Shea Weber is the fourth-highest career money earner in NHL history

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Jeff Drouin
May 28, 2022 (10:24)

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For the past 30 years, the hockey industry has been a big money business. Although many still consider the NHL to be the poor relation of major sports in North America, the vast majority of players earn more than a million dollars a year.

While lucrative contracts are being handed out left and right, there is one question that many people are asking, but few have asked: Who is the player in NHL history who has made the most money during his playing career?

As reported by Marco Normandin of Habsolumentfan.com, the folks at RDS have also been asking this question.

For the occasion, we present you the ten players who made the most money during their career.

Not surprisingly, Sidney Crosby is at the very top with a total of $138.34 million. The Penguins captain had signed a 104.4 million dollar deal for 12 years in June 2012, a contract valid for three more seasons.

In second place, it is none other than his great eternal rival, a certain Alexander Ovechkin. He pocketed the sum of 128.22 million dollars, a little more than the one who came third, Jaromir Jagr with 128.14 million.

And if I tell you that the fourth place winner is a Habs player?

Carey Price? No. It's defenseman Shea Weber with 126.03 million. However, he must thank his former team, the Nashville Predators, for this fourth place. In fact, he should say thank you very much to the Philadelphia Flyers.

In 2012, they had presented Weber with a hostile offer of 110 million for 14 years, an offer that was later matched by the Predators. Weber still has four years left on his contract.

The only Quebecer on the list is former Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier, who ranks sixth with a total of $114.5 million earned during his career. Like Weber, he also has his general manager's generosity to thank.

In the summer of 2008, the Lightning offered him $85 million for 11 years. However, five years later, his contract was bought out by the Lightning.

It is interesting to note that none of the ten highest paid NHLers this season are on this list. McDavid, Matthews, Marner and MacKinnon should eventually be among those who have made the most money during their careers.

You can check out the rest of the top 10 below.