . Vancouver Canucks . These are the salaries for the Vancouver Canucks . Pacific Division . The Pacific Division had payrolls of $ 1 , 809 , 560 , 920 ( $ 40 , 212 , 465 per team per season ) in the seasons between 1998 – 99 and 2007 – 08 . The Dallas Stars paid the most in the Pacific Division over these nine seasons , with players receiving $ 452 , 957 , 886 ( $ 50 , 328 , 654 per season ) , and the Phoenix Coyotes paid the least in the division over that time , with total payrolls of $ 303 , 728 , 146 ( $ 33 , 747 , 572 per season ) . Anaheim Ducks . These are the salaries for the Anaheim Ducks . Dallas Stars . These are the salaries for the Dallas Stars . Los Angeles Kings . These are the salaries for the Los Angeles Kings . Phoenix Coyotes . These are the salaries for the Phoenix Coyotes . San Jose Sharks . These are the salaries for the San Jose Sharks .