Photo: Bildbyrån
Things are going well for our Swedes away in the NHL – it can also be seen in the pay envelopes.
This year, one of our blue-and-yellow heroes is the fifth-highest earning player in the entire league. In addition, he is the best-paid Swede in the NHL ever.
Today’s sports stars, even those who haven’t quite reached the absolute highest level, are making an awful lot of money these days. It is in many ways morally reprehensible, but at the same time it is the way it is. Those who are the best in the world in their sport bring in many millions every season. So also in the NHL.
In principle, the American hockey league has always been teeming with talented Swedes. This year is no exception. The list could be made long of players who set the tone, or even were absolutely decisive, for their respective clubs. It is also usually visible in the salary envelopes who are most important to their teams.
The Swede who breaks records
The four players who earn the most of anyone in the NHL this season are Austin MatthewsToronto ($13.25 million annual salary), Nathan MacKinnonColorado (12.6), Connor McDavidEdmonton (12.5) and Artemi PanarinNY Rangers (11.64). But next on the list comes a Swede.
According to Spotrac provides Elias Petterssons Vancouver Canucks him an annual salary of 11.6 million dollars. That is just over 120 million Swedish kronor. But it doesn’t end there. Elias signed his 8-year contract in March and chose, according to Expressen, to pick up a very high signing bonus this summer. The 25-year-old from Ånge received a bonus of 12 million dollars in July – the total annual salary lands at 14.5 million dollars, which corresponds to 150 million Swedish kronor. No Swede has ever earned that much money in the world’s best hockey league in one and the same year.
More Swedes on the top 10 list
Remarkably, there are also two Swedes who come in joint sixth place in the wage league. Both William NylanderToronto, and Erik KarlssonPittsburgh takes home $11.5 million a year. Nylander has done like Elias Pettersson this summer and requested a bonus which, together with the regular salary, is worth almost SEK 140 million. Quite simply a good year for Nylander!
In a shared ninth place on the list is found Rasmus DahlinBuffalo, which pulls in $11 million this year. He shares his position in the table with John TavaresToronto, and Drew DoughtyLas Vegas.
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This is absolutely crazy what sums are involved. People are curious to hear what Elias Pettersson will do with his 150 million this year.
We are looking forward to the new NHL season, which kicks off in October.
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